Is pre-check always this easy?!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: united, Hilton, Amtrak
Posts: 1,188
Is pre-check always this easy?!
Went through at Reagan today for terminal B. Less than 5 minutes. This was impressive enough that I think I'm going to pay for the program. How well does pre-check work at Ord and mdw?
#2
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Programs: UA 1M, 1K,AA 2M,HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, IHG Platinum
Posts: 115
Is pre-check always this easy?!
In my experience, if the lines are open, then it is. Will definitely reenroll in global entry when mine expires. Adds some predictability to international connections.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
In my 1-2 years as a Pre-Check member, it's worked great. Unless, as someone wrote above, the lines are not open. I've only run into that a couple of times, however.
I frequent IAD and DCA and the pre-check experience there has been pretty stellar. Same with the few times I've used it at ORD. The one place where it was sluggish, though still far superior to the "regular" line, was ATL.
I frequent IAD and DCA and the pre-check experience there has been pretty stellar. Same with the few times I've used it at ORD. The one place where it was sluggish, though still far superior to the "regular" line, was ATL.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: united, Hilton, Amtrak
Posts: 1,188
Pretty impressive
It was less than 5 minutes today. Though I only travel a few times s year security is a pain when the line is long. How long does it take to process an application. Would like to use this for a January 15 departure.
#7
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Two to three weeks if you clear all the hurdles quickly and can get an appointment. Better apply like today though. And yes PreCheck does go typically very fast. My only slow down in a pure PreCheck lane was after Customs and Immigration in Philly but even then it only took maybe 15 minutes compared to God knows how long in the regular lines which had literally hundreds of people in them.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,922
If you travel abroad at all you might want to consider GE for $20 extra. I applied on 12/11/2014 and was conditionally approved on 12/17. I set up the interview for the next time I passed through ORD (1/8/2015). GE is immediate, if approved, and you then have your KTN to add to your profile. You will have to have any existing reservation "refreshed" for it to pass through. The only difficulty is getting an appointment and getting to an interview location. Things may be slower over the holidays!
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
I've definitely gotten good use out of Pre✓ in the time that I've had it (about 3 years). My primary complaint is the amount of non trusted travelers who are now getting it for random reasons. It's terrible at MCO standing there waiting for people who have no clue what their doing fumble around for their laptops, liquids, gels, etc.
They should really separate the randomly selected travelers from those actually enrolled in a TT program.
They should really separate the randomly selected travelers from those actually enrolled in a TT program.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: Global Entry, APEC, United Premier Silver, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 13
I've definitely gotten good use out of Pre✓ in the time that I've had it (about 3 years). My primary complaint is the amount of non trusted travelers who are now getting it for random reasons. It's terrible at MCO standing there waiting for people who have no clue what their doing fumble around for their laptops, liquids, gels, etc.
They should really separate the randomly selected travelers from those actually enrolled in a TT program.
They should really separate the randomly selected travelers from those actually enrolled in a TT program.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Plat, Nexus
Posts: 358
I chose to get NEXUS earlier this year.
I've gotten pre-check every time since I got approval (probably 4-6 trips, give or take). Not so good when pre-check lines are closed, though you usually at least get to keep your shoes on.
My most recent was 12/19. 10 rows of cattle-lines at Pdx. I got to the pre-check and found one person in front of me. Including walk time, I think I made it through in about 1.5 minutes.
Nexus has gotten me through YVR inbound fairly quickly, and SJO-LAX also. That one took a bit of finagling to convince the line-shoo-er guy to skip me to the front of the line when the machines were down. Still only took 5 minutes or so.
Well worth it, IMO. That said, I'd really like it if we didn't have to pay extra to be treated civilly.
I've gotten pre-check every time since I got approval (probably 4-6 trips, give or take). Not so good when pre-check lines are closed, though you usually at least get to keep your shoes on.
My most recent was 12/19. 10 rows of cattle-lines at Pdx. I got to the pre-check and found one person in front of me. Including walk time, I think I made it through in about 1.5 minutes.
Nexus has gotten me through YVR inbound fairly quickly, and SJO-LAX also. That one took a bit of finagling to convince the line-shoo-er guy to skip me to the front of the line when the machines were down. Still only took 5 minutes or so.
Well worth it, IMO. That said, I'd really like it if we didn't have to pay extra to be treated civilly.
#15
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Marriott Titanium, National EE
Posts: 538
Unfortunately, nowadays everyone's grandmom has Pre-Check... and there are people that clearly don't understand the concept of Pre-Check (e.g. taking off shoe and taking out laptops) slowing down the whole line.