PreCheck with Children
Jul 7, 2018, 1:53 am
#31
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Even without membership in GE/PreCheck (or other US DHS trusted traveler or DOD programs), minor children of the mentioned ages can go through PreCheck screening (even without PreCheck notation on their boarding pass) with older/adult companions who have PreCheck notations on their boarding pass. The exception for such minor children is if they happen to have been hit with a SSSS notation for additional screening, for then at least one person — and more probably at least two — in the travel party will be subject to additional/slower screening upon getting to the (non-ID) passenger/cabin baggage screening machines.
From TSA:
”Children ages 12 and younger may use the TSA Pre✓® lane when traveling with a parent or guardian who has the indicator on their boarding pass. Travelers 13 and older who do not have a TSA Pre✓® boarding pass must go through standard security lanes or apply. Before applying, TSA recommends reviewing the various DHS trusted traveler programs, such as the TSA Pre✓® Application Program, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI, to determine the best program for your family.”
The exception for children of such age as yours: if they get hit with SSSS on boarding passes — and it does happen to young kids from time to time. Otherwise they are good to get PreCheck type screening as long as they are accompanied by a person with PreCheck notation on the boarding pass for the same flight.
From TSA:
”Children ages 12 and younger may use the TSA Pre✓® lane when traveling with a parent or guardian who has the indicator on their boarding pass. Travelers 13 and older who do not have a TSA Pre✓® boarding pass must go through standard security lanes or apply. Before applying, TSA recommends reviewing the various DHS trusted traveler programs, such as the TSA Pre✓® Application Program, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI, to determine the best program for your family.”
The exception for children of such age as yours: if they get hit with SSSS on boarding passes — and it does happen to young kids from time to time. Otherwise they are good to get PreCheck type screening as long as they are accompanied by a person with PreCheck notation on the boarding pass for the same flight.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jul 7, 2018 at 1:59 am
Jul 7, 2018, 9:55 am
#32
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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So my understanding is that if we are in the U.S. (not flying internationally) and my wife and I have Global entry (but kids do not), they would still be allowed in the TSA precheck line? I'm hoping that is correct, but would like to know if anyone has encountered this situation before? Please feel free to move post if it is not in the correct area. I did a search of existing posts, but could not find the answer to this question. Thanks!
I've gone ahead and merged your question into an existing discussion of this topic.
If you have the PreCheck designation on your boarding passes, it does not matter if it is random or because of membership in Global Entry or another trusted traveler program, your children under 12 will be permitted to accompany you in the PreCheck security screening lanes.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Jul 11, 2018, 1:30 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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I have two children (5 year old and 2 year old) and my wife and I want to sign up for Global Entry or TSA pre-check. We currently only take domestic flights, but there is a chance (2-3 years from now) that we would fly internationally. I'm leaning towards applying for Global entry for just my wife and I for now (and adding the kiddos later if we decide to fly internationally). My questions is whether my kids would be allowed to join us in the TSA pre-check line if we have Global Entry on our boarding passes (and they have no designation on their boarding passes)?
Jul 11, 2018, 2:04 pm
#35
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 233
That seems to be the safer choice. I've seen in Honolulu (of all places, even in the "aloha state") families with older children being told to go to the back of the regular line by the TSA agent examining the boarding passes and IDs. Embarrassing to say the least.
Jul 12, 2018, 10:56 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego
Posts: 75
Just to add some clarity, your kids by virtue of age can go in precheck. If you sign up for GE/PC and are approved, your boarding pass will show PC on it (assuming you're not selected out - I never have been). GE won't be an issue and it doesn't show up on BPs. GE only is a mechanism for international immigration on arrival and you'll be able to go to the GE kiosks (no one checks your eligibility before that) when you arrive. Your kids cannot accompany you however - they'll need to get GE separately (or you can forgo GE if you take them on an international trip, and use mobile passport or the regular line).
Sep 26, 2020, 8:43 pm
#37
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
questions about Precheck and minors
My wife, 2 kids (under 12yo) and I all have Nexus.
We were turned back at Pre checkpoint because my wife's airline bp didn't show Pre for whatever reason.
Hers was the only one that didn't show it. The officer said it'd be no problem if it were my kid's bp not showing Pre. Since it's an adult's, she couldn't let us through.
