Premier Access shut down at ORD T1 - 11 Feb 2018
Feb 11, 2018, 4:09 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,451
Feb 11, 2018, 4:21 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
Feb 11, 2018, 4:29 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
Interesting situation. If you didn’t have precheck, there was only one line for everybody else. Took 35 minutes to get through. Line snakes through almost entirety of lobby behind the wall past an open rectangle where a sniffer dog checked everyone out at least twice. He had his nose right on my leg. A total of about 20 TSA offers were just looking at everybody as you snaked through. Everybody was sent through metal detector only with usual rules in place for that. So no bags had to get opened and laptops stayed in bag. Belt and shoes left on. What gives?
Feb 11, 2018, 4:36 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,727
Interesting situation. If you didn’t have precheck, there was only one line for everybody else. Took 35 minutes to get through. Line snakes through almost entirety of lobby behind the wall past an open rectangle where a sniffer dog checked everyone out at least twice. He had his nose right on my leg. A total of about 20 TSA offers were just looking at everybody as you snaked through. Everybody was sent through metal detector only with usual rules in place for that. So no bags had to get opened and laptops stayed in bag. Belt and shoes left on. What gives?
When security lines are backed up, they use the dogs to sniff the line and then everybody gets pre-check lite, which sounds like what happened in your case. It’s an effort to speed up security.
Feb 11, 2018, 4:39 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA Premier Silver
Posts: 311
Depending on the airport, sometimes it greatly increases the wait for everyone if agents have to deal with a Priority line as well as a normal line and precheck. It sounds like they for whatever reason did not have the resources to maintain both lines at that checkpoint, and so decided funneling everyone through one line would make it faster for the vast majority of people. If you really are concerned with this, you could send TSA a message expressing your discontent with the time and/or experience.
Feb 11, 2018, 5:19 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: SNA/LAX
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Posts: 202
Feb 11, 2018, 6:10 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: MSP/ORD
Programs: UA 1MM/GS, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 318
The precheck experience at T1 was also very odd today around noon. The security machine closest to the GS door was closed, and while there were minimal lines before TAA checks your BP, there were significant lines after that point, which is unusual. In particular one couldn’t avoid the line by going through the GS door, which is unusual. It was only a 10 minute wait overall, but something odd must have been going on today.
Feb 11, 2018, 6:27 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Boston/Chicago
Programs: UA, Hyatt
Posts: 100
I flew out of Ohare about a month ago from T1 and couldn't find a premier access security line. It use to be all the way to the left (when facing security/check in) in a separate section, but now it looks like that's just another general security. Came here to ask if this has been resolved since I'm flying out tomorrow and don't want to wait 30-45 minutes for security. Is there no premier access line at ohare still?
Feb 11, 2018, 6:57 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I flew out of Ohare about a month ago from T1 and couldn't find a premier access security line. It use to be all the way to the left (when facing security/check in) in a separate section, but now it looks like that's just another general security. Came here to ask if this has been resolved since I'm flying out tomorrow and don't want to wait 30-45 minutes for security. Is there no premier access line at ohare still?
Feb 11, 2018, 7:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,268
Anyways, I flew out on the Sunday after Thanksgiving last year. Car accident at the terminal caused a huge backup. Got to the terminal after boarding started only to find precheck closed. Went to the "premier" line. Ran out of pre-check lite cards. Two people cut in front of me say they're flight was leaving in less than an hour. I was surprised that I still got through the whole mess in less than 15min. (and made it to my flight). I've been stuck in the pre line for 30min in the past.
Feb 11, 2018, 8:33 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
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If could be worse for the OP - he could be trying to fly Southwest out of MDW.
Southwest Airlines runs out of de-icer, cancels all flights from Midway
Southwest Airlines runs out of de-icer, cancels all flights from Midway - Chicago Tribune
Southwest Airlines runs out of de-icer, cancels all flights from Midway
Southwest Airlines runs out of de-icer, cancels all flights from Midway - Chicago Tribune
Feb 11, 2018, 8:43 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 320
In December it was still all the way to the left. But it was slow, slow, slow according to my wife. GS passengers who were supposed to have priority on that line were complaining that the TSA agent was making them wait. Anyways, the only reason my wife found herself in that line is because she got the SSSS on our flight from MUC so could not go through the TSA Pre line. Before getting on that Premier Access line, she tried to get a desk agent help her get a new boarding pass without the SSS but the person manning the entrance to the check-in forced her to use the computer and she did not know what to do. The wait that day on the Premier Access line was 30 minutes so it seems the same speed as the general line.
Feb 11, 2018, 8:44 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: United MileagePlus, Southwest RapidRewards
Posts: 54
If could be worse for the OP - he could be trying to fly Southwest out of MDW.
Southwest Airlines runs out of de-icer, cancels all flights from Midway
Southwest Airlines runs out of de-icer, cancels all flights from Midway - Chicago Tribune
Southwest Airlines runs out of de-icer, cancels all flights from Midway
Southwest Airlines runs out of de-icer, cancels all flights from Midway - Chicago Tribune
Rather - Not flying. Two flights for me cancelled today on WN out of MDW. My 9:30A got cancelled last night, so I rebooked on a 1:30P flight, which got cancelled as I pulled up to the airport. Fortunately, I called up UAL and the Premier desk got me two saver awards out to LAS tomorrow morning - almost as good as bringing the wife along on companion pass with WN. Missed dinner and a concert we had, but at least I'll make my conference.
I'm hoping security isn't a beast tomorrow morning around 7-8A.
Having status is good sometimes
