As Ben recently reported, at a handful of airports TSA now lets those with Pre-Check (including Global Entry) go through security even if not flying. You have to sign up 1-3 days ahead of time, and a minor can be added to an adult’s sign-up. Discussions on Ben’s post talked about the utility of this (does anyone really want to access the clubs that badly?), but it seemed like it would be useful to greet someone arriving, or help someone get to the gate (elderly parents, anyone?).
My son and I decided to try this out to greet my wife at LAX on her return from a week-long work trip. This was on September 18th, so the program had only been live for maybe 10 days. There were some slight hiccups at TSA because the program was so new, but no big deal.
Signing up was easy enough — go to the website, scroll down and hit “apply” and log in (or create) an account. You then enter the date you want to visit, the airport, your known traveler number, your full name, your date of birth, etc. You also have to enter the details of anyone going through with you — adults I think have to have their own known traveler number, but for my son I simply put in his birthday. I got a screen confirming my submission, and was told to check the “dashboard” in a day to see if we were approved. Checked the next day and the confirmation was there.
At the airport we went through the pre-check line. The agent said she had heard of the program but this was her first time seeing it. She took my ID and scanned my face, as usual, and I showed her the confirmation number (note on this below). She said I was cleared but wasn’t sure what to do about my son. I was somewhat relieved that she at least was aware of the existence of the program! I showed her that the confirmation had two people, but was still unsure so we had to wait a few minutes for a supervisor to come over. Fortunately, not a lot of people were going through security so we did not get in anyone’s way while waiting.
The trick ended up being not just showing the confirmation, but then clicking on the number on the webpage to pull up the names of each person on the reservation. Once the supervisor saw my name and then my son’s name we were both let through. Cleared security and off to the gate to pick up my surprised wife. Meeting her at the gate was more expensive than just doing a drive by pickup, but given the chaos that is LAX arrivals on a Friday night it was much easier on the nerves than trying to coordinate pulling up to the curb once she had her bags.
Finally, if you do this make sure you have your TSA log in on your phone, so that you can access your confirmation at the airport. To get to the dashboard, you log in then hit the three lines at the top right, and select dashboard from the drop down menu. There it showed my confirmation information.
I'd be curious what you showed to the line guardian before getting to the TSA agent. They typically want to see the Precheck icon on a boarding pass. Does whatever TSA gives you on the website look like a boarding pass and have a precheck icon?
Most lounges do not let you in without an explicit boarding pass for a departing flight. Airports like Seattle have had programs to let non ticketed pax through security for years now, with advance reservation, but you've never been able to access a lounge with that. The purpose is for meeting friends and family at the gate or seeing them off to the gate, pre-9/11 style.
I initially viewed this program as a slightly gimmicky way to access airport restaurants or lounges without flying, but this is probably the best argument I’ve seen for the program. There’s something nice about being able to meet a family member at the gate again, particularly with a child in tow, or helping an elderly family member through the airport without relying on the wheelchair assistance. Funny that something which was once completely ordinary now...
I initially viewed this program as a slightly gimmicky way to access airport restaurants or lounges without flying, but this is probably the best argument I’ve seen for the program. There’s something nice about being able to meet a family member at the gate again, particularly with a child in tow, or helping an elderly family member through the airport without relying on the wheelchair assistance. Funny that something which was once completely ordinary now feels like a novel airport experience.
Sounds clumsy at rollout (the web UI in particular), but handy to have for several situations!!
I also wonder how airports that don't have a pre-check lane will do with this (some close down early in the day, or have checkpoints that never had a dedicated lane, like several of the checkpoints in MIA).
Thanks for reviewing it.
Great article. I am going to do this in Tampa because there are some really nice restaurants that I want to visit Airside. Thanks !
You're not kidding! At TPA, near gate E68, there's a Columbia Restaurant location (huge fan of their 1905 salad). Sure, it's not the original in Ybor City, but it's still quite nice!
Cool that you checked it out, but feels like the type of thing where it's easier to just buy a ticket with miles and cancel it after you are through security (or after you are done waiting in the lounge). Then it's irrelevant if you have pre-check or not. I wouldn't do that regularly, but once in a blue moon...
As far as slight "Unethical Life Pro Tips" go, those cancel-before-departure-for-a-full-refund policies could also be 'helpful' for lounge access... *whistling* ...anyhoo.
Well done, jallan! Glad you 'tested' this out, and that it went well (sorta). Wild that you were one of the first people that the TSA agent had encountered using the new program. Good to know about the time-frame to apply (1-3 days ahead of time), so this really can't be a last-minute thing. And, also, that the mere confirmation might not be enough; like, having to login to their webpage, find the 'three lines...
Well done, jallan! Glad you 'tested' this out, and that it went well (sorta). Wild that you were one of the first people that the TSA agent had encountered using the new program. Good to know about the time-frame to apply (1-3 days ahead of time), so this really can't be a last-minute thing. And, also, that the mere confirmation might not be enough; like, having to login to their webpage, find the 'three lines at the top right,' show the names, etc. Surely, this could be easier. Hope they will improve it. Thanks again for sharing your findings with us. Glad your family members returned safely as well. That must've been a pleasant surprise for them to see you waiting at the gate!