Alaska Starts TSA Pre-Check
A few months ago, my wife and I were both sent an e-mail to sign up for Alaska Airlines TSA Pre-Check list since we are both MVP Golds. That day arrives on 24 April, although only if you are traveling out of SEA. PDX will follow next month and hopefully ANC will not be far behind. I am really looking forward to trying out this new service and may just exit and try to re-enter at SEA next time I pass thorugh just to see how well it works. With this start by TSA, and the start for military service members started last month, I do not think it will be long before this fast screening becomes available at most large to medium sized airports.
Since all of the TSA Pre-check programs are based upon having high stauts on an airline (except the military one), this gives you another incentive to gain status and avoid the hassles of regular screening at security.
Here are the details from Alaska’s announcement:
As a participant of TSA Pre✓™, you are entitled to use the TSA Pre✓™ lane at the north checkpoint. You will experience expedited screening – which means you can keep your shoes and belts on, as well as leave laptops and your 3-1-1 bag in your carry-on.
Once you register, there are a few things to know before you travel to ensure you receive expedited screening:
- You must check in online at alaskaair.com, at a kiosk, or on a mobile device.
- If you choose to check in with an agent or make changes to your reservation, please do so at the MVP Gold counter.
- After check in, proceed directly to the north checkpoint.
- TSA Pre✓™ includes a random screening component, so you are not guaranteed expedited screening every time. (This is a part of TSA’s broader random security measures.)
- Family members and traveling companions who are not TSA Pre✓™ eligible may not accompany the TSA Pre✓™ participants through the designated checkpoint lane.
At this time, Pre✓™ participants may only use Seattle-Tacoma International airport’s TSA Pre✓™ checkpoint lane. In cooperation with TSA, Alaska Airlines is expanding TSA Pre✓™ to more airports
throughout 2012. The TSA and Alaska Airlines will launch TSA Pre✓™ initiative at the Portland International airport in May.
What is frustrating about this, is the fact that I’ve been Alaska MVP Gold for about 10 years now because of my business travel. I signed up for this opt-in invitation for TSA Pre-check; and I have yet been able to experience it.
I fly every week between PDX and SEA and I have yet to scanned in to use the Pre-Check line. Not sure what the deal is, but I’m a little frustrated as it seems as though no one really knows who to talk to to see if there is a problem in the system or what. Heck, if I knew that TSA was never going to let me go through the Pre check line, I might as well take one of the other checkpoints that has less people anyway.
BTW, the Gold line is a joke at Seatac. Half the time, the lines are disorganized so that you end up in a mass of chaos of people giving you a dirty look as though you are cutting in line. Other airports, (Like PDX), at least have distinct lines of where Gold/MVP/ freq flyer line is and the general travelers. But not Seatac…