TSA Pre - The best thing I ever did

[edjr 6,578]

Enrolled in TSA pre like a year ago. $85 for 5 years.

Got to Orlando airport the other day. 0 line for TSA pre - Poor people line was out the building. The looks I got from people as I was strolling up without waiting was great.

Also not having to take shoes or belt off or take laptops out of the bag

[posty 2,612]

Even better to not fly at all...

[DonS 3,292]

My daughter got TSA pre-check prior to a recent trip.  I was surprised when she told me how cheap it was.

Wife and I need to get signed up. 

[RogerDodger 797]

9 minutes ago, edjr said:

Enrolled in TSA pre like a year ago. $85 for 5 years.

Got to Orlando airport the other day. 0 line for TSA pre - Poor people line was out the building. The looks I got from people as I was strolling up without waiting was great.

Also not having to take shoes or belt off or take laptops out of the bag

I thought it was $85/year.  Might have to revisit.  

[Mike Honcho 5,098]

Fly a lot for business---so our boss got it for everyone in the office. So great. Flew out of Fort Lauderdale during the snowstorm delays.  Was told the wait to get through TSA was over 2 hours that day, took me 15 minutes. 

Totally worth it and also stop talking about it...don't want too many people to find out how easy and cheap it is.

[RogerDodger 797]

I need Global Entry as half my flights are out of country.  It's also a 5-year cost for just $100. 

I swear they were per year last time I checked.

[DonS 3,292]

8 minutes ago, Mike Honcho said:

 

Totally worth it and also stop talking about it...don't want too many people to find out how easy and cheap it is.

Too late!  Just filled out application and have appt scheduled for tomorrow.

Not my fault he decided to talk about Fight Club... 

Edit:  TSA website lists the cost as $78 for 5 years.  I'm guessing there are probably some miscellaneous processing fees though that adds a bit to the cost. 

[Mike Honcho 5,098]

Just now, DonS said:

Too late!  Just filled out application and have appt scheduled for tomorrow.

Not my fault he decided to talk about Flight Club... 

 

Dude that was a layup and you bricked it. 

[DonS 3,292]

1 minute ago, Mike Honcho said:

Dude that was a layup and you bricked it. 

Huh?  What joke you were teeing up? 

[jerryskids 6,568]

That left you more time to enjoy the airport Popeyes!  

Seriously though, my Global Entry expired a few years ago and I need to re-apply.  That's $100 but includes expedited entry for international travel, which we may do later this year.  I just looked it up and it estimates 4-6 months though. 

 

[Mike Honcho 5,098]

Just now, DonS said:

Huh?  What joke you were teeing up? 

You said Fight Club, instead of FLIGHT Club.

[DonS 3,292]

Just now, Mike Honcho said:

You said Fight Club, instead of FLIGHT Club.

GTFO with your G0ddamn puns!!!! 

 

[jerryskids 6,568]

5 minutes ago, DonS said:

Too late!  Just filled out application and have appt scheduled for tomorrow.

Not my fault he decided to talk about Fight Club... 

 

Hmm, it's that quick?  Maybe I'll skip the Global Entry and just do TSA Pre.   

[DonS 3,292]

Just now, jerryskids said:

Hmm, it's that quick?  Maybe I'll skip the Global Entry and just do TSA Pre.   

Yep.  Appt is at a local Staples.  Says most people get their traveler number in 3-5 days and not to bother asking status until it's been 60 days.  I'm guessing those delays are for people that responded yes to any of the questions that could/should disqualify you. 

[jonmx 2,424]

20 minutes ago, RogerDodger said:

I need Global Entry as half my flights are out of country.  It's also a 5-year cost for just $100. 

I swear they were per year last time I checked.

I messed up not getting it, but will soon.  I would not mind it, but I can't fly direct to my airport, so coming home and trying to make a connection sucks.  US customs is the worst outside of maybe the middle east. 

[nobody 2,566]

I don't know if people flew a lot just after 9/11, but I did.  They used to pull people out of the line "randomly" for bag searches.  And I must've gotten picked 8 out of 8 times.  I finally said, "whatever profile they're giving you guys to pull people, I must fit it to a tee because you pull me every time."

Only years later did I realize it's probably just because I'm ugly and people are naturally biased against us ugly people.  Systemic looksism strikes again.

[RogerDodger 797]

23 minutes ago, jonmx said:

I messed up not getting it, but will soon.  I would not mind it, but I can't fly direct to my airport, so coming home and trying to make a connection sucks.  US customs is the worst outside of maybe the middle east. 

