I experience precheck "light" a lot and find I see both ends of the spectrum. Sometimes it's literally no different than pre-check and sometimes, they just want to give you hell. Per TSA's own website, they state you shouldn't have to, but leave it vague so there's no real pushback. Last year there was a TSA agent trainee at LAX that I told him I didn't need to take it out or take my shoes off, and he laughed at me. His manager told him otherwise. He then proceeded to second screen my bag.

Quote:

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What happens when there isn’t a dedicated TSA PreCheck® lane?

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My husband is in a wheelchair because of MS, so I have to remove his coat and shoes, basically doubling our time required to be ready. If I see people behind us who are ready to go, I'll motion to wave them by us. No point in forcing them to wait for us, and my mom always raised me to be polite; it doesn't cost anything and might result in some karma points that will be useful down the road.

Some parents traveling with kids are very organized and pack sensibly. Other families travel as if they had just unpacked at their destination. They take what appears to be six hours to find the items they want to have scanned (because the items are all over the place) and negotiate their will with their kids. Some parents behave as if all the rules of the public spaces are suspended once they have kids. Please, we have all been there. Rules still apply. It is okay if your kids don't act in the TSA line as if they are in your family room with all their favorite toys. It is okay. They will grow up just fine. These few minutes will not invalidate their self-worth.

My experience with PreCheck-light is electronics and liquids come out, but belt, shoes, and jacket stay on

The frustration I have with TSA-Pre are the airports where they merge CLEAR passengers to the same agent as TSA-Pre passengers, and the CLEAR passengers are given priority. MDW is atrocious with this!

Comically, once leaving out of MYR the agent asked me to remove any large electronics. I'm thinking...excuse me? I paid to not have to do this. So I said, are you sure? I have 2 laptops and an ipad. She says yes. So off I go unloading 3 electronics for them to swab. After I get the first one out she says I just need one. ??? So why swab one of mine and not the other? Yeesh.

CLEAR is just cuts to the front without having to pull out ID in most cases. There are a small number of checkpoints that do enough volumE that they can do separate CLEAR+Pre, CLEAR without PRE, Regular, and Pre without CLEAR.

This was required at Terminal A at LGA, only room for two setas of machines but one line was always closed so Pre could keep their shoes on, and use the metal detector but TSA Staff kept repeating you had to remove your electronic devices and liquids because the "machine is not set to TSA Pre".

I think PreCheck has some distinct advantages, even if it's "PreCheck Light / Expedited Screening:"

1. No body scanning unless it's a really bad day and they've unwisely decided that random alarms go to the AIT. I always seem to set off the "Advanced Imaging Technology" scanner, but I never set off a metal detector. The metal detector is much quicker and far less annoying.
2. Shoes on. This saves a lot of time, and it's arguably less disgusting. Also, I don't trip as much.
3. Zero chance of a "quad" or "SSSS" for flights within the USA or departing the USA. It doesn't work the other way around for some moronic reason.
4. The PreCheck queue is much shorter most of the time.
5. CLEAR gets an escort to the front of the PreCheck queue in most cases (definitely at T1, T2, and T4 at LAX, PHX, DEN in recent experience.)
6. Unofficially or unannounced, no security interview on AA flights from Heathrow, supposedly to expand to other airports for PreCheck passengers. Yay.
7. Somewhat expedited screening in Canada for Global Entry/NEXUS. I'm not sure about PreCheck as a standalone product.
8. Unless it's "managed inclusion, (Arf! Arf!)" PreCheck passengers tend to be frequent flyers, and they're not as prone to fumbling through security. This is variable, but there aren't quite as many people wearing iron Viking helmets or underwear made of aluminium. (I've totally left my headphones around my neck like an idiot, so I will be refrain from judging those who make unwise choices before going through a metal detector.)
9. Arguably less yelling and barking. Since PreCheck passengers tend to be veteran travellers, the staff are usually a tad quieter in the PreCheck lane. Not always, but most of the time. They can even be outgoing and friendly on a good day. I get the impression that the TSA staff like PreCheck. It's less work, less hassle, less touching of gross people, fewer rules to enforce.

Even though I cannot use metal detectors in airports, I still use TSA Pre even with the added time of waiting for them to get a gender-specific agent and set up the body scanner or having to submit to a pat-down.

I am not sure where else this might go so posting here: i just received this email purportedly from TSA. I know, I know, it's phishing and not actually from TSA, but it sure as heck seems like something they could (should?) send!!!!

From: Transportation Security Administration <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2022 11:11 AM
To: [Section 107]
Subject: TSA: TSA PreCheck Renewal Remainder (Link)

Dear [Section107],

Your TAS PreCheck membership expired soon - you can now apply for your renewal up to 6 months in advance - the additional thime left to run will be credited to your new membership.
If yous have already applied for your renewal - please ignore this email.
If yous wish to renew your membership please follow the stepps below to submit your renewal application:
https://www.TSA-4-Life.gov/ai--ort-screening-------
Click the blue payment button marked "Proceed to Payment" and pay the service fee which covers the application review, checks and processing.
If all of your information is the same as when you applied 50 years ago you will not have to attend an interview. We will inform you of the next steps once your application has been submitted for background and security checks.
Thank you,
Transportation Security Admenistration

50 years ago?! Wow time flies

That is such a hilariously sad phishing attempt!

Once again questioning the value of TSA-pre: last three times going through BWI on international flights (D/E Piers), TSA-pre was 'closed' (although Clear was still operating. Okay, didn't have to take my shoes off, but still needed laptops out, liquids out, coats off. Having paid my $$$ where is the product?

Did they make you go through the whole body scanner or were you able to use the walk through metal detector?