EWR Security line/PreCheck/Premier Access locations/wait times/issues [CONSOLIDATED]
Mar 1, 2016, 7:56 pm
#121
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
You're kidding, right?!
The PANYNJ does what they want, when they want, how they want, with whom they want, for as long as they want. Period, end of story.
About the only way United would get "results" is with baseball bats.
Well that, or to run a flight to Columbia SC.
Mar 2, 2016, 4:37 am
#123
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
Anyone equating this apparent nightmare at EWR to Pre at DEN (which a couple of posts have) is flat wrong. Monday morning I arrived with maybe 40 people in the Pre line (south checkpoint) and noted that there were three TSA agents checking IDs!! I was through in under 5 minutes.
Mar 2, 2016, 6:04 am
#124
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
Another reason to avoid EWR,s UA terminals at all costs ....... Staffing cuts? I don't find this problem flying LH out of EWR but since my last flight & mob scene w UA, (back in Nov), I refuse to go anywhere near a UA flight out of EWR
Mar 2, 2016, 9:02 am
#125
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 40
Just another random data point here...
Arrived at EWR today at 9:18 a.m. The security checkpoint at C2 was indeed for those with wheelchairs only. The security checkpoint at C3 was pretty much empty and I made it through the PreCheck line in about five minutes.
I realize that I arrived after the morning rush was gone and before the afternoon crowd started piling in so that may have affected my clearance time.
I do not fly enough out of EWR to be able to confidently make a statement about the general state of the airport or its security lines.
Arrived at EWR today at 9:18 a.m. The security checkpoint at C2 was indeed for those with wheelchairs only. The security checkpoint at C3 was pretty much empty and I made it through the PreCheck line in about five minutes.
I realize that I arrived after the morning rush was gone and before the afternoon crowd started piling in so that may have affected my clearance time.
I do not fly enough out of EWR to be able to confidently make a statement about the general state of the airport or its security lines.
Mar 2, 2016, 9:19 am
#126
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
I do, and usually make it through PreCheck in 5-10 minutes. Hasn't been much of an issue; I do about 40-50 departures yearly from EWR (and another 40-50 arrivals) ...
Mar 2, 2016, 9:40 am
#127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,648
call me a pessimist, but i honestly expect UA to do nothing about this until they see people actively avoiding them at EWR -- which of course, isn't even possible since they control 80% of the traffic at the airport. so, it will just continue.
Mar 2, 2016, 12:40 pm
#130
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
Well, I am allowed to use that entrance. What would you do once you enter the GS reception lobby and have to produce ID?
Mar 2, 2016, 12:57 pm
#131
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South Wales, UK
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 693
Another data point from this afternoon. Everyone arriving at C3 who was either Pre or PA was being sent down one level to queue. The pre line at that point was a couple of hundred long waiting to be allowed back upstsirs. The PA line had only 20-30 downstairs.
I joined the PA line but noticed that both pre and PA were being filtered to the same escalator to go back up to the security gate level. The blue coats up there had no idea what queue I gad come from and directed me to pre. Took about 20 minutes to get through security.
Rather surprised that my traveling companion also got pre check mind. That's a first for me.
I joined the PA line but noticed that both pre and PA were being filtered to the same escalator to go back up to the security gate level. The blue coats up there had no idea what queue I gad come from and directed me to pre. Took about 20 minutes to get through security.
Rather surprised that my traveling companion also got pre check mind. That's a first for me.
Mar 2, 2016, 1:39 pm
#132
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Also there last night and this afternoon...
Zero issue around 7 last night. No lines.
Around 130 today could see the tide turning.
Basically an an agent at the escalator coming from downstairs will shout at the downstairs agent to bring a "pre" group or "economy" group. Then that herd goes to the pre agent.
If you're really in a pinch...enter the precheck level from the upper escalator.
The agent will say "go downstairs"
But the down escalator is too far for her to spot.
And you could hang out by the balcony there and wait for the scrum of a pre group to come up the escalator and tag the back.
Yes you are cutting if a line is downstairs.
But can shave 20 minutes in a dire situation.
There were some local United management types taking notes and documenting the situation.
The United manager said Airtrain to A and clearing there is rarely more than 10 min wait. A lousy situation but I tried it and all in took 20 min with the bus back though stopped in the A lounge.
And they held my flight 10 min past departure today to wait for pax stuck in the TSA lines.
Zero issue around 7 last night. No lines.
Around 130 today could see the tide turning.
Basically an an agent at the escalator coming from downstairs will shout at the downstairs agent to bring a "pre" group or "economy" group. Then that herd goes to the pre agent.
If you're really in a pinch...enter the precheck level from the upper escalator.
The agent will say "go downstairs"
But the down escalator is too far for her to spot.
And you could hang out by the balcony there and wait for the scrum of a pre group to come up the escalator and tag the back.
Yes you are cutting if a line is downstairs.
But can shave 20 minutes in a dire situation.
There were some local United management types taking notes and documenting the situation.
The United manager said Airtrain to A and clearing there is rarely more than 10 min wait. A lousy situation but I tried it and all in took 20 min with the bus back though stopped in the A lounge.
And they held my flight 10 min past departure today to wait for pax stuck in the TSA lines.
Mar 2, 2016, 1:42 pm
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,648
Mar 2, 2016, 3:39 pm
#135
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: EWR / PHL
Programs: UA 1P MM, HH G, Marriott G
Posts: 802