TSA pre check @ORD

Are you flying domestic or international?

When I was invited I accepted the invitation (despite the fact that my home airport, STL, will probably never get PreCheck) and was ushered into this highly desirable club. Opting in was quick and easy. Have already used PreCheck 3 times this year at LAX and hope to use it next month at DFW. It's great when it is available.

Remember that this is available only at pilot airports listed on the airline's web site. For AA that includes ORD, LAX, LAS and DFW and I'm too lazy to go look up the others right now. Assuming you are flying domestic, on the airline you signed up with (and were invited by), and that you are approaching the First Class lane for that airline labeled "TSA Pre <checkmark>," I would think you would be eligible if it took your sign-up back when you tried. There is nothing on the boarding pass that says to the human eye you are eligible, but the T.S.A. agent who scans the pass at the special "TSA Pre <checkmark>" desk will see it when he or she scans the code. (I do think I saw some odd symbol on the kiosk screen the other day when checking in for my AA boarding pass at LAS that may have indicated this too, though I am by no means certain of this. It was right next to the symbol that said there would be wi-fi on the flight.)

Now, if you still aren't getting selected, try this. Go to "AAdvantage" on aa.com. Log in. Click on the "Personal Information and Password" tab. On that screen, under the heading "Secure Flight Information" there MAY be a line that says "TSA Expedited Screening Program." If there is such a line, and if such line also says "Known passenger," with a green check mark, I would think your domestic AA boarding passes at participating pilot airports like those listed in the previous paragraph should print with the scan-readable eligibility code. If there is such a line on the screen, but without the "Known passenger" wording and green check mark, see if over to the right of that line it will let you "Edit," and then follow the instructions to "Opt In." If, however, under the heading "Secure Flight Information" there is not a line that says "TSA Expedited Screening Program," I would think you do not currently qualify for what still is a pilot program with the airlines and with the T.S.A. Let us know what you find.

When the TSA agent scans your boarding pass, he has a small screen that displays info to him. What you are looking for is "LLL", which indicates that you should go through PreCheck. You can see this screen, although it is upside-down to you it is still pretty easy to see the "LLL". I have had once (out of three times trying) where I clearly saw the "LLL", but was waived over to the non-PreCheck group. I asked the TSA agent to take a closer look, he re-scanned the boarding pass, apologized, and I got access to the PreCheck screening.

Interesting to hear about the procedure from folks. I'm apparently registered now but ever time I've attempted to use the line, the "line minder" rejects me and puts me into the normal priority access line. No scanning of the boarding pass, just glancing at it.

Hmmm, some of the pilot-project stations must be set up differently than others. At the lane in LAS last week, with the podium set up the way it was there, there was no way that I could have seen the little screen the agent was using when he scanned my pass without going into all sorts of body contortions and neck strain, and probably making myself quite suspicious in the process. Don't see how at that particular station I would have been able to see "LLL," so I had to trust him to find it himself, which thankfully he did.

Given what I saw at LAS, there is no way they can route you into Precheck without scanning the pass. By glancing they would have no way to know. And to get them to scan it, at least at the airport I was using, you have to follow the signs labeled "TSA Pre<checkmark>", where the designated line has been set up with a scanner which I assume is specifically for this purpose.

I also wonder if the agent has the authority to override the "LLL" and route one to a more-thorough check based on one's appearance, dress, demeanor or whatever. However, at LAS last week I was traveling in a polo shirt and a pair of rumpled bermuda shorts, and hadn't shaved for a couple of days. Perhaps not unusal for a Vegas passenger, but still hardly the look of a time-challenged professional business traveler -- despite that crummy appearance, though, he waved me right in, though I wonder if he had to or was using his own discretion.

At LAX, there are two lines, one for PreCheck and the normal Priority Access line. The first couple of times I went through, it was self-selecting, but the TSA agent doing the scanning always took anyone from the PreCheck lane first, and so it was empty and there were a number of people in the Priority Access line (and some of them were none too pleased). My last time through LAX (about 3 weeks ago), there was someone at the spot where the lines divided. She didn't have a scanner. She automatically waived me into the Priority Access line. I told her we were PreCheck, and she waived me into the PreCheck line. I think they may have been having trouble with passengers self-selecting the shorter line. The line minder can't tell from glancing at the boarding pass (AFAIK).

Good to know, I will self-identify as PreCheck next time and see what happens.

I was just at ORD and at the Pre-check they did scan the boarding pass (not just looking at it) and told me that today wasn't my day. I was also on the domestic leg of an international trip.

I am flying Domestic, for international I am registered for the GOES system and works great

You can always do Global Entry (assuming you qualify for that), sign-up cost reimbursed if you have Amex Plat.

Seems the issue is being selected to use the line, not actually being enrolled and eligible for PreCheck.

Yes that is correct I am trying to find out how to get picked

Reports in general are that the frequent flyer program enrollment is very hit or miss, but the Global Entry one has a higher success rate

I have not found GE to fail ever. It is 100% if you go to the Global Entry Kiosk. GE luggage priority is less perfect, but still excellent because you can bypass the other queues even if they do not have a GE-specific line.

OTOH, TSAPre is explicitly NOT available if you are on an international ticket, except that sometimes you'll get Pre anyway on the inbound domestic connection following international arrival. Outbound it does not happen, ever. The TSA policy detail makes that clear.

There is a plan to include some international flights according to the Pre checker with whom I spoke at ORD a couple fo weeks ago. So far, nada!

Interesting, I haven't seen anything about that. Was there some kind of analysis or just a casual observation being made by users?

If you go the global entry route then you can put your number in your profile on each airline that you fly as opposed to just being limited to AA. Thursday in Lax the Tsa guy scanning the boarding passes was talking about the difference between being a known traveler and having global entry implying that the interview, finger printing, and criminal record check may mean more LLLs and less having to go the normal route.

Thank you ABK will try that, appreciate the tip

Had my first experience with this at LAX today, even though I signed up a few months prior. And I have to say it was quite pleasant not having to take my laptop out, liquids out, or take off my shoes. I was in and out of the premium checkpoint security room in 30 seconds. I can get used to that!

I hope it gets expanded to more airports, but I totally understand AA will do its hubs first as it provides the most benefit to most people...

No G.E for me and 3 for 3 at ORD so far (first two trips after it was put in place I forgot to try).

Now that I bragged, was me never clearing it again.

I'll be going through ORD for the first time since my DUB trip in about two weeks. Hoping I finally get selected.

I have not tried on an international trip yet, First try on Friday.

I just go tell them I have "pre-check" give the boarding pass (printed version), wait for 2-3 seconds and so far she (all three times it has been a women) tells me to go down the empty pre-check line to have my ID checked. Total time from giving to boarding pass to being done with TSA about 45 sec. Would be faster if I would have my ID ready for the check and the phone out of my pocket before I get to the X-ray machine

I don't believe it works on international itineraries yet. I just mentioned my DUB trip as a time post for myself (and those few on here who follow me outside of MP).

I am signed up for the program, and my AA profile has a green check mark and "known traveler" notation, but the front persons at ORD (before you get to any TSA) keep sending me to normal line. They don't scan the BP, only look at it.

Maybe AA is not printing some code correctly. Anyway, it hasn't bothered me enough to talk to anyone about it.