When was the last time you came in through customs?  I thought that two, but, last November it was completely changed in Atlanta.  The kiosks are gone and the guy that usually checked your declarations form after you picked up your luggage just waived everyone through.  

More and more are done by facial recognition.  All they did in Atlanta customs was take your picture at the guy who stamps the passports.  3 out of 4 airports this past week didn't require a boarding pass at TSA, they just used facial recognition.  I think it was leaving the country from Atlanta last November they used facial recognition at the gate, never needed a boarding pass at all.

And after looking at it Global Entry has a tougher background check.  I wouldn't pass because of a DUI.  PreTSA on the other hand you have to be a murderer/rapist not to pass.  Another way to pass customs is to use Mobile Passport Control (Free Homeland Security App).  You do all the kiosk things ahead of time, they track you when you land and you go to front of the line. I had that all ready in Atlanta - then the whole kiosk fiasco was gone anyway, just the facial recognition photo.  

[GutterBoy 2,898]

 

1 hour ago, edjr said:

Enrolled in TSA pre like a year ago. $85 for 5 years.

Got to Orlando airport the other day. 0 line for TSA pre - Poor people line was out the building. The looks I got from people as I was strolling up without waiting was great.

Also not having to take shoes or belt off or take laptops out of the bag

liquids too, not water bottles, but the 5oz crap in a bag, leave it in your carry on.

It's great unless your travelling with your family and they are all peasants. 

[edjr 6,578]

Just now, GutterBoy said:

 

liquids too, not water bottles, but the 5oz crap in a bag, leave it in your carry on.

It's great unless your travelling with your family and they are all peasants. 

I have it and she has it. Kid gets it free till old enough for ID

[GutterBoy 2,898]

1 minute ago, edjr said:

I have it and she has it. Kid gets it free till old enough for ID

Last time we flew, we all did the poor people line, took liek 30 mins, then my idiot son had a yeti filled with water.  They were gonna confiscate it, but they offered to let me walk out with it, which I did, dumped it, then went back through TSA+ in like 2 mins.

[edjr 6,578]

Just now, GutterBoy said:

Last time we flew, we all did the poor people line, took liek 30 mins, then my idiot son had a yeti filled with water.  They were gonna confiscate it, but they offered to let me walk out with it, which I did, dumped it, then went back through TSA+ in like 2 mins.

We sometimes travel with my MIL and she needs a wheelchair. Everyone gets to go through priority and gets on the plane 1st  

Throw your kid in a wheelchair and tell him to make loud noises and drool

[GutterBoy 2,898]

2 minutes ago, edjr said:

We sometimes travel with my MIL and she needs a wheelchair. Everyone gets to go through priority and gets on the plane 1st  

Throw your kid in a wheelchair and tell him to make loud noises and drool

I'll always get group 1 or 2 on United, which ensures we get to stow our carry on.

If you fly United, get the Explorer card, you get free TSA+, priority boarding, United club passess, plus loads of miles

[jerryskids 6,568]

22 minutes ago, RogerDodger said:

When was the last time you came in through customs?  I thought that two, but, last November it was completely changed in Atlanta.  The kiosks are gone and the guy that usually checked your declarations form after you picked up your luggage just waived everyone through.  

More and more are done by facial recognition.  All they did in Atlanta customs was take your picture at the guy who stamps the passports.  3 out of 4 airports this past week didn't require a boarding pass at TSA, they just used facial recognition.  I think it was leaving the country from Atlanta last November they used facial recognition at the gate, never needed a boarding pass at all.

And after looking at it Global Entry has a tougher background check.  I wouldn't pass because of a DUI.  PreTSA on the other hand you have to be a murderer/rapist not to pass.  Another way to pass customs is to use Mobile Passport Control (Free Homeland Security App).  You do all the kiosk things ahead of time, they track you when you land and you go to front of the line. I had that all ready in Atlanta - then the whole kiosk fiasco was gone anyway, just the facial recognition photo.  

This is good info, thanks.  I anticipate at most 2 international trips in the next few years, and one of them would be in 3-4 months.  It seems like Global Entry isn't as much help as it used to be.  I think we'll just do the quick and easy TSA Pre route.   

[GutterBoy 2,898]

37 minutes ago, RogerDodger said:

I wouldn't pass because of a DUI.

[TheNewGirl 1,348]

I need to do this. 

