kennycrudup

Well, tomorrow's my first WN flight since early August and I got the "TSA Pre" on my BP (but I backed out my GOES number from the "Redress" box on the "Contact Me" page when buying the tickets). I'll need to eventually call WN CS, but I'll see what happens at SNA in the morning, esp. since:

I'd gotten PC on AA ex-SNA in August, and we were the only people in it (Terminal A). SNA Terminal C is always pretty busy, so I wonder exactly how much time I'll really save if this is so

tusphotog

The A checkpoint is probably your best bet anyway. It's usually deserted. If you're there early enough the B checkpoint has a PreCheck lane open from 5a-8a (IIRC). I don't think I've ever used the C checkpoint at SNA.

kennycrudup

SNA Term C was a breeze! Literally my fastest counter-to-gate experience since 9/11.

ray1111

>>>TSA Website Updated Today

I finally read the new stuff on the updated TSA site and it explained why getting Pre-Check without opt-in or KTN has been so erratic -- the TSA Risk Assessments "feature" is designed to allow pre-chek "on a random basis."

What I wonder is if other FTers have been experiencing the same thing as me: it seems that lately when we fly together EITHER I (Alist) or my wife (companion) get PRE all the time (except on FL); but both of us, not so much. (Which, of course, kills the value. My wife, who had pre last night at CLT, finished her Starbucks sitting and waiting for me to work through the serpentine line there.)

I know truly random processes often look far from random in the short term. That makes me curious if others are experiencing this. Anyway, we're probably going to do NEXUS applications.

nsx

As A-list Preferred I am 4 for 4 with Companion Precheck flights. I have gotten PreCheck for myself every time since it started. No TTN, just the Southwest nomination.

steved5480

For clarification.... "with Companion Precheck flights" - your companion traveling with you also received Pre 4 for 4 on these flights?

nsx

Yes.

steved5480

Interesting.... thank you.

dillspearpaddler

For the first time since opting in I did not get TSA PRE on my boarding pass. The flight was booked with points and also included a CP itinerary. Interestingly, on the return flight my wife (CP) had TSA PRE on her boarding pass although she (as far as I know) did not receive a Pre Check invitation and is not opted in. I did not pay much attention to her boarding pass for the first flight and therefore do not know if she had it on that flight.

At first I figured that this was my random non TSA PRE experience - no big deal. When it happened on the return I began to wonder if it had something to do with a points booking (unlikely) or the fact that I also had a CP res (also unlikely). When I discovered that she had the TSA PRE that I was missing then I was really confused. The TSA agent joked that they prefer blondes anyway and if it were determined by looks then I would absolutely agree that she would beat me out hands down!

Has anyone else had this experience? I am a bit reluctant to pursue it as I suspect a good probability of it getting even more screwed up and not working for me the 95% of the time when I am flying without the CP Blonde.

Dunbar

Perhaps this is an indication that we are (slowly) returning to a more sensible approach to airport security? Unless you are a fan of the current system I can't see how this would be seen as a bad thing.

CDKing

Although my reply probably belongs in Travel Safety and security, The TSA website is full of inaccurate info. Especially the following which has been far from the truth since October:

Although I do agree with TT/KTN members being "more likely" on the Probability chart

smmrfld

Try using Pre at OAK. You'll see how it would be seen as a bad thing.

ursine1

Pre at MDW is a disaster. The regular lines are usually much shorter, and the Fly By lane is now the same as the Pre lane, so that benefit is gone now.

lougord99

As best I can tell, MDW keeps changing the system. About a week ago, I went through without Pre. The 'left/right' machine sent me to the non-pre side where there was another checker. Since I was A-list, that person let me into an almost empty lane. I went through security much faster than anyone in the pre line.

Wingrider

I was debating sharing this story online as to blow my PreC status but what the heck they know everything about us anyway…

I'm flying 3 day trips this week SJC<->BUR. So far BUR has their act together of the 4 or so other times I've used PreC with them.

Monday SJC- PreC feeder line open at the top of the escalator and the experience is as expected. TSA checker says leave your shoes on blah blah. don't take your liquids out etc. Through the detector and all is reasonable.

Tuesday SJC- PreC feeder line roped closed at the top so I use the A-list/1st line like normal. TSA roper at the main feeder is directing people to 4 TSA agents doing checking- including the PreC check station. I discreetly hold up my BP to the TSA roper and say "Pre?" He shakes his head and says "We're not running Pre Check at the moment". I shrug and stay #2 in the first TSA checker line. I get to the TSA checker, he beeps my BP and after that points down the line to the PreC short line to the metal detector and says "Go down that way to Pre Check and the TSA Agent will let you enter that line."

So I walk down to the TSA "#4" and he waves me by and says "go ahead and use the Pre Check line". I get in the line and throw my laptop bag (containing 2 laptops) on the conveyer and line up to the metal detector. No shoes off, no pulling the laptops similar to a couple others. TSA walk though detector agent calls out- "If you are Pre Check hold up your boarding pass for me to see before you enter the detector." I walk through the detector (Shoes on) and I thought that was that.

Well it turns out they really wanted to get a look at my bag and call out "BAG CHECK" They don't say why, but started to rummage around in it and then change their minds and take it up to the front of the conveyer line. I don't know what they're doing so I walk up next to the detector (apparently a mistake) and peek over the clear plexi barrier to see what he's doing now that he's opened it. He proceeds to pull both laptops and send them through again separately. They do a mini freak out that I was standing next to the walk through and the Xray and call out something to each other then half bark at me what am I doing? I told them politely I didn't know what the issue was as I was Pre Check and wanted to know what the agent was doing opening up my bag at the front of the conveyer. He says " You put your laptops in your bag and if you don't step back (I'm still on the "safe side" of the scanners) we will have to hand search you". I quickly backed away from that space and walked back to the end of the conveyer line to await my laptops and bag. Then the TSA agent who was befuddled about what initially do for my "BAG CHECK" chastised me for leaving my laptops in my bag.

I really didn't intend for this post to go long but I wanted to detail how broken/conflicting PreC can be @ SJC when they claim it's not "running" at a certain time. I was tempted to fill out one of those TSA complaint cards as this kinda frustrated me. I wasn't late so I can't put my frustration on anything else but this experience. I didn't follow through on the fear that a complaint may "flag" me and I lose PreC. I fly Thursday morning as the last of my 3 flights this week and I wonder how it will go.

Funny how one places a value on something we had as common place pre 9/11.