Do you feel like a Tiny Tim peering in a window, when in line at the airport? Others travelers are in the TSA Precheck or Clear Line. You are even below the traveler who elbows you with a meek apology that he/she in a rush.
So what are these elite lines.
TSA Precheck is the most common and has been in use for longer. Here is government’s the pitch ‘experience a smoother screening process – no need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, or light jackets’. You apply on line, then once cleared, you interview with a TSA official. The agent will print your fingertips. TSA uses its data base to approve low risk flyers. Your boarding pass will say TSA Precheck.
TSA Precheck has a special line for both domestic and outbound international flights. 87 airlines and 200 airports participate in the program. Don’t get too confident. Warning: sometimes TSA will not show on your boarding pass; this is random security or other, and can be inconvenient.
In the beginning one had to go to an airport for the interview. TSA says the wait time once a filled out application is sent in is 3-5 days but can be up to 60 days. A quick swipe on the TSA website for an appointment showed lots of availability.
Today there are many locations which might be closer: Staples, AAA offices, in town TSA offices, and at a local airport. You can try to schedule your appointment before a flight so you “kill two birds with one stone”, maybe not the best metaphor for this article.
TSA costs $85 for 5 years. Some credit cards include the payment at a card cost as little as $95. WARNING: IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND THE GOVERNMENT SITE. So many companies have commercial sites that appear to be but are not official.
Clear is a owned privately, and operates at 45 US airports and some private spaces like football stadiums. Clear uses eye or fingerprint identification. Clear is a bio metric measure using an eye scanner or fingerprinter. Clear lines are usually quicker. Clear users are ushered past you and past TSA Precheckefs, to the front of the line. Clear lines are also usually shorter, that is, unless a group of new Clear people need a first eye scan. (Budget extra minutes, the first time you use Clear).
Clear is $189 per year. Some credit cards cover the cost or part of the cost. Some airlines offer a few dollars off if you join the frequent flier program. Expensive but might be worth it if you fly a lot.
Plain old line people We don’t always want to spend $85 or $189 to sit in the front of the room. If not: Get to the airport early. Expect a longer line. Pack your carry on so valuables cannot be seen. ie. Don’t put your cherished Hermes scarf on top of an open bag. Store it other unexciting magazines or socks. Keep an eye, until your bag reaches the plastic security walls at the end of the belt. Get in line promptly so you pass security,with your belongings.
Finally if you saw the movie Up in the Air with George Clooney and Anna Kendrick? Don’t line up behind families with children and their parent-piles. Avoid the guy, like my husband, who always has 2 more coins or a key or a credit card that sets off the machine. (The “piggy bank coin” guys are harder to identify).
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