I can't figure out what is going with TSA Pre-Check and MSP right now. What a mess.

They are running 20% of the passengers (the Pre-Check ones) through 80% of the security lanes and 80% of the passengers (everyone else) through 20% of the security lanes in Terminal 1, it seems.

When I was there on 4/18, out of the 3 big "Checkpoints" (each of which have 3-4 potential detectors), the far right one I didn't see, the center one was 100% given over to pre-check (3-4 lanes), and the far left one (by int'l. departures) had only 2 of its 3 detectors up, and 1 was for pre-check and the other was for the general public. So at best, there was 1 lane for the general public at the left end and (1-2, probably?) open at the right end.

When I dropped my husband off on 4/25, he said the far right checkpoint was closed altogether, the center checkpoint was precheck only, and again, the far left had just 1 lane running for the general public. They were literally pushing the entire general public through ONE lane of the 10-12 that this airport has.

I get that we are moving to a society where you "pay to play," but this is way beyond any comprehensible implementation of "let's make people want to be in the expensive line." This is simply a horrendously bad, inefficient way to run a city's transportation hub!

Same thing 2 days ago. Heads up travelers can gain time going through the normal line, but I did notice x-scanner disabled on pre-check lane, didn't note if it was active on normal lane, I couldn't be bothered to switch actually, but was slower for sure.

Also, arriving international through MSP as of 3 weeks ago there is no pre-check lane, but if you dare you can exit and re-enter via the normal route as described above, kind of a judgement call. At LAX international arrival pre-check was longer than elite lines and same as general public, though they are spilt so you can't see both at the same time...guesswork again.

I had issues 2 weeks ago when I was there - complete cluster-you-know-wat. In addition, the pre-check "checker" also had a major, major napoleon complex issue with anybody that was taller than she was. Was told to use the regular line as the far left as the middle pre-check lanes were only for people confirmed in FC on the flight - which I wasn't. I got down to the left then was told that there was no Pre-Check available at that time

Pre-TSA in Minneapolis as said, is a crap shoot. I went through the other day and they kept telling people don't remove liquids, leave your shoes on etc. Almost every person just continued to unpack their liquids and laptops and almost completely disrobe. Not sure why they just don't let people who haven't requested Pre-tsa to just go through the regular security. They aren't in a hurry and don't understand anyway. In Fort Myers, Pre-TSA
is open for about an hour a day. Not sure why they even have it. I tied to put my laptop (Open to expose the laptop) (which is T-pass approved, for any security line) and I was told I had to remove it from the briefcase. I explained with T-Pass cases you didn't have to do that and was told that Pre-Tsa was not open so I couldn't do that. Obviously, not well trained.

A week ago I had a very good experience at MSP. I went through the SkyPriority line just to the left of the SkyPriority check in area after deciding that that line looked better than the PreCheck line to the immediate left (although that line was the best I've seen it in four months). When the document checker heard the beeps, I was directed to a dedicated SkyPriority line, the one just to the left of the SkyPriority check in counter. It was quick and pleasant.

ADDED: This was 9:00-9:30 am on a Thursday.

It is not clear from your post if the dedicated SkyPriority line you ended up in was Pre√ or not. Given the sounding of the three beeps and the fact that you were redirected, I am prone to believing it was Pre√ but am not certain.

Thats what it sounds like as well having gone through that same checkpoint last week when was requalifying for nonPre . Normally when you go through the checkpoint described for non Pre (e.g. Skypriority) if not actually selected for Pre, you go through the gate directly next to the agent, otoh if they send you down the path to your left (or agents right) that would lead you to the pre-check lane.

I started in the SkyPriority line. At the document checker, PreCheck beeps resulted in being sent to what seemed to be at least a PreCheck light line to the right, through a little gate as usual for PreCheck, while SkyPriority people who didn't get the beeps were sent to a nonPreCheck lane in the middle, although it didn't have a nude-o-scope.

I've never seen a setup like this but I liked it very much. It avoided having to choose between SkyPriority and PreCheck.

I was there last week and was very frustrated. My companion and I are both GM. He had pre-check and I did not on this flight (still need to get GE). When I went to the SP security line, they were sending all pax through the same scanner. While the SP line was quicker to get to the ID check TSA agent, once past her everyone was sent to the same line. This meant that people who rarely travel and have no idea how to go through security were making the line take forever, and rendering the SP line rather meaningless.

AFAIK there's only one SkyPriority line at MSP, plus the general all airlines elite and premium cabin line. The two lines that merge at this checkpoint are PreCheck and SkyPriority, so there shouldn't be any kettles going into the nonPreCheck lane here. I've always seen someone guarding both line entrances pretty diligently.

At JFK post immigration there is one line - if pre-check you don't talk off shoes/liquids, etc. but are in the same screening as everyone else.

Sky Priority does dump,you into,the same screening a little faster.

The Pre-Check/no pre-check seems to be on the honor system as no one at the screening line looks at BP's.

TSA pre-check at MSP is a cluster. I thought pre-check was for frequent flyers who knew the ropes - I've been behind the Kettles (sorry, not PC) who are disrobing before they go through.

My wife (bless her heart) got pre-check although she flies maybe three times a year. Is it a frequent flyer benefit or a security program?

Cheers,
Pogopossum

It's basically a program to save the time of TSA "workers."

I know this is an old question, but they seem to be doing pre-check lite "sometimes" at the skyway checkpoint with yellow cards to send you through the walk-through with your shoes on. Last time I showed up the skyway checkpoint was closed at 5:00PM on a friday though, thought that was odd.

I'll have to try the all elites lane, sounds like it comes out close to ike's, which is normally where I am heading if I don't use the skyway checkpoint.