I can't remember the first time I heard about TSA's Pre-Check…feels like forever ago. Since domestically I primarily fly US Airways it took a lot longer for the program to be implemented in airports I fly through. To this day I still haven't had a boarding pass that was approved for Pre-Check.
Last week I read a post by The Military Frequent Flyer and realized that I had missed one very important fact about Pre-Check. I learned that I could go through the Pre-Check lane anytime and have them scan my Global Entry Card. It doesn't matter if my boarding pass was approved or not, if I use my Global Entry card I have a 90% chance or higher of being approved.
So this week I decided to take it for a spin. I entered the Pre-Check lane (and ps there was no one else in the line), handed my Global Entry Card and boarding pass to the agent and was cleared!
If TSA determines you are eligible for expedited screening, information is embedded in the barcode of your boarding pass or in you global entry card. If you are cleared, you can:
- Keep Shoes on
- Keep 3-1-1 compliant bag in carry-on
- Keep Laptop in bag
- Wear Light outerwear/jacket
- Keep Belt on
In addition, passengers 12 and younger are allowed through TSA Pre✓™ lanes with eligible passengers. Spouses are not unless they are also qualified and cleared.
I was literally through security in about 5 minutes and on the way to my flight. What a great find! I'm so excited to know that I can just show global entry card and have a very high chance of being cleared.
Pre-Check is available at the following airports through participating airlines – don't forget, if you have Global Entry you can use any of these location.
Alaska Airlines – Chicago O’Hare International, Dallas/Fort Worth International, Denver International, George Bush Intercontinental, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Honolulu International, John Wayne, Logan International, Los Angeles International, Miami International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Orlando International, Portland International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Seattle-Tacoma International and Ted Stevens Anchorage International airports
American Airlines – Charlotte Douglas International, Chicago O’Hare International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Dallas/Fort Worth International, Denver International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Honolulu International, Indianapolis International, John F. Kennedy International, John Wayne, LaGuardia, Lambert-St. Louis International, Las Vegas’ McCarran International, Logan International, Los Angeles International, Miami International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Orlando International, Pittsburgh International, Portland International, San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Ted Stevens Anchorage International and Washington Dulles International airports
Delta Air Lines – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Charlotte Douglas International, Chicago O’Hare International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Dallas/Fort Worth International, Denver International, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Honolulu International, Indianapolis International, John Wayne, LaGuardia Airport, Las Vegas’ McCarran, Logan International, Los Angeles International, Luis Muñoz Marin International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Orlando International, Pittsburgh International, Portland International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Salt Lake City International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Tampa International, Ted Stevens Anchorage International and Washington Dulles International airports
United Airlines – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Charlotte Douglas International, Chicago O’Hare International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Denver International, George Bush Intercontinental, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Honolulu International, Indianapolis International, John Wayne, Los Angeles International, Luis Muñoz Marin International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Newark Liberty International, Orlando International, Philadelphia International, Pittsburgh International, Portland International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Ted Stevens Anchorage International and Washington Dulles International airports
US Airways – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Charlotte Douglas International, Chicago O’Hare International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Denver International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Honolulu International, Indianapolis International, John Wayne, Lambert-St. Louis International, Luis Muñoz Marin International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Orlando International, Philadelphia International, Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Pittsburgh International, Portland International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Salt Lake International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Ted Stevens Anchorage International and Washington Dulles International airports
Always thought it was tied to the BP. Thanks for the info. Will use my Global Entry Card instead for certain airports that AA does not participate
So did the three beeps come after your boarding pass was scanned, or was your GE card scanned separately, too?
Great tip. Thanks.
You just saved me a ton of time when flying Southwest, especially via MDW. Thanks!!
Awesome, cant wait to try this.
May want to verify that this is system wide. I use my GE card every week and it has never been scanned they rely on the BP for rejection. Yesterday at ATL the person in front had a CAC which they did scan but they also scanned the BP (he was rejected). So you may try to use your WN BP but don’t complain if your turned away
And I’ve used pre-check at ORD but don’t think it is at MDW
@Nathan, I always thought it was tired to boarding pass, and it is. But it’s also tied to GE and CAC card so you’ll get a pass or fail off those cards.
They came before my boarding pass was scanned after my GE card was scanned.
@Jeff. It is system wide. The GE and CAC cards can be rejected and you may have to go through additional screening its not a guarantee.
That explains why I got to do expedited screening when I used my passport for domestic flights, for ID. Now I will just bring the GE ID card for domestic travel instead.
Until someone can source this claim, I’m skeptical.
I use a qr code reader to read my boarding pass off my phone and know ahead of time if I am going to be rejected. I dont think showing them my GE card will make a difference if my BP is rejected.
I have been using my GE for pre-check for almost a year, just one more thing to add, if you are connecting to an international flight , then they,ll tell you NO, only good for pr-check for domestic travel.