TSA precheck

Kinja'd!!! by "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
Published 03/25/2017 at 17:47

Tags: Internet scams.
STARS: 2


Kinja'd!!!

So, I’m sitting here at the airport filling out the application for tsa precheck. Do you know that if you google tsa precheck to find out how to apply, the top result is an official looking website that Tries to get you to buy a book for just $19.95 that will tell you all you need to know to apply? How generous!

Or you can just go to tsa.gov and fill it all out for free in 5 min.

Sometimes the internet sucks.


Replies (15)

Kinja'd!!! "Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
03/25/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 2

TSA pre-check is one of those things I always think “I should do that” while in line, but never get around to doing.

Where are you going?

Kinja'd!!! "That's Engineering?" (ryan-jones)
03/25/2017 at 17:54, STARS: 1

How difficult is it to get pre-check? Is there a waiting period in order to get screened? I fly roughly once a month, and I think it’s probably worth getting

Kinja'd!!! "Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
03/25/2017 at 17:55, STARS: 1

Yeah me too. I fly about 3-6 times a year so it’s almost worth it but not quite.

Kinja'd!!! "404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
03/25/2017 at 18:20, STARS: 1

I got mine alongside with my Nexus, or so it seems. I just put my Nexus number when I book online as the Known Traveller Number, and I always get pre-check.

It seems to be it’s one of those few things that the government takes away from you and sell it back to you for money, but you end up sucking up nonetheless.. In this case it’s being treated like a human being.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/25/2017 at 18:46, STARS: 0

Back home to Dallas. A tsa agent advised me to do it because for $85 I get out of hand searches for five years.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/25/2017 at 18:46, STARS: 0

It does last five years, but it’s borderline worth it for an able bodied person I think.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/25/2017 at 18:47, STARS: 3

Fill out the online form and make an appointment at your nearest office for an interview. Not too hard. $85 for five years.

Kinja'd!!! "Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
03/25/2017 at 18:55, STARS: 1

But you can bypass the lines of peasants.

Kinja'd!!! "hike" (hike15)
03/25/2017 at 20:21, STARS: 1

It’s totally worth it if you ever fly with a laptop or have to fly and go straight to a meeting. No need to remove a computer, belt or shoes.

Kinja'd!!! "facw" (facw)
03/25/2017 at 20:41, STARS: 3

Sneaky.

Regardless, you probably want to do Global Entry instead. $100 instead of $85, but well worth it if you ever travel internationally, and appointments with CBP may be marginally easier to get than with TSA.

If you can do Nexus, that’s an even better deal (I think $50) but I think you can only get it if you are near the US/Canada border.

Either program has built-in Precheck benefits though.

Kinja'd!!! "facw" (facw)
03/25/2017 at 20:42, STARS: 1

Yeah Nexus and Global Entry are automatically Precheck eligible.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/25/2017 at 22:44, STARS: 0

For me it’s even better. I would avoid the hand search I get every time. It wouldn’t be so bad if they would have a lady do it, like I keep asking for. I mean, what am I getting for my tax dollars?

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/25/2017 at 22:45, STARS: 1

I don’t know about any of those. I’ll have to check. These days I avoid international travel if at all possible.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/25/2017 at 22:52, STARS: 0

I just came from San Francisco, in case that was your question. International Association for Dental Research annual meeting.

Kinja'd!!! "ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
03/27/2017 at 09:33, STARS: 1

Regardless, you probably want to do Global Entry instead.

Definitely worth the extra $15 if you travel internationally. Also handy is the federal photo ID that comes with Global Entry for identification situations in which you don’t want to carry around a passport.