Big Pushback From TSA when using the priority Lane At IAH
 

I’m IAH based and there is a single lane obviously for priority access at terminal A. American has maybe 30 flights a day ? Prior to COVID there was a small American Priority sign. For whatever reason it’s no longer there. Most of the time I use that lane to get to the front of the cue with no questions asked. Sometimes I get pushback but explain that I have priority access with American and get through. I got a lot of pushback this evening and spoke with the TSA supervisor. I tried to explain that American offers it’s elite members expedited access through tsa check points and Americans website even specifies George Bush Intercontinental. I was polite and the TSA supervisor was abrasive. I passed thru anyhow. Should I contact American about this and have them reach out to IAH management ? Or am I wrong there is no priority access at IAH ? Or just let it go ? I usually use the lane without any issues.

What did the TSA guy say were the qualifications for using the lane?

Good question. I didn’t ask. Maybe TSA pre check but they know I have that. Maybe wheelchair accessible ? The pushback goes something like “sir you need to go to the back of the line “ The TSA supervisor immediately went into we have nothing to do with the airport or American Airlines mode. Unwilling to help but I told him American and George Bush Intercontinental have an agreement to give their elite members priority access.

Are you an AC member? If so, have you thought about mentioning it to the IAH AC agents? They likely have more faster and more direct access to AA's management in IAH who could correct the issue. Maybe AA's not even aware the AA priority sign is missing. Could potentially be a quicker resolution than just sending in a complaint on AA.com.

-FlyerBeek

I buy one day passes a few times a year. Maybe tomorrow I can use the lounge twice. Once in DFW and then upon landing again at IAH. Good idea. Thanks for the feedback.

Ever since COVID, most of the priority lanes are gone. The IAH one hasn't existed since March 2020 from what I recall (also IAH based).

DFW, MIA etc. there now is either regular or precheck. Missed an I-D connection in DFW due to a lengthy queue and no priority line.

What?? There's no priority security at DFW for elites and F/J pax???

There is a Priority lane at LGA. When I went through on Thursday evening it was estimated to be a minute faster than pre-check. However, I still stuck with pre check just to avoid the shoe and laptop hassle.

If the lane wasn’t identified as a priority lane, then how was it obvious that’s still what it was for? Also, where on the AA website does it state that IAH has such access? I couldn’t find it.

I've definitely seen them recently at LGA, JFK, and MIA. I have pre-check but my complaion doesn't. Interestingly AA doesn't grant Pre-check to companions on the same PNR, so had to send her through the priority lanes while I went to pre-check to avoid shoes/laptop hassles. (UA does grant pre-check to same PNR companions, don't know if it's for elites only or for everyone).

Interesting that AA offers (offered?) priority screening at IAH when they don't at PHL, one of their larger hubs. OTOH, I suspect that most AA elites at PHL have PreCheck.

I think one of the reasons they offered priority line there was because they share that security checkpoint with Spirit which can get really backed up at peak times. There is another checkpoint on the opposite side of A (Delta/Frontier/Alaska) which sometimes is easier but more importantly has PreCheck. You can walk around to American gates from that checkpoint also but it is a decent walk.

I'm struggling to understand why a PPRO would not have Pre-Check or Global Entry.

it’s the straight line all the way to the left no one is ever using separate from the line of 60 Spirit airlines passengers .

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2930cd295c.png
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...454cc96bc9.png
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...12a9dbe5b8.png

i most certainly do . Should I be able to use that line to the far left for pre check ? The tsa supervisor i spoke with seemed uninformed

They mentioned that but they have the pre check machine on the American Spirit side and let me keep my shoes on after showing my boarding pass

At IAH A tsa pre is on the other side of the AA gates so you have to walk all the way back. That’s what I do.

Numerous tiny airports like LAN and ITH also list "Priority benefits". I wouldn't assume that distinction always includes a priority security lane for AA Elites.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...adb7100adc.png

There is a priority lane at MIA. Has been there every time ive flown thru the pandemic, granted we dont use it but its there.

I'm a very frequent traveler at IAH and actually consider the priority lane at A to be gone since 2020. It used to be marked and clearly set apart. Since 2020, while the space is still there, its clearly not intended for use as the signage is gone and there are usually stanchions and ropes blocking access. I haven't tried to use it because of this. Had been patiently waiting in line with everyone else lately, but I just got a Clear membership through my UA 1K status so it's now a non issue for me.

TSA Pre trumps any priority benefit in my opinion. If you have it, always go there.

Well I beg to differ. It’s not always roped off. The whole point of American offering priority access is so we don’t have to stand in line with “everyone else”. Not to sound entitled , everyone deserves a good airport experience ; even the ones that book a trip twice a year but if you fly every week or spend 10x more with American than others you should have priority at security checkpoints as is advertised

Sorry I misunderstood!

