TSA PreCheck "Random" Extra Screening?
Sep 21, 2016, 4:28 pm
#136
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
Sep 23, 2016, 12:27 am
#138
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 878
Sep 23, 2016, 7:15 am
#139
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
Same here. I find it ironic that I can wear my shoes and belt through the WTMD, through the MMW, but have to take them off to be scanned if I opt out from my 'random'.
Today I get the full monty as I got my biannual random PC miss.
Today I get the full monty as I got my biannual random PC miss.
Sep 23, 2016, 10:47 am
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
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I normal just go and reprint a BP from a kiosk. Most times it'll appear.
Sep 25, 2016, 3:10 pm
#141
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 579
Can anyone verify that you are still able to opt-out when you get the random beep with Precheck? My brother told me that they didn't give him the option to opt-out but he also didn't escalate this. I would appreciate any information that people may have regarding this.
Sep 25, 2016, 4:05 pm
#142
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
I have opted out each time I have been randomized by the WTMD. Shoes & belt go through the baggage x-ray and a standard opt-out pat down is given.
Sep 25, 2016, 5:13 pm
#143
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
I opted out with no issues in DEN in May. Got the random beep at SFO Terminal 4 yesterday and was already saying opt out when I realized there were no rapiscanners nearby for the Pre line. They did a very perfunctory pat down, not like when I opted out in the International Terminal without pre at the start of my trip.
If your brother isn't comfortable or pressed for time, just ask for two comment cards after clearing the screening. Fill it out and drop one there in the box and mail the other to the address on the card.
If your brother isn't comfortable or pressed for time, just ask for two comment cards after clearing the screening. Fill it out and drop one there in the box and mail the other to the address on the card.
Sep 26, 2016, 9:40 pm
#144
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
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I opted out with no issues in DEN in May. Got the random beep at SFO Terminal 4 yesterday and was already saying opt out when I realized there were no rapiscanners nearby for the Pre line. They did a very perfunctory pat down, not like when I opted out in the International Terminal without pre at the start of my trip.
Security for the DL gates (40-49) has AIT; I've opted out after being randomly selected twice from the Precheck WTMD.
Sep 28, 2016, 5:44 pm
#145
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Sep 30, 2016, 10:57 am
#146
Join Date: Dec 2003
Programs: AA Plat Pro, United Silver, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,120
Random selection for TSA PreCheck screening not random?
My husband has been using TSA PreCheck for years - first as a Platinum AA flyer, now with Global Entry. Suddenly he is being chosen for "random" screening almost every time (7 of the last 8 flights). This is not the SSSS screening; this is at the point where he goes through the metal detector and is given the beep. It doesn't seem to be linked to his profile, because he's already passed the checkpoint. I don't think he appears physically to be a threat (average height/weight middle-aged businessman).
It seems mathematically impossible for this to be random. (I get pulled out about 10% of the time). What could be the problem?
It seems mathematically impossible for this to be random. (I get pulled out about 10% of the time). What could be the problem?
Sep 30, 2016, 11:13 am
#147
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,439
My husband has been using TSA PreCheck for years - first as a Platinum AA flyer, now with Global Entry. Suddenly he is being chosen for "random" screening almost every time (7 of the last 8 flights). This is not the SSSS screening; this is at the point where he goes through the metal detector and is given the beep. It doesn't seem to be linked to his profile, because he's already passed the checkpoint. I don't think he appears physically to be a threat (average height/weight middle-aged businessman).
It seems mathematically impossible for this to be random. (I get pulled out about 10% of the time). What could be the problem?
It seems mathematically impossible for this to be random. (I get pulled out about 10% of the time). What could be the problem?
Sep 30, 2016, 11:45 am
#148
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
For example, flipping a fair coin (exactly 50/50 heads vs. tails) 8 times will result in exactly 7 heads 3.125% of the time. Very far from impossible.
Even more, assuming the probability of being selected at any given trip changes (say the TSA plays with the % selected function from day to day), if we knew the likelihood of selection on any given trip we can calculate the exact probability of being selected 7 times out of 8.
Sep 30, 2016, 3:23 pm
#149
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
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Is the WTMD sensitivity adjustable, and/or variable by site/equipment? I have a watch with a metal body and band; after being selected randomly twice in a row out of Precheck at SFO (after having never been randomly selected), I started taking the watch off along with emptying my pockets and have not been randomly selected since.
I definitely do not consider this statistically significant, just wondering if it's a possible cause.
I definitely do not consider this statistically significant, just wondering if it's a possible cause.
Sep 30, 2016, 6:01 pm
#150
Join Date: Dec 2003
Programs: AA Plat Pro, United Silver, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,120
Not only is this NOT impossible, but knowing the likelihood of any individual pax being chosen by the random alarm allows the calculation of the precise probability of being selected 7 of 8 times.
For example, flipping a fair coin (exactly 50/50 heads vs. tails) 8 times will result in exactly 7 heads 3.125% of the time. Very far from impossible.
Even more, assuming the probability of being selected at any given trip changes (say the TSA plays with the % selected function from day to day), if we knew the likelihood of selection on any given trip we can calculate the exact probability of being selected 7 times out of 8.
For example, flipping a fair coin (exactly 50/50 heads vs. tails) 8 times will result in exactly 7 heads 3.125% of the time. Very far from impossible.
Even more, assuming the probability of being selected at any given trip changes (say the TSA plays with the % selected function from day to day), if we knew the likelihood of selection on any given trip we can calculate the exact probability of being selected 7 times out of 8.
So I'm still skeptical that it's random.