[jonmx 2,424]

1 hour ago, RogerDodger said:

When was the last time you came in through customs?  I thought that two, but, last November it was completely changed in Atlanta.  The kiosks are gone and the guy that usually checked your declarations form after you picked up your luggage just waived everyone through.  

More and more are done by facial recognition.  All they did in Atlanta customs was take your picture at the guy who stamps the passports.  3 out of 4 airports this past week didn't require a boarding pass at TSA, they just used facial recognition.  I think it was leaving the country from Atlanta last November they used facial recognition at the gate, never needed a boarding pass at all.

And after looking at it Global Entry has a tougher background check.  I wouldn't pass because of a DUI.  PreTSA on the other hand you have to be a murderer/rapist not to pass.  Another way to pass customs is to use Mobile Passport Control (Free Homeland Security App).  You do all the kiosk things ahead of time, they track you when you land and you go to front of the line. I had that all ready in Atlanta - then the whole kiosk fiasco was gone anyway, just the facial recognition photo.  

I came into Chicago in January.  Was in line over an hour.  The agents were asking multiple questions to everyone coming through.  I got on the tram from term 5, made it to term 3 before it failed.  Got out, had to beg my way through the pre-check line because eventhough Lutfthansa marked my ticket as pre-check, it did scan in that way in Chicago.  Ran over a mile to Term 1 and made it to the gate about 10 minutes before they shut the door.  

[edjr 6,578]

I have never left the country and never plan on doing so. Do not have passport. Never have. 

[nobody 2,566]

I've flown into and out of LAX international probably a dozen times.  It's already pretty easy.  

[jerryskids 6,568]

14 minutes ago, edjr said:

I have never left the country and never plan on doing so. Do not have passport. Never have. 

Caribbean cruise?  Canada, eh?

[edjr 6,578]

13 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

Caribbean cruise?  Canada, eh?

Nope. Not even hawaii. I had a trip planned to PR during covid and family got covid so I stayed home

[supermike80 1,804]

18 hours ago, edjr said:

Enrolled in TSA pre like a year ago. $85 for 5 years.

Got to Orlando airport the other day. 0 line for TSA pre - Poor people line was out the building. The looks I got from people as I was strolling up without waiting was great.

Also not having to take shoes or belt off or take laptops out of the bag

Agreed...When I traveled a lot it was awesome.   Definitely worth the price.   I remember one trip to Seattle.  i was TSA precheck, wife wasn't.  for whatever reason they gave her a precheck status for that flight.  LONGGGGGG General line through security, we happily walked past everyone and got in the TSA line..It was awesome

[edjr 6,578]

I like to do my duty to the members of FFT and try to bring something to the table to help the people. 

[DonS 3,292]

1 hour ago, edjr said:

I like to do my duty to the members of FFT and try to bring something to the table to help the people. 

You're the wind beneath my wings

[MDC 7,133]

20 hours ago, Mike Honcho said:

You said Fight Club, instead of FLIGHT Club.

Remember Wiffleball’s idea for a business like Door Dash but in airports? They make an order and they deliver your food right to you at the gate.

Flight Grub.  

[edjr 6,578]

4 minutes ago, MDC said:

Remember Wiffleball’s idea for a business like Door Dash but in airports? They make an order and they deliver your food right to you at the gate.

Flight Grub.  

Did you use TSA Pre when you flew to Dallas to see the cowboys at jerry world?

[MDC 7,133]

Just now, edjr said:

Did you use TSA Pre when you flew to Dallas to see the cowboys at jerry world?

No, I couldn’t afford it.  

[DonS 3,292]

Final cost was actually $78

Pro tip:  I told the cute gal at Staples that @edjrsent me so she gave me a happy ending!!!! 

[avoiding injuries 1,511]

Because of this thread, I got motivated and did the the TSA Precheck today at Staples. $79 and should have it within 60 days. 
 

Thanks, Ed!

[taco breath 424]

this thread makes me want to do my duty.  

[edjr 6,578]

57 minutes ago, DonS said:

Final cost was actually $78

Pro tip:  I told the cute gal at Staples that @edjrsent me so she gave me a happy ending!!!! 

 

46 minutes ago, avoiding injuries said:

Because of this thread, I got motivated and did the the TSA Precheck today at Staples. $79 and should have it within 60 days. 
 

Thanks, Ed!

You are most welcome!

If I ever see you in front of me at TSA pre, I will trip you and run by 

This should put me in good standing for geek of the year.