Just for clarity, neither UA not AA grants pre-check to anyone. It is purely a TSA/DHS decision and they have their own criteria and algorithms they use.

I should consider giving the other checkpoint in terminal A a try. According to my calculations it would be a 5 minute walk back to the American gates. I’m not trying to argue with a TSA officer once in a while and make someones job more stressful.

To be honest I don't know why you wouldn't be doing that already. I've never even remotely thought of going through the A security near AA gates that doesn't have TSA Pre. The walk is quick and offers some nice plane spotting and also usually a pianist or band playing.

It is possible to not get TSA Pre on random flights.

Also, if you're traveling with family etc. they may not have it. When we missed our I-D connection, it was because I had 2 UK based kids with me and they didn't have Pre.

Also, if not checking a bag, you could always go to one of the other terminals at IAH for a much better experience.

So PPRO is only open to US Citizens or Residents?

Many elites in the US or traveling frequently to the US (myself included) are ineligible for TSA-PRE or Global Entry. The closest we are get to TSA PRE is Clear (and there are still restrictions - my spouse couldn’t get CLEAR until she got a SSN).

IAH manages to be a pretty uniformly ...... experience across all terminals. Terminal D, despite having 5 people in security at any given time manages to slow the process down to watching paint dry. With the traffic and E check in shut down, B and C are a total zoo.

At most airports, the priority security lane includes premium cabin, and whoever else the airline grants priority to, such as elites. However, in a handful of situations, the priority security lane is for premium cabin passengers only. IIRC, SNA is (or at least was) in this latter category. Maybe IAH terminal A is also in this latter category for some reason. It would have been easy enough for the TSA supervisor to explain this instead of being rude about it. What precisely did the signage say?

Well, it’s…….PHL!! 🤣🤣

There is no signage. I was in first class. That area of the terminal A only serves Spirit and American. The only other passengers I’ve ever seen in that lane is a wheelchair or a large family who were already in line and waived to the side for some reason. Usually just an empty line. 85% of the times I use it uneventful without tsa pushback.

If AA is not providing the service that they advertise then complain to AA. TSA has no obligation to let you skip the line because you are traveling first class. I don't understand why you think you shouldn't have to wait in the line with everyone else. The fact that you've only seen disabled people in that line, and not other first class/priority passengers should be a pretty good hint that is not a first class / priority line.

Precheck is TSA/DHS, not AA. United can't offer companion PreCheck as they have nothing to do with the PreCheck program, although the credit card does cover the renewal cost for the program.

some do not want to do it out of principle (fingerprinting)
some are ineligible for it (citizenship, criminality, customs violations)
some, in particular those who travel internationally, take for granted that there will be a 1337 line at an airport security check point

regardless there should be priority for any and all elite members of an airline elite program not just for certain ones that "negotiate it". i never knew airlines had to negotiate a priority line at us airports. crazy.

https://www.fly2houston.com/iah/tsa-hour

It appears at IAH, like DFW and most everywhere else, does not have Pre-Check at every entry point. Usually, but I suppose not always, if there is Pre-Check there is also Clear and some kind of an expedite line for aircrews and concourse vendors. I really have not paid attention if airline elites can still use it at DFW. (But at some point the TSA with the airlines assistance were comping trial Pre-Check to frequent flyers. That program has long-since ended, but maybe everyone was supposed to take the hint and sign up. Maybe. I was not flying enough to retain status, or expecting that to change, so I did. Some of the best money I ever spent).

It is also not that unusual at DFW, usually during off-peak hours, for TSA to shut down everything but the main lane. (Becomes similar to small airports where there is only Pre-Check light, where screening is less invasive than the general line, and you don't have to go through the flasher machine, but no automatic fast-pass to the front of the line).

I understand not wanting to get fingerprinted "on principle". But if you are a boomer or younger in the US and say, drive, or have a passport; your fingerprints have already been taken.

The TSA at DFW has recently started being much more assertive in sending non-Pre-Check persons who play innocent back to the regular line. That can be interesting. Most have the look of "finally got busted" and don't protest.

Why should a government agency give priority to people who pay AA more money? If AA is willing to pay the additional cost of the extra employees to screen their elite passengers, then fine. Otherwise it's paid for with taxpayer money and you get the same service as anyone else.

I believe that's the case everywhere. There's absolutely no reason that an airport should create a priority line for free–the government doesn't give a crap what your elite status is (nor should they). And given that airlines are paying for the lane, it's reasonable that it's not available to elites of airlines who do not pay for this.

Amen.
The title should be revised to "pushback from TSA when I decided the unmarked lane must be for me at IAH"