So we went to regular security. The officer only looked at my ID and my wife's... didn't even look at my kids' ID (their Nexus cards).
Anyways, here are my questions...
1). Why do they even bother to check my kids' TTP cards at Pre checkpoint, if they don't necessarily care about checking kids?
2). Will we be able to use Pre as a family even if my child's TTP card is invalid? Her Nexus card is good till 2022, but her Passport (presumably linked to her Nexus) just expired.
We were turned back at Pre checkpoint because my wife's airline bp didn't show Pre for whatever reason.
Hers was the only one that didn't show it. The officer said it'd be no problem if it were my kid's bp not showing Pre. Since it's an adult's, she couldn't let us through.
So we went to regular security. The officer only looked at my ID and my wife's... didn't even look at my kids' ID (their Nexus cards).
Anyways, here are my questions...
1). Why do they even bother to check my kids' TTP cards at Pre checkpoint, if they don't necessarily care about checking kids?
2). Will we be able to use Pre as a family even if my child's TTP card is invalid? Her Nexus card is good till 2022, but her Passport (presumably linked to her Nexus) just expired.
Sep 27, 2020, 11:27 am
#38
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Originally Posted by evergrn
My wife, 2 kids (under 12yo) and I all have Nexus.
We were turned back at Pre checkpoint because my wife's airline bp didn't show Pre for whatever reason.
Hers was the only one that didn't show it. The officer said it'd be no problem if it were my kid's bp not showing Pre. Since it's an adult's, she couldn't let us through.
So we went to regular security.
We were turned back at Pre checkpoint because my wife's airline bp didn't show Pre for whatever reason.
Hers was the only one that didn't show it. The officer said it'd be no problem if it were my kid's bp not showing Pre. Since it's an adult's, she couldn't let us through.
So we went to regular security.
Anyways, here are my questions...
1). Why do they even bother to check my kids' TTP cards at Pre checkpoint, if they don't necessarily care about checking kids?
2). Will we be able to use Pre as a family even if my child's TTP card is invalid? Her Nexus card is good till 2022, but her Passport (presumably linked to her Nexus) just expired.
1). Why do they even bother to check my kids' TTP cards at Pre checkpoint, if they don't necessarily care about checking kids?
2). Will we be able to use Pre as a family even if my child's TTP card is invalid? Her Nexus card is good till 2022, but her Passport (presumably linked to her Nexus) just expired.
2) Yes, at US airports at least if all the following conditions are met: the children are still U12s and have boarding passes accompanying an adult with a PreCheck boarding pass for the same flight; and none of the boarding passes for the travel party members has an SSSS indication on it.
Last edited by GUWonder; Sep 27, 2020 at 11:33 am
Sep 27, 2020, 11:57 am
#39
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Your children <16 may accompany an adult with Pre-Check through that line, whether or not they have Pre-Check. An adult must have pre-check in order to pass through that line.
As to your daughter, for purely domestic flights where a passport is not necessary, whether it is expired will not affect Nexus feeding data to TSA for Pre-Check and she will remain eligible for Pre-Check during the time between the passport expiration and renewal.
Remember that being a member of a TTP is a path to pre-check, but that the pre-check symbol must still appear on the BP, Why that happened here is a different set of issues and is likely easily remedied or was simply a statistically insignificant incident or a glitch.
As to your daughter, for purely domestic flights where a passport is not necessary, whether it is expired will not affect Nexus feeding data to TSA for Pre-Check and she will remain eligible for Pre-Check during the time between the passport expiration and renewal.
Remember that being a member of a TTP is a path to pre-check, but that the pre-check symbol must still appear on the BP, Why that happened here is a different set of issues and is likely easily remedied or was simply a statistically insignificant incident or a glitch.
Sep 27, 2020, 12:21 pm
#40
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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From the DHS website:
I am traveling with my family; can they also use the TSA PreCheck™ lane?
Children ages 12 and younger may use the TSA PreCheck™ lane when traveling with a parent or guardian who has the indicator on their boarding pass. Travelers 13 and older who do not have a TSA PreCheck™ boarding pass must go through standard security lanes or apply. Before applying, TSA recommends reviewing the various DHS trusted traveler programs, such as the TSA PreCheck™ Application Program, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI, to determine the best program for your family.
