TSA Expedited Screening

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I just got the email below today. It means some air passengers (myself included, since I'm a Global Entry member with a Global Entry card) won't have such a hassle during the U.S. domestic legs of air travel. You can keep your shoes and a suit or sports jacket, light jacket, sweater, etc. on during pre-flight screening. Laptops can stay in the case. Note: You have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for the program and it only applies to domestic travel.

 

What surprised me in September was that there was a special Global Entry line for customs clearance at Seattle airport. I've been using the Global Entry kiosks for passport control almost since the program began, but had never experienced any benefit going through customs before other than they almost never subject "trusted travelers" to secondary checks. Three hundred people were in line for customs at Seattle and it looked like it would take a long time to get through, but I was allowed to stand in a special queue (no other people) that gave me the next available agent. He simply grabbed my Global entry kiosk "ticket" and waved me through.

 

Evil

 

 

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for an initiative that allows eligible TSA Pre-Check passengers to qualify for expedited screening at participating airports.

U.S. citizens, who are members of a CBP Trusted Traveler program, including Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS are automatically eligible to participate and receive expedited screening benefits for domestic travel through the TSA Pre-Check initiative. TSA Pre-Check benefits include keeping shoes, light outerwear and belts on, keeping laptops in their cases, and leaving the 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in one’s carry-on during screening through TSA security checkpoints.

Members interested in participating in TSA Pre-Check1 through their Trusted Traveler program membership must enter their PASS ID into the ‘Known Traveler’ field when booking a flight reservation or saving their PASS ID to their airline’s frequent flyer profile. Members can find their PASS ID either online by accessing their GOES account, or on the back of their membership card in the top-left corner.

When traveling on one of the TSA Pre-Check participating airlines, CBP Trusted Traveler members should remember to provide the airline with their full name, date of birth, and PASS ID exactly as it appears in their CBP Trusted Traveler program online account to ensure they are properly considered for TSA Pre-Check .

To learn more, visit www.globalentry.gov or www.tsa.gov.

Edited October 8, 2012 by Evil Penevil

[bigdelta 46]

That has been a topic of discussion recently.The list of cities that participate is too small for me to justify the $100 fee.And not all of the cities listed dedicate a lane 24/7.If the program expands,I'll probably ante up.I was about to join the SENTRI program when I lived in Mexico but moved back and let it pass.

300 in Seattle?Did Delta just arrive from Narita?When I arived in Seattle last year,our flight was the only one being processed.

Edited October 8, 2012 by bigdelta

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

That has been a topic of discussion recently.The list of cities that participate is too small for me to justify the $100 fee.And not all of the cities listed dedicate a lane 24/7.If the program expands,I'll probably ante up.I was about to join the SENTRI program when I lived in Mexico but moved back and let it pass.

300 in Seattle?Did Delta just arrive from Narita?When I arived in Seattle last year,our flight was the only one being processed.

 

For me, the big advantage with Global Entry is re-entry to the U.S. It takes only 30 seconds to clear the G E kiosks and never a wait. The lines for Immigration Control at JFK and EWR used to be horrendous. All the airports I've used for re-entry in the past few years (JFK, EWR, ORD, SEA SFO, LAX, IAD, IAH) have had Global Entry kiosks. The expedited domestic lanes are now in effect for United at Newark and that's the airport I mostly use.

 

I don't know if was the Delta flight from Narita or a Japanese carrier, but there were a lot of elderly Asians in the line, many of whom had huge amounts of luggage. The CBP and ICE people were screening carefully, but that could have been because it was just before 9/11.

 

Evil

[js007 795]

I don't fly enough to worry about it, but from my experience it helps if you arrive at the airport early in the morning. Last time I had an early flight and I was the only guy there for the TSA people to check. I was through in about 30 seconds.

[tomcat76 327]

I thought is was just for use of the kiosk bypassing the immigration lines. Does it short-circuit the customs lines, too? (I ask because you mention the Asians with huge amts of luggage, and you don't get your luggage until after you're finished with immigration, and then have to go through the customs check.)

[losgrad 264]

For me, the big advantage with Global Entry is re-entry to the U.S. It takes only 30 seconds to clear the G E kiosks and never a wait. The lines for Immigration Control at JFK and EWR used to be horrendous. All the airports I've used for re-entry in the past few years (JFK, EWR, ORD, SEA SFO, LAX, IAD, IAH) have had Global Entry kiosks. The expedited domestic lanes are now in effect for United at Newark and that's the airport I mostly use.

