TSA Precheck

[max2]

Is it worth getting ever 5 years in the US ? I like not having to remove my belt or shoes. Though of course that is no guarantee. Nothing ever is.

 

[bunnspecial]

My wife and I did it even though at best we fly a couple of times a year.

It was worth every penny to me and she agrees. It's not just not removing your belt and shoes-you have to halfway unpack your carry-on and undress these days to get through security, and pre-check saves you from having to do that(electronics stay in, 3-1-1 liquids, etc).

Of course exact instructions as to what can stay and what can go(i.e. remove your jacket if wearing one or not) seem to change trip-to-trip.

It wasn't a big deal at least for us to get. We filled out the application online and made interview/fingerprint appointments at the nearest office(which turned out to be an insurance broker that had someone trained in how to do it). The appointments were in 10 minute slots, and we were able to book ours back to back. You answer a few questions, they take your fingerprints, take your picture, and you give them a check for I think $80-something.

 

[max2]

How long does it take to get approved ? 3 weeks + ?

 

[bunnspecial]

I don't remember the exact timeline but I think we could log in and see that we'd been okayed in a couple of days, and then could get our KTN(known traveler number) about a week after the interview. The physical letter took 3 weeks or so.

Of course it does vary case-by-case. I was a bit worried mine might take longer since I had a nasty blister on one of my fingers that was healing when I went in and thought it might mess with my fingerprints at least on that finger enough that they'd have to spend more time on them. That didn't happen-as I said ours was cleared a lot faster than they claimed it would be.

 

[BrianBaughn]

In normal times, we fly overseas a couple of times a year. When we went to sign up for TSA Precheck a couple of years back the agent said that Global Entry includes TSA Precheck…so we abandoned TSAP and signed up for Global Entry.

I think TSAP is $85 and GE is $100.

I'll have to say since we got the Global Entry cards that the two airports we've used have switched to machines for re-entry into the US for everyone…much faster…so GE doesn't seem to be much of an advantage currently. Probably depends on the entry airport.

 

[jetsam]

My wife and I did it even though at best we fly a couple of times a year.

It was worth every penny to me and she agrees. It's not just not removing your belt and shoes-you have to halfway unpack your carry-on and undress these days to get through security, and pre-check saves you from having to do that(electronics stay in, 3-1-1 liquids, etc).

I agree with these advantages. Another one - at least in normal times - is the TSA Pre line is both shorter and faster moving than the regular line.

In normal times, we fly overseas a couple of times a year. When we went to sign up for TSA Precheck a couple of years back the agent said that Global Entry includes TSA Precheck…so we abandoned TSAP and signed up for Global Entry.

I think TSAP is $85 and GE is $100.

I'll have to say since we got the Global Entry cards that the two airports we've used have switched to machines for re-entry into the US for everyone…much faster…so GE doesn't seem to be much of an advantage currently. Probably depends on the entry airport.

I have GE, too. It was a little more inconvenient than TSA pre to get, because GE required me to go to Logan (Boston) Airport for my interview, while TSA Pre could be handled at the local Staples.

 

[I7guy]

Wife and I have GE. Detailed background check with FBI and fingerprints goes with it. I used it once and it saved me at least 45 minutes compared to my son who didn’t have it. Worth every penny and traveling to EWR.