Sep 27, 2020, 2:51 pm
#41
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Thanks a lot for the responses.
I won't sweat it as far as my daughter's passport for the upcoming domestic flight then.
I just looked up and saw that kids under 18 do not need ID to fly US-domestic.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-...identification
And so I still think it's bizarre that they want to check my daughters' TTP cards and do the "what's your name" thing every time, when I guess they wouldn't even be required to show ID if they went to regular line. My younger daughter's 9 and she's small for her age.
I won't sweat it as far as my daughter's passport for the upcoming domestic flight then.
I just looked up and saw that kids under 18 do not need ID to fly US-domestic.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-...identification
And so I still think it's bizarre that they want to check my daughters' TTP cards and do the "what's your name" thing every time, when I guess they wouldn't even be required to show ID if they went to regular line. My younger daughter's 9 and she's small for her age.
Apr 1, 2022, 8:53 am
#42
Join Date: May 2006
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TSA PreCheck For Minors
Hello all. Hoping for a quick gut check here. I often travel with my 11 and 15 year olds. Both my wife and I have Global Entry and Precheck. Both boys have always gotten TSA precheck on their boarding passes when traveling with us. There has never been a issue with this.
We have a few flights coming up and I'm double checking the Precheck rule and the TSA website says:
"Children ages 12 and under do not need a separate enrollment when travelling with a parent or guardian enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program"
That's great for the 11 year old, but then why has the older child always gotten Precheck too? Is there a loophole I am missing? If he's good to go until he's 18 when traveling with us I won't be in a rush to sign him up but if we've been just getting lucky and dodging bullets then we'd definitely get him registered.
Anyone have any thoughts? Many thanks!
We have a few flights coming up and I'm double checking the Precheck rule and the TSA website says:
"Children ages 12 and under do not need a separate enrollment when travelling with a parent or guardian enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program"
That's great for the 11 year old, but then why has the older child always gotten Precheck too? Is there a loophole I am missing? If he's good to go until he's 18 when traveling with us I won't be in a rush to sign him up but if we've been just getting lucky and dodging bullets then we'd definitely get him registered.
Anyone have any thoughts? Many thanks!
Apr 1, 2022, 9:20 am
#43
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Hello all. Hoping for a quick gut check here. I often travel with my 11 and 15 year olds. Both my wife and I have Global Entry and Precheck. Both boys have always gotten TSA precheck on their boarding passes when traveling with us. There has never been a issue with this.
We have a few flights coming up and I'm double checking the Precheck rule and the TSA website says:
"Children ages 12 and under do not need a separate enrollment when travelling with a parent or guardian enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program"
That's great for the 11 year old, but then why has the older child always gotten Precheck too? Is there a loophole I am missing? If he's good to go until he's 18 when traveling with us I won't be in a rush to sign him up but if we've been just getting lucky and dodging bullets then we'd definitely get him registered.
Anyone have any thoughts? Many thanks!
We have a few flights coming up and I'm double checking the Precheck rule and the TSA website says:
"Children ages 12 and under do not need a separate enrollment when travelling with a parent or guardian enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program"
That's great for the 11 year old, but then why has the older child always gotten Precheck too? Is there a loophole I am missing? If he's good to go until he's 18 when traveling with us I won't be in a rush to sign him up but if we've been just getting lucky and dodging bullets then we'd definitely get him registered.
Anyone have any thoughts? Many thanks!
I merged your question into the relevant thread.
You may wish to also take a look at the following thread:TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Apr 1, 2022, 9:33 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 89
Often travelling companions of PreCheck travellers seem to pick up the PreCheck designation on their boarding passes. I'm not sure what the criteria is. My wife, for instance, always got it when I booked the tickets even though she didn't have it until she got her GE ttn.
They definitely will turn around any teens that don't have PreCheck on their boarding passes at the line. I watched this happen in Charlotte. And for christ sake, have all the travellers have out their own boarding passes. Had a family of five really muck up the line the other day because mom was holding all the passes. Fortunately they did all have precheck.
They definitely will turn around any teens that don't have PreCheck on their boarding passes at the line. I watched this happen in Charlotte. And for christ sake, have all the travellers have out their own boarding passes. Had a family of five really muck up the line the other day because mom was holding all the passes. Fortunately they did all have precheck.