TSA PreCheck "Random" Extra Screening?
Mar 9, 2019, 11:29 am
#196
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
That answers one of the four important questions.
For what it is worth, I remove my Apple Watch and toss it in my carry-on along with everything else before going through Pre-Check.
For what it is worth, I remove my Apple Watch and toss it in my carry-on along with everything else before going through Pre-Check.
Mar 21, 2019, 12:53 pm
#197
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mpls
Programs: DL DM Hilton Diamond National EE
Posts: 40
I'm based in DEN and fly so often that two of the TSA agents that confirm entry after Clear know me by name. I find it hard to believe that it's random, especially since 3 out of 6 happened in DEN. Since I have nothing to hide and I'm used to it, I've just accepted it and have factored it into my travel routine. However, it seems like those stops would be better used on others.
Jul 5, 2019, 8:41 pm
#198
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYJ | PDX
Programs: Nexus, AS MVP
Posts: 4
ORD this week in the Pre area I got the "random" beep at the WTMD. They directed me to a body scanner which I refused due to medical device sensitivity. They then asked to swab my apple watch I was still wearing and sent me on my way.
Been a long time since I've been directed to the body scanner but in the past a refusal resulted in a pat down.
Been a long time since I've been directed to the body scanner but in the past a refusal resulted in a pat down.
Jul 10, 2019, 11:22 pm
#199
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
ORD this week in the Pre area I got the "random" beep at the WTMD. They directed me to a body scanner which I refused due to medical device sensitivity. They then asked to swab my apple watch I was still wearing and sent me on my way.
Been a long time since I've been directed to the body scanner but in the past a refusal resulted in a pat down.
Been a long time since I've been directed to the body scanner but in the past a refusal resulted in a pat down.
Jul 10, 2019, 11:39 pm
#200
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,734
<redacted by moderator>. PreCheck is open at D/E from 3:45 AM to 8 PM. That is my preferred checkpoint at PHL regardless of what terminal I am flying from. I have never seen D/E be all MMW scanners, unless it was past 8 PM.
https://www.phl.org/Pages/passengeri...o_default.aspx.
https://www.phl.org/Pages/passengeri...o_default.aspx.
Every flight I've taken out of D/E in the past few years has been midday - between noon and 5pm - and I've seen Pre√ closed as often as I've seen it open. YMMV.
Last edited by TWA884; Jul 11, 2019 at 9:13 am Reason: Opinion/commentary not practical trusted traveler advice/information
Jul 11, 2019, 12:31 am
#201
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
Posts: 18,916
WTMD = walk-through metal detector. There is a beep (different from the "metal detected" sound) when you've been randomly selected for additional screening, unrelated to SSSS.
Jul 11, 2019, 9:24 am
#202
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,625
Moderator's Note: Topic Drift
Folks,
This thread is about PreCheck passengers being randomly selected for extra screening as they go through the metal detector. It is not about the opening hours of the PreCheck lanes at specific airports or terminals.
While some natural deviation from the subject of the thread is fine, when the focus of the conversation shifts to availability and opening hours of the PreCheck lanes, in keeping with FlyerTalk Rule 5 - Stay On Topic, it is time to start a new thread on that topic.
Thank you,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
This thread is about PreCheck passengers being randomly selected for extra screening as they go through the metal detector. It is not about the opening hours of the PreCheck lanes at specific airports or terminals.
While some natural deviation from the subject of the thread is fine, when the focus of the conversation shifts to availability and opening hours of the PreCheck lanes, in keeping with FlyerTalk Rule 5 - Stay On Topic, it is time to start a new thread on that topic.
Thank you,
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Jul 11, 2019, 11:22 am
#203
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
You must have a metal object, a penny or key or belt in your pant's pocket. Otherwise you should have SSSS. I always empty out all my pockets, shirt or pant when entering that door. You just walk in straight and then collect your bag from the tray. Pre-check allows us to not have to remove belt but it will beep if you have belt right?
Jul 11, 2019, 5:35 pm
#204
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
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You must have a metal object, a penny or key or belt in your pant's pocket. Otherwise you should have SSSS. I always empty out all my pockets, shirt or pant when entering that door. You just walk in straight and then collect your bag from the tray. Pre-check allows us to not have to remove belt but it will beep if you have belt right?
Jul 11, 2019, 7:48 pm
#205
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
Jul 11, 2019, 8:57 pm
#206
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
Posts: 18,916
Sorry if I misinterpreted, I was replying based on your statement "You must have a metal object, a penny or key or belt in your pant's pocket. Otherwise you should have SSSS." It is possible for none of those things to be true, yet still get randomly selected for another check, whether that's imaging, or a swab test of your hands/electronics, etc.
Jul 12, 2019, 1:21 pm
#207
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 71
I am "randomly selected" over 50% of the time, either for extra screening, pat-down or swabbing. I have been "randomly selected" even when I was the only person in line. My wife and I figure that I must be on some list but I checked the SDN list and I am not there. I fly domestically and to Canada.. The last time to YYZ everyone had boarded and they announced my name over the cabin speaker and asked if I was on board. After answering affirmatively, I was asked to leave the plane and have my passport rechecked. I did and got back on, luckily causing no delay. I am a 66 years old.
Aug 17, 2019, 8:16 pm
#208
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 200
I have global entry TSA pre check. Something beeped and I was asked by one of the tsa worker to wait to be seen by someone . It wasn’t good feeling to be standing just waiting to be seen by another tsa employee . . A woman behind me also entered but beeped but she was asked to renter and let go. Very strange why I was asked to wait to be seen by someone else. I wonder if it beeped cos I took out my wallet and phone out of my pocket and put them in bowl? Or is it because I booked this flight only a day before the flight date ? After few mins of impatiently waiting , a tsa employee swabbed my iPhone and asked to remove laptop or tablet from my back pack . I didn’t have any so I told her I have none . After she swabbed my iPhone for few secs I was let go. Thankfully it was fast. This was a domestic trip one way trip on AA. My return flight few days later is on southwest .will it beep again to be seen by another TSa employee? Thanks . BtW I do have redress number . Doesn’t help I guess. I never had any issue on domestic flight except for this one . I got redress number cos I got SSSS on international return flight to USA. I got it again a year ago on return flight to US.
Last edited by Sherab Sherab; Aug 17, 2019 at 8:22 pm
Aug 21, 2019, 9:03 pm
#209
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 200
On my return flight, I had the same issue, "beep beep". Was asked to go in the scanner , raised my hand . Was quick though. I had my hand bag checked because one of the TSA guy told me it could be some glass or jar i was carrying. He was right. He opened my bag and the plastic bag. I had 2 small jars of chilly sauce in my bag. I wonder the beep, the phone swab and scanner was all due to my last minute flight booking? I booked flight to NY just a day before the flight with AA. I had my return flight 4 days later on SW, booked 3 days before the flight. I wonder if someone is responsible for this to happen or it is just the computer that decides who to single out?
Aug 22, 2019, 6:40 am
#210
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
On my return flight, I had the same issue, "beep beep". Was asked to go in the scanner , raised my hand . Was quick though. I had my hand bag checked because one of the TSA guy told me it could be some glass or jar i was carrying. He was right. He opened my bag and the plastic bag. I had 2 small jars of chilly sauce in my bag. I wonder the beep, the phone swab and scanner was all due to my last minute flight booking? I booked flight to NY just a day before the flight with AA. I had my return flight 4 days later on SW, booked 3 days before the flight. I wonder if someone is responsible for this to happen or it is just the computer that decides who to single out?