My credit card covers these also.
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Only thing that makes the Amex fees worth it for me.
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Try getting a stainless steel plate in your head through the Boise airport.I have never "applied" for anything. But my airlines tickets always say TSA PreCheck.
And up til recently, there seemed to be no benefit to me other than being in a shorter line. They still insisted on undressing me, swabbing me, and feeling me, and sometimes calling in reinforcements.
But now, all of a sudden, once I declare my metal knee, they take me aside, wand me, and I'm good to go.Quicker than ever.
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I'm in and out of Boise every three to four weeks. TSA there seems to bi-polar. Either they don't care or they care about everything. That airport is one of the main reasons I got Precheck. Now I watch the antics from the fast lane ... much better than suffering through it.
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I travel a bit, so I applied for Global Entry. It's sort of like pre-check to include international travel. Aside from the cavity check upon applying, it was super easy. It was about $100 and it goes for 5 years. And I am happy to report I have ZERO cavities! Now the downside is nearly EVERYONE is now on TSA Pre check, so THAT line has become nearly the same zoo as the "everyone else" line!
I recently jumped on a DeltaMiles promo for private company CLEAR. It cost me $50 and I could sign up two other people for an additional $50 each. Application was a breeze. Then all I had to do was go to the nearest airport with a CLEAR station and .....scan my fingertips and retinas. Yes, it's weird...it's totally weird..but it was easy and painless. Two minutes in and out. Of course, CLEAR isn't in every airport- so you'll want to see if it's worth it by location availability.
So first time I used it, I walked up to the CLEAR kiosk, right next to the looong TSA Pre line. I handed over my boarding pass and state ID. The clerk verified it was me, then had me place my fingers on the scan pad. Green light on, she escorted me past the TSA Pre passengers, past the first class passenger line, directly to the TSA desk and even interrupted the officer because by contract, CLEAR gets some kind of head of the line privilege. And the officer was totally welcoming and not bothered by me being brought to the head of the first class line. It was a pretty awesome time saver. To me, this was worth the $50annual fee right there. I had Cfars time to savor that $20 six ounce beer in the sky lounge.
Are there risks? Sure there are. I scanned my fingers and retinas! But the way I see it if anyone wants to clone me, they will regret having to put up with another copy of me. And if anyone wants to steal my identify, I get the last laugh to see how miserable they would be to be me!
If you're willing to put up with the weird scanning thing...CLEAR is 100 times faster than the PRE line. Still, Pre does beat the regular line.
Happy and safe traveling.
Rick
I recently jumped on a DeltaMiles promo for private company CLEAR. It cost me $50 and I could sign up two other people for an additional $50 each. Application was a breeze. Then all I had to do was go to the nearest airport with a CLEAR station and .....scan my fingertips and retinas. Yes, it's weird...it's totally weird..but it was easy and painless. Two minutes in and out. Of course, CLEAR isn't in every airport- so you'll want to see if it's worth it by location availability.
So first time I used it, I walked up to the CLEAR kiosk, right next to the looong TSA Pre line. I handed over my boarding pass and state ID. The clerk verified it was me, then had me place my fingers on the scan pad. Green light on, she escorted me past the TSA Pre passengers, past the first class passenger line, directly to the TSA desk and even interrupted the officer because by contract, CLEAR gets some kind of head of the line privilege. And the officer was totally welcoming and not bothered by me being brought to the head of the first class line. It was a pretty awesome time saver. To me, this was worth the $50annual fee right there. I had Cfars time to savor that $20 six ounce beer in the sky lounge.
Are there risks? Sure there are. I scanned my fingers and retinas! But the way I see it if anyone wants to clone me, they will regret having to put up with another copy of me. And if anyone wants to steal my identify, I get the last laugh to see how miserable they would be to be me!
If you're willing to put up with the weird scanning thing...CLEAR is 100 times faster than the PRE line. Still, Pre does beat the regular line.
Happy and safe traveling.
Rick
- Thread Starter
- #46
Got my TSA Known Traveler ID number! From the day I went in to get my fingerprints to the day I got the number, it was 4 days. Not the kind of efficiency I'm used to seeing from anything that involves the government.
Will try it out when I fly to Chicago next month. Looking forward to see if I like the benefits of having it.
Damn, why can't the ATF process NFA apps that quickly?? Obviously they don't think I'm a threat, so getting an NFA item should be a quick turnaround too!!
Will try it out when I fly to Chicago next month. Looking forward to see if I like the benefits of having it.
Damn, why can't the ATF process NFA apps that quickly?? Obviously they don't think I'm a threat, so getting an NFA item should be a quick turnaround too!!
Right on, I'm also going to Chicago in November. I don't suppose you're going to RSNA?
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That turn time is pretty typical for TSA Precheck applications, since most of the process is done by private contractors and not actual government employees. The private sector in almost every situation will be far more efficient (and accurate) than a government backed bureaucratic organization.
The ATF issue has two causes, one legitimate and one a bunch of hooey if you ask me. The legitimate reason is that ATF has over the years been tasked with more and more duties with very little increase in resources, so they are legitimately busy and NFA apps are a very low priority for what they do. (Don't take this as me thinking the additional duties are legitimate, most of what they do I strongly disagree with, but regardless of what I think of what they do, this workload is a reality of their department).
