At the main checkpoint 4, near the DL Skypriority counters in MSP, there are two lines. The main line is for TSA Precheck, which apparently not very particular or very difficult a very difficult status to obtain, because the line is very long most of the time. It seems that nearly everyone qualifies. Interestingly, when you check in at the Sky Prioirty counter or drop a bag, the line up or rat runs dumps you into the non - TSA Precheck line. If you want to get toT TSA Precheck, you have to walk out again and down to a much longer line. So DL is dumping its best customers into the 'take off your shoes' line and everyone else is going to the easy line. As I stood there, nearly everyone in the SP line got the three beeps and could have been Precheck.

Why is DL sending its best customers either unintentionally through the most natural foot traffic pattern or pushing elites to the regular line because the line is so much shorter? Yes, the elite travelers are much more adept at the old routine which keeps the standard line moving. Plus the PreCheck line is filled with individuals who in many cases appear to be unclear on either the old or the new process.

Interestingly enough today in Palm Springs, the same thing existed so I chose to bypass the much longer TSA Precheck line, filled with slower, less experienced travellers for the shorter old routine line. When i got to the TSA agent, she told me I was Precheck and immediately walked me over to the Precheck line.I said I was fine to go to the shorter old routine line. No chance, i was in the WRONG line and I needed to do Precheck no matter what. Wouldn't it be my choice to use either in that case?

Am I missing something here?

PreCheck can be a crap shoot some times, it can be 30 seconds or have a long line. At IAH last week there were at least 12 people in front of me in PreCheck and regular line was empty. I watched a PAX go through the reg line and even with taking crap out and shoes off beat me by several minutes.

RE: your headline....

DUH

At MSP, I'm trying to train myself to evaluate the lines for PreCheck and SkyPriority at checkpoint 4 before committing. However, to add to the complexity, there's the all airlines elite lane organized by the airport itself as well as the skyway security station at the back of the general parking ramp (and close to the light rail).

I was stranded in MSP last weekend, and I noticed this anomaly as well. It would be so simple to add a TSA precheck option to the SkyPriority lane (when your boarding pass beeps twice and they hand you a special ticket/piece of paper letting you keep your shoes on).

If you get the 3 beeps in the Priority line, don't they let you into the PreCheck gate?

Not in my experience. Still got shuttled to the regular line even though I had pre-check. Maybe it is applied inconsistently?

PreCheck Lite = PreCheck + SkyPriority?

I don't mind the shoes off, computer and liquids out routine so much if others around me know the drill too, but I like PreCheck because it usually means walking through the metal detector rather than the cancer machines, plus you're less likely to alarm and be required to have an aggressive patdown or have someone tell you to put your watch into the small open bins.

TSA Pre Check exists solely for the administrative convenience of the TSA, since they don't have the throughput to process everyone through the same invasive screening. They don't care how many people are backed up in the Pre Check line waiting for the type of screening everyone should receive.

The pre-check check-point at MSP is separate from the regular SP line, so if you un-knowingly go through SP and get to the TSA agent and get the 3 beeps, you have to exit the line and go to another checkpoint which is the pre-check line. Depending on the time of day pre can be much longer then sp

Security at MSP is a mess. Sky priority and Pre Check can take longer than the regular lines. I almost always go to the airport elite line at the checkpoint by the United counters. When you get the 3 beeps they allow you to keep your belt on and walk through the metal detectors if you keep your boarding pass out.

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

They used to, but I think they've re-organized how the lines run.

I take the shortest line which is usually the Sky Priority line right from check in. I don't mind taking my shoes off etc as Pre Check used to be more of a time saver than a convenience.
Also, the Sky Priority line has the metal detector and not a full body scanner.

I also noticed this recently at MSP. I find it very strange. I understand that pre check is no longer primarily only for members of airline elite programs, but this set up is strange.