TSA’s PreCheck program is getting a lot busier this summer. (Image: TSA)
Now that the Transportation Security Administration is trying mightily to convince more travelers to join its PreCheck program in order to cut down on overall waiting times at security checkpoints, that program is facing some new strains: Two more airlines will soon be participating in it, and a surge in PreCheck applications is slowing down processing.
The only two large U.S. airlines whose passengers cannot currently use PreCheck – even if they are members — are Spirit and Frontier. The reason is a problem with their operations software, which is unable to communicate passenger information to TSA.
But according to the travel industry news website Skift, those problems should be resolved within a matter of weeks, allowing the two carriers to fully participate in the expedited screening program and sending thousands of additional travelers into PreCheck lines. Skift said the two carriers could start PreCheck participation as soon as the end of July.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that persons who apply for PreCheck membership (or Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry, which includes PreCheck privileges) are facing long waits – not at the airport, but in getting their applications processed.
Both programs require a personal interview, and TSA is using an outside vendor to provide more than 300 locations nationwide for that purpose. But AP reported that at many enrollment centers located in big cities, appointment calendars are full up for the next month and a half – or in some cities, much longer.
The AP said that the number of PreCheck applicants has more than tripled over the past few months, rising to 16,000 a day in May.
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that is, everything will continue to deteriorate until there is no discernible advantage to using PreCheck ….. it has already happened at ATL Main checkpoint.
Recent Experience: Two of us applied on the same day during a long stop at MSP. Total wait time for our appointments: 30 minutes. One of us got the approval email in two days, and letter within two weeks. The other has been waiting for both for three weeks now. Moral of the story: Your milage may vary.
Most people flying on F9 and NK are leisure travelers who are looking for very low fares and are willing to put up with the indignities heaped upon them by two of our nation’s worst airlines.. I wonder what percentage of the four percent market share will spend $85 to join PreCheck. I suspect that it’s extremely low and predict that the impact on PreCheck facilities will be minimal.
Frankly as long as I continue not having to take off my shoes or take out my laptop, I don’t care if the lines get longer.
I did have to wait 4 months to do my Global Entry interview last summer though, so it seems about the same.
They put up a TSA Pre-check office in San Diego terminal 2, but still not open.
Nothing like killing the Golden Goose.
TSA pre-check has been the only nice thing about flying. They will screw that up now.
I’m curious to see just how much of an additional strain Frontier and Spirit will be on the TSA. I think F9/NK combined are only something like four percent of all the U.S. passenger traffic. Frontier may add a bit to the PreCheck lines in Denver and the odd concourse here and there, but I would guess that the overall the additional traffic will be negligible.