 

I don't know if was the Delta flight from Narita or a Japanese carrier, but there were a lot of elderly Asians in the line, many of whom had huge amounts of luggage. The CBP and ICE people were screening carefully, but that could have been because it was just before 9/11.

 

Evil

 

Yes, ditto for me. Originally, I obtained the "Sentri" passcard for my regular visits into Mexico (NEXUS for Canada) and then the program allowed me to join the Global Entry for no additional fees or interviews. I travel through SFO and the kiosk gives me a ticket and I walk around the Immigration lines and show the ticket to the exiting agent. At Customs, they take the ticket and pass me through.

 

Those who have applied and been interviewed realize the fines and penalties are doubled should we violate any of the laws. I believe this program and others similar should be more widely used as they focus on the individual 'traveler' rather than the robotic process of minimally screening all travelers and expecting sufficient resources to do an adequate job. Having worked in 'secure' facilities, it'd take many times the current resources to apply thorough 'checking' and screening of all airline passengers - think cavity searches, etc... so pre-screening, pre-approvals, etc.. are IMHO the way to go to keep the cost of our security and airfares low, yet providing more resources to check those that may require it.

Edited October 9, 2012 by losgrad

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Does it short-circuit the customs lines, too?

 

At Seattle it did, but I haven't seen it elsewhere. When I was going to step into the "feeder queue" for Customs, the "queue minder" who looked to see if everyone had their Customs Declarations filled in before entering the queue saw the G E "ticket" from the kiosk and directed me to me to the "Trusted Traveler" queue which didn't have any people. In practice, it meant I jumped over those waiting in the feeder queue and got the next available agent.

 

Evil

Edited October 9, 2012 by Evil Penevil

[bigdelta 46]

Why would some fecking moron give me a thumbs down for sharing my experiences?That's how fecked up this rating system is.I have an idea who it is though and doubtless he/she'll deny it if accused.

 

 

That has been a topic of discussion recently.The list of cities that participate is too small for me to justify the $100 fee.And not all of the cities listed dedicate a lane 24/7.If the program expands,I'll probably ante up.I was about to join the SENTRI program when I lived in Mexico but moved back and let it pass.

300 in Seattle?Did Delta just arrive from Narita?When I arived in Seattle last year,our flight was the only one being processed.

Edited October 9, 2012 by bigdelta

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Why would some fucking moron give me a thumbs down for sharing my experiences?That's how fucked up this rating system is.I have an idea who it is though and doubtless she'll deny it if accused.

 

I don't understand that either. You raised a perfectly valid point. The only reasonable explanation could be a "fat-finger" error. But I neutralized his negative vote with a plus vote.

 

I'll send you a PM about how to determine if the individual you suspect has voted you down.

 

Evil

 

EDIT IN: Based on their rep voting, seems like the same person doesn't like you or me.

Edited October 9, 2012 by Evil Penevil

[bigdelta 46]

If it did everywhere,$100 would be a bargain.Delta is adding service to Shanghai and Haneda soon from Seattle I just saw today.

 

At Seattle it did, but I haven't seen it elsewhere. When I was going to step into the "feeder queue" for Customs, the "queue minder" who looked to see if everyone had their Customs Declarations filled in before entering the queue saw the G E "ticket" from the kiosk and directed me to me to the "Trusted Traveler" queue which didn't have any people. In practice, it meant I jumped over those waiting in the feeder queue and got the next available agent.

 

Evil

[bigdelta 46]

Always nice to be part of a group! Too many haters in the world anyway.

Thanks for the heads up-I'll see if he/she responds to a PM.

 

 

 

I don't understand that either. You raised a perfectly valid point. The only reasonable explanation could be a "fat-finger" error. But I neutralized his negative vote with a plus vote.

 

I'll send you a PM about how to determine if the individual you suspect has voted you down.

 

Evil

 

EDIT IN: Based on their rep voting, seems like the same person doesn't like you or me.

[oblong 8]

There is nothing like getting to an airport at 8am monday morning for a 930 flight only to find yourself sitting down at the gate by 8:03am (that isnt a misprint. normally it would be 45-60 minutes in line). I might not fly as much as I used to, but the time savings for pre-check is pretty incredible. Add in the 0 hassle returns from out of the usa and it worth the money without a doubt.