Boggie Dog

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...27558-132.html

Video about TSA Security. At the ~20 second mark spokesperson states that if a traveler can print a boarding pass at home they have been fully vetted.

Looks like the collection of $85 just enriches TSA and their sole PreCheck contractor.

chollie

I was struck by the lunging dog just before the end. I think the handler needs to be reassigned.

Fleck

Best scam ever. An itsy bitsy insignificant sum to stroll past Orlando bound Ma and Pa <deleted>. To give the ole smirk-and-a-wink to the long liners. To over hear the puffs, huffs and snorts that collectively make up the "who does he think he is!" To walk head high, chest out, preening inside, and know that my shoes will be staying tied. The soul soothing satisfaction of Pre Check, Mate!

Thank You, TSA!

petaluma1

"Fully vetted" and with no need to give up one's fingerprints.

The dog lunged at the passenger and yet he wasn't pulled aside for further screening and the handled patted the dog. Yep, I'd agree that the handler needs to find another job - maybe she could clean out the kennels and change the dogs' water bowls.

El_Duderito

Just book a ticket with two pax on it. As long as one has TSAPre both get it printed on their boarding passes. If TSAPre was remotely considered a security feature that won't fly (no pun intended). Nobody cared to fix this for years.

Around 2005 an Israeli told me 'if you want to see how security works just look at Israel. We never had the puffer machines because they do not work'. Wikipedia etc are now an interesting read.

petaluma1

The U.S. “doesn't have a system to provide air security. It has a system to bother people.”
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed...605-story.html

Boggie Dog

If there are just 12 million people enrolled in PreCheck that "itsy bitsy insignificant sum" grows to over $1,000,000,000.00 dollars. That is a heck of a pile of money for something that TSA already knows.

Beltway2A

Meh. Amex/Chase/Citi are the ones paying for it anyway.

nrr

Since only cards with annual fees get TSA-PC/Global Entry fees reimbursed, the cardholder is really paying for IT.

Gig103

I hate general security lanes, with the "stand like you're under arrest" degrading stance, and having electronics + CPAP = 3 gray bins every time I clear security, and messing with my belt. And of course, having to share the lane with infrequent travelers who aren't prepared or knowledgeable about what is expected of them adding to the queue length.

In conclusion, PC is extortion by the TSA, but something I gladly pay for considering it costs less than one checked bag fee per year.

Boggie Dog

The point is that almost all people should be able to keep their shoes on. TSA already knows if you are a threat or not. If you can print your boarding pass without assistance from the airline or can check in online then you have been fully vetted. It would only be those people who cannot check in online or print their boarding pass at an airport kiosk who are not vetted.

Just imagine how much more efficient TSA screening would be if TSA only concentrated on people who cannot be vetted?

TSA is charging someone, a business or an individual, $85 for information they already have available to them. That simply is not right!

Gig103

Most of us can agree that these screening methods are largely useless and takes money away from real security measures. As has been said since its inception, TSA might as well stand for "Theater Security Agency".

My point is that I'll pay $0.38/week (or for my travel, $3.33/flight), even if it is extortion.

Grog

A corporation never paid for anything in its life. Its customers did. And continue to.

chollie

More people might be willing to pay for it if they didn't stand in lines that were shorter than some Precheck lines. Or if they didn't hear Precheck members in line grumbling because Precheck is closed and the Precheckers are standing in the regular line with everyone else. If they're lucky, they get to keep their shoes on. Or if they realize that TSA chooses not to honor any posted signage about Precheck hours.

It's one thing to pay $.38/week and actually get something. I don't throw $.38 in the garbage every week and I don't buy lottery tickets with it.

Depending on your flying habits, it can be a great thing or completely useless. My home airport doesn't offer it reliably, so that automatically doubles the effective membership cost for me.

nachtnebel

What's that old saw about lying--once you start down that road you forget which lie you told to whom. Clearly, TSA has to reassure the public that their fellow passengers are safe. At the same time, TSA clearly considers the pre-check vetting to yield safer results.

From what I've been able to observe, more folks are using pre. The Pre line I was in at SEA last week was packed. Scam or not, the pre line moved very fast and conveniently. Love the WTMD.