The airport security line: As necessary as it is, we all loathe it. No one really wants to remove their shoes in an airport, nor do we want to deal with the hassle of removing our laptop from its bag, taking out our liquids that are crammed into a small quart-sized bag, etc. Well we have good news for local travelers looking to breeze through security at Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, it now offers TSA Pre Check.
According to TSA.gov, TSA Pre✓™ allows select frequent flyers of participating airlines and members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs who are flying on participating airlines, to receive expedited screening benefits. Eligible participants use dedicated screening lanes for screening benefits which include leaving on shoes, light outerwear and belts, as well as leaving laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags.
This new process allows travelers who have gone through a screening process to pass through a security quicker and with less hassle. Sounds good to us!
So as we mentioned, this is now an option at Cyril E. King, although it is not yet being offered by all airline. We do know, thanks to our friend Kristin over at Great Expectations villa, that American Airlines is participating in the new, quicker security process.
So how exactly does it work? Here are some FAQs courtesy of www.tsa.gov:
Q.How can someone sign up to participate?
A. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways will invite some of their frequent flyers, based on TSA criteria, to opt-in through the airline’s system. Participating airlines have contacted eligible frequent travelers with an invitation to opt-in. Once the passenger opts in, the airline identifies the individual as a participant when submitting the passenger reservation information to TSA’s Secure Flight system. Later this year, Hawaiian Airlines and Virgin America plan to invite eligible frequent fliers to opt-in to TSA Pre✓™, therefore, at this time Hawaiian and Virgin America passengers who are enrolled in a CBP Trusted Traveler program or have a Known Traveler Number are eligible to participate.
Current members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS programs are already eligible to participate in TSA Pre✓™ if they are flying on Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, United, US Airways and Virgin America at a participating airport. Those passengers who want to qualify for TSA Pre✓™ need to enter their PASS ID, not the GOES ID, in the ‘Known Traveler Number’ field while booking their reservation.
Interested passengers who are not eligible for TSA Pre✓™ through their airline and are not already a member of a CBP Trusted Traveler program may still be able to apply for one of the CBP Trusted Traveler programs. To learn more visit: globalentry.gov.
Q. What do participants need to do?
A. Members of a CBP Trusted Traveler program are assigned a PASS ID, (Known Traveler number). To participate in TSA Pre✓™, these passengers must place their PASS ID, which can be found in their online GOES account, or on the back of their membership card in the top-left corner, in the ‘Known Traveler’ field while booking their reservation. Trusted Traveler program members should also remember to enter their full name, date of birth, and PASS ID exactly as it appears on their membership card. That number is then passed to TSA’s Secure Flight system and taken into consideration during the prescreening process.
Global Entry Members: Learn how to find your membership number.
Participating airlines will invite some of their frequent travelers, based on TSA criteria, to opt-in through the airline’s system. Participating airlines have contacted eligible frequent travelers with an invitation to opt-in. Once the passenger opts-in, the airline identifies the individual as a participant when submitting the passenger reservation information to TSA’s Secure Flight system.
Q. Can passengers access TSA Pre✓™ for international travel?
A. Yes. TSA Pre✓™ is available for passengers traveling domestically within the United States and internationally from the United States on participating airlines. TSA also allows eligible TSA Pre✓™ participants to qualify for expedited screening benefits when connecting to a domestic flight after arriving to the United States on an international flight.
Q. Where is TSA Pre✓™ available?
A. Passengers can view a list of where expedited screening lanes are available on the TSA Pre✓™ Participating Airports page or click on the links below to find out where TSA Pre✓™ is available by airline.
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- United Airlines
- US Airways
- Virgin America
Q. Will this be at every checkpoint in participating airports?
A. No. Eligible passengers should use designated TSA Pre✓™ lanes at specific checkpoints at participating airports. Passengers can view a list of where expedited screening lanes are available on the TSA Pre✓™ Participating Airports page.
Q. Will participants know in advance that they have been cleared for expedited screening?
A. TSA has approved several methods to notify passengers of their eligibility for TSA Pre✓™. Passengers traveling on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways will see a TSA Pre✓™ notification on select boarding passes. Learn more about notification of TSA Pre✓™ eligibility.
As the other TSA Pre✓™ participating airlines begin to offer similar functionality, passengers may see additional airlines implement notifications to eligible passengers. Therefore, if a passenger is traveling on a TSA Pre✓™ eligible itinerary and has opted in through their airline or is eligible through a Trusted Traveler program, they should still proceed to the TSA Pre✓™ lane to determine eligibility.
If the agency determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening through TSA Pre✓™, information will be embedded in the barcode of the passenger’s boarding pass. TSA will read the barcode at designated checkpoints and the passenger may be referred to an expedited screening lane.
Q. Are travel companions eligible for TSA Pre✓™ as well?
A. Passengers 12 and younger are allowed through TSA Pre✓™ lanes with eligible passengers (parent or guardian). Other passengers that do not meet the necessary requirements are not eligible to participate at this time.
Q. What will TSA do as part of the “prescreening” of participants?
A. For security reasons, TSA cannot provide specifics about screening procedures. Volunteered participant information is used to make an intelligence-driven risk assessment that could allow some travelers to qualify for expedited screening.
Love me some PRE! Glad it is available in St Thomas.
We had TSA PRECHECK passes last month, a surprise since we didn’t apply. But pre-check at JFK didn’t open until after our 5:45am flight left, and there was no pre-check set up at STT yet. But it’s a great marketing tool and getting a lot of free advertising, lol!
Anything that will get me through those crazy lines quicker is good for me!
We were surprised with pre check Wednesday when we left STT. Nice!
I was given Pre Check by Delta. due to my frrequent travel. IT IS GREAT! When my wife flew with me to Denver last summer she got the Pre Check status also. Whe she left to go separately to Seattle, she still had the status and went right though security. She also had it when she returned home.