TSA refusing GE Cards for security checkpoints
 

4 times in the last week my GE card has been refused as id proof by TSA. They wanted a passport or DL. Finally today at MCI I asked for a supervisor an he said they've been told a few days ago that GE cards are no longer valid for ID proof.
I've not checked TSA's website to see if its true.
Any body else have any ideas on this?

Thx.

It seems GE card is no longer listed on TSA's website.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...documents.shtm

DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

seems incorrect to me... As far as i know not only is it an acceptable form of ID, but its also going to be worked into the new Pre-Check program. certainly there is a preferance towards passports and Driver's licenses, as since they are familiar documents they are easier to verify...if this has changed, its been very recent and they havent even told us yet.

It certainly is an acceptable ID, but I have never heard that it would be used in PreCheck. Since PreCheck encodes your BP, there is no need for a TT ID Card.

The thread below covers the same topic as this thread, but has been going since July of 2011:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/pract...-id-check.html

Part of getting a trusted traveler card is undergoing a background check. If you have a GE card, youve had that, and as such, that makes you elligible for pre-check. Theres no need to physically present a TT card, correct... what i meant was that TT card holders are by very nature elligible for pre-check.

I have had mixed success, but the problems have been where TSA is unfamiliar with the GE card and I then offer my passport to move the line faster. Once they told me that it was fine since it was a government issued photo ID with an expiration date, as if that was the rule they had been taught.

Here is a kicker.
 

I'm licensed Customs Broker working for a a mid-size international freight forwarding company. In order to receive my broker's license, I had to go through US Customs background checks, finger printed and pass an exam. I'm also the license holder for my local branch, as such, I've had to receive a TSA approval for employment and to also allow entrance to the cargo area at the airport, this required an extensive background check including criminal, mental, and financial records. I have a TSA ID for my employment purpose, a copy of the TSA approval letter certifying my ID, brokers license, I also have GE, passport and DL. My TSA ID and letter means NOTHING:mad: when it comes to going through security lines. I asked a supervisor on it, and he told me that the ID is only good for cargo purpose only and its not recognize as a valid ID for traveling purpose. :td:
I can literally walk on airport grounds, tarmac, cargo area, with my TSA ID as long as I'm "working" yet I'm not allowed to go through security when catching a flight. Even on my GE profile it clearly indicates that I'm a licensed broker.
You think you have it bad with your GE non approval, I've gone through 3 separate rounds of background checks, have to be re-certified every 3 years and that means nothing, nada, zilch when it comes to going through security.
Funny thing is that as part of my job, I'm also on the forefront of homeland security. Go figure.

It's never been listed there explicitly.

+1 it was never listed there, hence it was never officially accepted. I got through with it couple of times, but TSA was always surprised to see it.

So now it seems they clarified specifically that GE is not to be accepted.

I don't think they have clarified anything; rather they have neglected to include the GE card in error. It is identical to the NEXUS and SENTRI cards, so there is no reason for them to officially not accept it.

Other than their manifest incompetence and stupidity as an organization, of course.

Sometimes when I show them the "Sentry" on the back, it helps. Sentry *is* listed on the TSA site.

At MIA last week, the TDC noted, "We just learned about these today". I was surprised that they didn't already know, since I thought MIA was one of the places where the GE card is supposed to allow you to go through without taking off your shoes. But looking at the website, I learned that it's just in the AA terminal where that's true, and I was flying DL.

I think there's some confusion.

The Pre-check program may allow you expedited screening (shoes on, laptops in bag, etc). That program is currently only available at certain airports at certain checkpoints for certain airlines. Currently, it doesn't matter which ID you present - the decision to let you through (or not) is contained in a barcode on your boarding pass. You may be allowed to use Pre-check even if you aren't a GE member.

AFAIK, GE, Sentri and Nexus holders all go through the same checks, so all of the IDs should be acceptable. The GE card is relatively new - there are GE members out there who enrolled in the program when it was new - they were never given a GE card and do not need the GE card to use the GE kiosks. They're still eligible for Pre-check, but currently that's only if they're flying the right airline at the right airport and the right checkpoints.