The second reason is that they purposely slow the process to discourage applicants. I can't remember when exactly but a couple of time is the past released memos and articles have reported this policy. It's been at least 8-10 years since I've seen anything on this, but I can't imagine that situation has changed, especially during the Obama administration.
The ATF issue has two causes, one legitimate and one a bunch of hooey if you ask me. The legitimate reason is that ATF has over the years been tasked with more and more duties with very little increase in resources, so they are legitimately busy and NFA apps are a very low priority for what they do. (Don't take this as me thinking the additional duties are legitimate, most of what they do I strongly disagree with, but regardless of what I think of what they do, this workload is a reality of their department).
The second reason is that they purposely slow the process to discourage applicants. I can't remember when exactly but a couple of time is the past released memos and articles have reported this policy. It's been at least 8-10 years since I've seen anything on this, but I can't imagine that situation has changed, especially during the Obama administration.
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I think it's worth it, if only for the fact I don't have to take off my belt and shoes.
As a side benefit, my girl gets my benefit when we travel together.
If you REALLY want the premium service though, CLEAR is the way to go. They take you to the front of the line. Love it just for the looks. Lol. I don't travel enough anymore to justify the cost, but it is first class. Sign up for the free trial next flight for the benefit.
As a side benefit, my girl gets my benefit when we travel together.
If you REALLY want the premium service though, CLEAR is the way to go. They take you to the front of the line. Love it just for the looks. Lol. I don't travel enough anymore to justify the cost, but it is first class. Sign up for the free trial next flight for the benefit.
- Thread Starter
- #50
Nope, a product launch for one of the lines we rep.
How did your Chicago trip go? We had a bit of sparse attendance the first day or two at the show due to all the missed flights, but overall not to bad.
Not a bad city to visit for work, but dang I don't see how people can live there
When you make reservations online you register your global entry/pre check with your profile for that airline. When you make reservations for the both of you (or family) you should both get the pre check. When we fly as a family we all get the pre check although i'm the only one with the global entry.
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I just returned from New Orleans. And I had Pre Check. Declaring my (metal) artificial knee has been making TSA easier. Not this time. They offered to search me in a private room. I said nope, let's get this done. Actually, I wanted witnesses!
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Oh man that's not right. Did they at least buy you dinner and a drink?
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No prosthetic knee but an artificial knee joint and an ostomy bag really makes them sh*t some times.
. They automatically think I have a bag of dope in my shirt, and then my inner smart azz starts coming out as I tell them to watch what they are grabbing. I keep the mouthy comments just below anything that could get me detained, but feel obligated to give them a bit of the rude traveler thing. Besides, I bought a gun this year so that means I will be searched and get the nitrate wipe down as I have every flight for the last 10 years.
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If you have a mileage plan with an airline (or two) tell them your Pre Check numbered it'll automatically be entered onto your ticket.
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They have a new system that uses your handprint (i think) and also an ocular scan. More than I'm willing to give, but it is fast.
- Thread Starter
- #58
Funny thing, after I went through the process to get the number, the trip got cancelled. They way over-booked the conference, so my boss cut a couple of us out of having to go, which I was happy about. I'll have to wait until the next one to try it out. No worries, I'm sure I'll be using it a few times in the next 5 years.
I've been there at least 5 times before, so the interest of the city has already worn off. Now I just think of it as having to deal with O'Hare and crummy people
- Thread Starter
- #59
No prosthetic knee but an artificial knee joint and an ostomy bag really makes them sh*t some times.
I get the wipe down every time I fly due to my insulin pump. They know what the pump is, but I still get swiped for explosives every time I fly.
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FYI- had a recent flying experience that jammed me up at TSA Pre. (I use CLEAR whenever I can, but this was at a non-Clear airport)
I booked a flight online, and for whatever reason- a ticket agent at the bag drop kiosk transposed my birthdate on my reservation. So I came up as "unable to qualify for PreCheck becuase of non-matching info." I was turned away at the Pre line. It was actually quite a hassle - I had two options, go through the standard screening line with it's long wait....or stand in the long ticket line to get a new ticket issued that had my birthday verified and then go to precheck.
I just went through the standard line. The odd thing is nobody really cared that my birthdate was changed by the airlines, or that it didn't prevent me from boarding via the standard line, only via PreCheck.
As if we don't already know....as a govt agency....the TSA has a loooong way to go..
I booked a flight online, and for whatever reason- a ticket agent at the bag drop kiosk transposed my birthdate on my reservation. So I came up as "unable to qualify for PreCheck becuase of non-matching info." I was turned away at the Pre line. It was actually quite a hassle - I had two options, go through the standard screening line with it's long wait....or stand in the long ticket line to get a new ticket issued that had my birthday verified and then go to precheck.
I just went through the standard line. The odd thing is nobody really cared that my birthdate was changed by the airlines, or that it didn't prevent me from boarding via the standard line, only via PreCheck.
As if we don't already know....as a govt agency....the TSA has a loooong way to go..
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