Pilot Program at BOS TSA Checkpoint
 

The last few times I've flown out of BOS the PreCheck line was clogged up with passengers from the general boarding line. The TSA agents I spoke with said DL asked the TSA to try taking people from other lines through the x-ray/magnetometer that is supposed to be dedicated to PreCheck.

The times I was there were during the peak afternoon rush. The line just to get to the agent checking IDs/BPs was twenty deep and held up because the x-ray/magnetometer areas were congested and chaotic. Once I got past the ID check there was nobody really directing the people being funneled over from general boarding. Some of them received instructions to keep shoes on/laptops and liquids in bags, others ignored this. It made for a very slow process and again there was a line of 15-20 people waiting to go through the magnetometer.

In all it took about 25 minutes to get through the checkpoint using PreCheck. I'm not a fan of this new pilot program and hope DL gets the message that it is really slowing things down for people with PreCheck.

I've flown 36 times out of Boston this year on Delta at this very same checkpoint and haven't seen this happen in the pre-check line once. Not all of my flights are during peak times, but I don't think it's taken me more than 90 seconds from presenting boarding pass to gathering my x-rayed bags once.

I went through the PreCheck line at IND on Monday and saw a similar thing, where people from the general line were funneled into our magnetometer. They were all confused because the TSA guy said not to take anything out or off, and slowed things down due to questions. How does this improve our security? If select non-PreChecks can go through without the usual protocol, why make anyone do the shoes/laptops/liquids dance?

I flew thru BOS Terminal A of couple of weeks ago and went thru the TSA line and had the same problem. I flew thru the ID check and had to wait at x-ray with all the people coming over from the other security lines that had no idea what to do. For those of us who have subjected ourselves to the background check, TSA interview and paid our fee, it was kind of (very) annoying to see other people using TSA Pre.

If you're looking for logic or sense in anything the TSA does, you'll be sorely disappointed. ;)

Great, so Pre doesn't mean anything either? What is the point if people who didn't get screened for Pre are being sent over there and don't have to take things out? That makes it even less safe than the current illusion of security.

Way to slow things down even more....

TSA Changing Things Again
 

I flew out last Tuesday through the A checkpoint and it was a mess. My wife is not Pre so we were going to use the sky priority lane except...

...TSA had changed the queuing process for all non-Pre pax forcing everyone into one long line prior to being split for Sky Priority and kettle. A complete cluster IMO. Post ID check was chaos as well with no one guiding pax to lanes and no sense of order. It took almost thirty minutes to clear security on a Tuesday morning.

They had also installed some huge projection device with a screen shaped like a body that projected a person going through the litany of 311, etc. information. Seems like an expensive waste of money for a custom device instead of just using a standard flat screen monitor. Didn't take a pic unfortunately.

Pre check should be used for all passengers unless there is a compelling reason for an individual to receive greater scrutiny, such as an alarm on the WTMD or ETD.

TSA Pre for all travelers would also solve our national debt by charging everyone a $100........

That's more commonly known as extortion.

All should get the Pre chek experience without enrolling or being shaken down.

"TSA Managed Inclusion?"
 

TSA last year announced a program called "Managed Inclusion," where if passengers from the general screening line agreed to a K9 check they'd receive a PreCheck level of screening.

TSA's larger goal is having 25% of all travelers receiving PreCheck screening. Not something most here would like as the PreCheck lines will swell. This fall expect to see a big push for TSA PreCheck as many more airports begin rolling out the program in September and October.

An additional problem at BOS is on most occasions it's quicker to go thru the general lane immediately to the right of PreCheck as the PreCheck ID clerk looks at both PreCheck and non-PreCheck ID's.

Removing the nudeoscopes would solve that problem.

A few things. First off there's no TSA interview for PreCheck. You may be thinking of Global Entry which is US Customs. There is no fee if Delta entered you in the PreCheck program.

The TSA is expanding the program to non-frequent fliers, but they will have to pay an $85 fee. This was announced earlier this summer.
http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck

At most airports I fly through PreCheck is dedicated and separate from any regular screening. This is the case at DEN, SAN, BWI, DCA, LAS, TPA, CLT etc.

I stand corrected......I was referring to Global Entry......

As you said, it's a pilot program that TSA is doing. They usually have bomb dogs and are a bit "chattier" with the passengers who get sent to the PreCheck lane. I see them doing this at IND also. And yes, it does significantly slow down the PreCheck lane and is obnoxious if I'm in a hurry.