Key phrase right there. Most likely when ever the TDC procedures get an update, it will be mentioned then.

Which should take how long? They're still not all up-to-date on NEXUS and it has been around for at least a couple years, if not longer.

Depends. It's wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy above my pay grade. Sometimes it's a couple of years, sometimes less than a year.

NEXUS is already in there, as seen on the TSA website. It just more stems from the fact some TSOs are lazy or dumb and some are just unfamiliar with the card. I can count on my fingers how many times I've seen a NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST card come through.

Not just TSOs. There are folks who have escalated at least two levels up and either been told it isn't acceptable ID (website is out-of-date) or that it simply isn't accepted at that particular airport. I guess we can't really expect TSOs to know more than their management (although I suspect good ones often do).

If you have time, stand your ground. I always step to the side and let others through as they escalate up the chain.

I think by now most of the screeners at the PDX D/E checkpoint recognize a Global Entry card. My little contribution to TSA's staff education. :D

But all TSA employees are properly trained on which forms of ID are acceptable, correct?

GE card refused
 

Phoenix d gates. Screener demanded a DL in addition to passport card. Said he the right to,

This is simply an unnecessary form of harassment. If valid id is presented then there job is done.

Can anyone explain what is the valid travel safety related issue?

This is an organization that needs to be earn respect for the traveling public

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Did you ask for a Supervisor or just show him your DL?

I had my GE card rejected at MIA the other day....

It was before 6am. I followed a few others I was travelling with to and through the H checkpoint. The GE card worked like a charm. We managed a SDOO of the NOS as one line had the NOS and the other the WTMD. All was well until after coming through the checkpoint the leader of our merry little band realized we'd gone through the wrong checkpoint. So, we headed to the exit and over to the G gates.

I knew there would be trouble when the clerk checking IDs asked me if I had other ID. I responded that the GE card was acceptable ID and she called for a supervisor. After a few minutes of waiting I politely asked her to call again as no supervisor had shown up. I was immediately told that I was harassing her. After about 10 minutes, during which I waved my hands over my head to get the attention of someone in authority, a supervisor did come by. He took my GE card and disappeared with it. A few minutes later he came back and told me it was not in his book, and was unacceptable. I counseled him otherwise, even to the point of reminding him that MIA was part of the new "Pre" program and that the GE card had in fact been produced by his agency. It was all to no avail. Knowing that I was still going to opt-out of the NOS, as the WTMD was blocked off despite the lengthy queue, I showed him my passport.

:td: to MIA for a distinct lack of logic and supreme inconsistency. That's just what I expect from the TSA, th:rolleyes:ugh. I guess that's just an:rolleyes:ther layer...

And TSA workers wonder why the public has little respect for their organization.

I suggest you look at the BACK of a GE card, in the middle, right above the flag@:-)

Well, that would be a @:-), except most of us don't have GE cards. (In fact, when I was approved for GE, all they did was put a sticker on my passport.) Why don't you just tell us what we would see if we looked there?

"SENTRI"
And I also got nothing more than a sticker, but for $15 you can get a card now too. Only took about 7 days for mine to arrive as well. Useful if you ever find yourself driving back from Canada.

In one of the other hundred threads about Global Entry Cards not being accepted, there's a quote from a TSA spokesperson they gave to a reporter after it was refused. The spokesperson said that they were indeed acceptable ID's at the checkpoints.

Of course, that doesn't mean the people on the line know that.

There are 13 types of acceptible IDs the TSA themselves have chosen, not 300,000 but 13 I'm sorry but if your job function is to check IDs and someone can't recognize 13 different forms of IDs then they should be sent back to the fry basket job from which they came.

+:eek:NE

I can't believe that the GE cards have been around for close to a year and we're still having this problem. Then again, they still have trouble recognizing NEXUS cards...

...:(ur tax dollars at waste...