Just as Global Entry people may be randomly denied TSA Precheck, non-GE people may be randomly awarded TSA Pre. I got it on both my recent flights.

I think they are making a mess of the TSA Precheck program.
My understanding is that TSA is trying to increase the numbers of particpants in the TSA Precheck program. They are doing this by assigning TRA pre-check to people who are not GE "members" nor have they purchased TSA Precheck. At IAD it's sometimes making the lines longer at the TSA Precheck than at regular security. The TSA screeners say it's been a nightmare with the summer and people in the TSA Precheck line who don't understand it and think they still must take off jackets, shoes etc. This depsite the signs posted at TSA precheck security stations and the staff yelling "You don't need to take off your shoes, etc."

I was flying BWI to Detroit and back, and the Precheck line was so short both times it hardly merited the word line.

Since I am a naturalized citizen the feds already have my fingerprints on file, plus an extensive background check....

IAD started out that way, but it has changed over the last 3-4 months. I fly again @ the end of next month and hope it's as you described @ BWI, thursday.

The back of my Global Entry under PassID had two sets of numbers, a long and a short number. Are they collectively the trusted traveler number?

It's the nine digit number. On my card, there are a few more characters to the right of that...I don't use those when putting the PassID into my airline profiles/reservations.

yestravel, my Pre experiences in the last month have been a mixed bag. The ORD line is usually longer than the regular elite security line, but it moves fast and beats having to take off shoes and take stuff out of your bag. At SFO, I encountered almost no line. At PHX earlier this week, the line wasn't long, but about 75% of us were told we'd been "randomly selected" to go through the body scanner (but with shoes/belts on). And a few weeks before that, I went through behind a whole group (pack? whatever they call it) of Boy Scouts in uniform.

Does sound like a mixed bag. I agree, it's nice not to have to take off shoes and jackets etc. I figure that someone at TSA has a # in his/her performance metrics that they are tryng to meet.

This is a complete mystery to me. I do not have a US passport, neither do I have Global Entry, yet whenever I go through my local airport (IAH) I get Pre-check on my boarding passes and go through the shorter line. I had always assumed it was the age and white-hair factor. This post doesn't really clear up the mystery for me!

I read that TSA is trying to increase the number of people who purchase TSA precheck. In order to give people an opportunity to experience the "ease" of going thru TSA Precheck and then maybe buying it, airlines are selecting customers and assigning them to TSA Precheck. The basis upon which the airlines are selecting passengers is unknown to me.

hi ... I've been reading info online concerning Global Entry and or vs TSA precheck...unfortunately I "did it backwards" .... having obtained my TSA precheck first before realizing there were any other airport pass programs such as Global Entry ... : ( nonetheless, my question to all is ... I understand to obtain a Global Entry number...I'll need to go thru the entire process for Global Entry despite having my TSA precheck ... my question is, do you feel having already obtained a TSA precheck that getting a Global Entry approval would be essentially a "slam dunk" ? or do you believe you can be eligible for one and not the other ? thanks much all
Randy

Gertie - if you buy your tickets with an airline affiliated card (mine is a Delta Amex) you get TSA recheck status pretty much all the time.

Unless you travel outside of U.S. The TSA PreCheck is all you need. The difference between the 2 is primarily re- entry to US from abroad; you are able to skip lines and use kiosks to enter info.

slam dunk

They were previously doing that . . . getting TSA pre-check with affiliated cards, and FF status, but we discovered it's changing a bit, so no longer automatic.

I talked to someone at Southwest the other day, because I get pre-check (have Global Entry) but my husband no longer gets it with just a FF card. She said they've pulled back on the random TSA pre-check and are phasing it out in favor of those who've actually paid for the perk.

Fortunately, husband goes for the Global Entry interview next week, so we should both have the perk next month when we travel together.

A bit of an update. My husband went for his interview today, was approved, and they updated his GOES account to confirm approval, provide his Global Entry number, which is now the SAME as the trusted traveler number for purposes of pre-check. I called Southwest to update his info for an upcoming trip so he can joint me in the TSA pre-check line.

Husband received his card exactly one week after the interview. Nice!

My driver's license expires in July, and we're flying in October. Do I have to wait for a new license before I apply, or would my passport work?

Underhill, you only need to have a government issued photo ID. So your passport would work.

The letter advising me to schedule the interview said I needed to bring <i>both</I> • my Passport - and - • A document to establish residency (such as driver’s license, utility bill, rental or mortgage statement)<<

They did look at both the passport and DL