TSA Pre-Check

ErinsMommy

She believed she could, so she did
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
anyone know about this? is there a fee to get pre-checked? we're flying to MCO from Newark the Friday before Christmas and back home Christmas mid-morning so anticipating very long lines and pre-check may be our life saver.
 
You can apply online for the application. Then schedule a time to go in and get fingerprinted and submit your information along with $85. Its good for 5 years. Once your information is submitted we were told the results are usually back within a week but could take several weeks. Given the lines we've waited for at airports, seems like a good investment.
https://www.tsa.gov/precheck
 
We did it and it was worth it to us. We have several trips coming up in the next few years. MCO security has been a nightmare for us each time we went there so we did the pre check. Very, very easy. Once we had our appointment for fingerprints it was only a few days before we got our ktn (known traveler number) that we added to our reservations. You can find info here https://www.tsa.gov/precheck
 
Consider Global Entry instead, that gives you expedited entry through the use of kiosks when entering the country and includes TSA pre, check out a list of travel credit cards that include it for free.
 


Consider Global Entry instead, that gives you expedited entry through the use of kiosks when entering the country and includes TSA pre, check out a list of travel credit cards that include it for free.
This is great if you do a lot of international travel. If you are staying stateside pre check is a cheaper option. I’ve heard several credit cards were ending their offers of pre check and global entry because it allows their customers in many cases to forego the fingerprints and such. No idea if that is true, but it kind of makes sense.
 
This is great if you do a lot of international travel. If you are staying stateside pre check is a cheaper option. I’ve heard several credit cards were ending their offers of pre check and global entry because it allows their customers in many cases to forego the fingerprints and such. No idea if that is true, but it kind of makes sense.
My wife and I both have cards that include it, and in both cases it's just a simple statement credit..you otherwise go through the normal process of getting it and they have no idea the credit card company is footing the bill.

We are now considering adding Clear since it's available at MCO and we'll be there a lot next year.
 
My wife and I both have cards that include it, and in both cases it's just a simple statement credit..you otherwise go through the normal process of getting it and they have no idea the credit card company is footing the bill.

We are now considering adding Clear since it's available at MCO and we'll be there a lot next year.
I think that’s the issue, there is no appointment for the actual fingerprints and background check. My mother had pre check included on her card but they no longer offer it as fingerprints are required, the credit check wasn’t enough. She was told that by January it would no longer be offered through Chase. Now did the rep on the phone have the right info? Who knows.
 


My wife and I both have cards that include it, and in both cases it's just a simple statement credit..you otherwise go through the normal process of getting it and they have no idea the credit card company is footing the bill.

We are now considering adding Clear since it's available at MCO and we'll be there a lot next year.

This ^^

BTW, I got Clear earlier this year, love it! Also was free (or substantially reduced, I can’t remember) with my Delta Amex.
 
I think that’s the issue, there is no appointment for the actual fingerprints and background check. My mother had pre check included on her card but they no longer offer it as fingerprints are required, the credit check wasn’t enough. She was told that by January it would no longer be offered through Chase. Now did the rep on the phone have the right info? Who knows.
What I meant is you go and sign up for pre or Global Entry and follow the normal procedure to obtain it, you charge the fee to your credit card and your credit card company issues a statement credit to offset that charge.

I don't know of any issuers that are no longer offering it, Chase at least offers it on their Sapphire Reserve card.
 
What I meant is you go and sign up for pre or Global Entry and follow the normal procedure to obtain it, you charge the fee to your credit card and your credit card company issues a statement credit to offset that charge.

I don't know of any issuers that are no longer offering it, Chase at least offers it on their Sapphire Reserve card.
Then that’s different than what was offered a while back. My mother never had any fingerprints or other appointments. She is a frequent traveler and had it paid for by Chase with no fingerprints. They said her frequent flyer status negated the need for it. Now with global entry Chase didn’t pay for it (she got it yesterday). They told her it was no longer a perk for their cardholders. Not sure which card she had though.
 
My mother & son applied this Monday for TSA Pre-Check, and we had both of their approvals & Known Traveler Numbers by yesterday (Thursday). 3 days is a pretty quick turnaround.

We fly a few times a year, and find the $85 per 5-year investment completely worth it. Flying is more pleasant and dignified when you don't have to remove your shoes & dig through your bags at security. Plus, you get to skip the line and be less stressed about making your flight.
 
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We fly a few times a year, and find the $85 per 5-year investment completely worth it. Flying is more pleasant and dignified when you don't have to remove your shoes & dig through your bags at security. Plus, you get to skip the line and be less stressed about making your flight.

You don’t get to skip any lines, you just go through a different line with reduced screening. Sometime the Pre line is longer than the regular line, at least at my home airport.
 
You don’t get to skip any lines, you just go through a different line with reduced screening. Sometime the Pre line is longer than the regular line, at least at my home airport.
You get to skip the regular security line, which has consistently been much longer than any Pre-Check line I have ever seen at any airport. I have never waited even 5 minutes in any Pre-Check line, whereas with regular security...
 
You don’t get to skip any lines, you just go through a different line with reduced screening. Sometime the Pre line is longer than the regular line, at least at my home airport.
In small airports, you usually get to leave your shoes and jacket on and go through the metal detector instead of the X-ray scanner, but your baggage is still subject to standard screening; remove laptops and liquids.
 
We got precheck last year. My DH had his number in 48 hours. My approval took about 6 weeks. Not usual apparently, but just be aware that it might not be a quick process, OP.
 
Consider Global Entry instead, that gives you expedited entry through the use of kiosks when entering the country and includes TSA pre, check out a list of travel credit cards that include it for free.

Or if you’re near the Canadian border, go with nexus. Pain in the rear to get, but it’s $50 for adults and free for minors, and gives you easier access to Canada, global entry, and precheck.
 
In small airports, you usually get to leave your shoes and jacket on and go through the metal detector instead of the X-ray scanner, but your baggage is still subject to standard screening; remove laptops and liquids.

With pre-check (if the airport has it), unless you get called for extra screening, laptops and liquids stay in your bag.
 
We've had four flights out of MCO this year. The fee for Precheck was worth every penny.
Several people missed our last flight because of the very long line for security.
We breezed right through, 2 people ahead of us in line.
It also takes away the stress of unpacking and repacking your stuff for TSA.
 
Then that’s different than what was offered a while back. My mother never had any fingerprints or other appointments. She is a frequent traveler and had it paid for by Chase with no fingerprints. They said her frequent flyer status negated the need for it. Now with global entry Chase didn’t pay for it (she got it yesterday). They told her it was no longer a perk for their cardholders. Not sure which card she had though.
Sounds like to me Chase was sort of misleading in their explanation.
If you Mom got PreCheck without any appointments or application sounds like what she was getting was the free PreCheck that anyone can get. It has nothing to do with their credit card. Maybe a good credit history is a piece of the algorithm TSA uses to decide who randomly gets it, no idea. The Credit card company has no control over who gets that, the TSA does. Or airline, or some combo of the two. Not really sure exactly how the free version works.
The TSA keeps saying the free version is being eliminated, that they were no longer putting it on boarding passes randomly. That hasn't been the case though, people still get it free
 

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