TSA Precheck heads-up--be prepared

[Miffy]

Just back from WDW and my JetBlue boarding pass didn't note that I have TSA Precheck. I didn't notice this, but the person at the TSA Precheck counter did, so I couldn't go through. However, if I had known my KTN (Known Traveler Number), they would've been able to verify my status.

In the future, I will have my KTN with me.

I ended up going back to the kiosks and getting a JetBlue employee to help me. He was able to look up my number and also printed me out a new boarding pass that noted TSA Pre on it. I was very early for my flight, so the delay wasn't a big deal.

Just a heads-up to have your KTN with you in case this happens.

 

[aokeefe]

I have been having the same issue randomly with JetBlue with the last 3 out 4 flights taken. Do you happen to have an apostrophe in your last name? I do and we thought that was the issue. I have contacted JetBlue prior to my flight so many times and some agents can fix it, some can't. The gate agents easily fix it for me but my Type A planning wants it fixed prior! I have even called TSA and they said it's a known random glitch with certain airlines. All I can suggest is to make sure your name on your reservation matches exactly as your TSA name (first, middle, last, surname etc) I fly JetBlue again in April so I will be curious to see what happens.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I have my KTN listed in my phone so it is always with me.

 

[OKW Lover]

Just wanted to remind people that having TSA preCheck doesn't guarantee you will get that every time you travel. There is some amount of randomness involved.

 

[Miffy]

I have been having the same issue randomly with JetBlue with the last 3 out 4 flights taken. Do you happen to have an apostrophe in your last name? I do and we thought that was the issue. I have contacted JetBlue prior to my flight so many times and some agents can fix it, some can't. The gate agents easily fix it for me but my Type A planning wants it fixed prior! I have even called TSA and they said it's a known random glitch with certain airlines. All I can suggest is to make sure your name on your reservation matches exactly as your TSA name (first, middle, last, surname etc) I fly JetBlue again in April so I will be curious to see what happens.

No apostrophe in my last name. I don't know why this happened, but I also had another weird occurrence with that check-in, since I purchased an extra-room seat and the sale went through but then a couple of hours later I received two emails from JB saying that my payment hadn't worked. Yet when I went to the JB site, my selected seat was showing, so I chatted with them and the agent told me it was a glitch. I did indeed have the seat booked--and, astonishingly, I had the entire row to myself.

I'm definitely putting my KTN on my phone. Great suggestion, @Debbie Jean!

 

[Miffy]

Just wanted to remind people that having TSA preCheck doesn't guarantee you will get that every time you travel. There is some amount of randomness involved.

Well, I was sent to the regular non-TSA Pre line once a few years ago as a random thing, but that's the only time it happened to me.

And, btw, after I got the corrected boarding pass, I did go through the TSA Pre line. No problem.

 

[FreeTime]

Mine drops off of my SW boarding pass every 3 flights or so and on Delta I can never get it to appear. When this happens, I go to the counter before I get in the pre-check line to see if it dropped in error or if it was because I was randomly not selected. I have had to go through the regular line when it was not dropped in error.

 

[StarCruzer]

I had the problem where my KTN wasn't working for American and they put it through as my redress number and said it worked? Maybe she never got it to work and fixed it manually--I was traveling with my husband who is active duty and he always gets preCheck.

 

[JBRB828]

Just wanted to remind people that having TSA preCheck doesn't guarantee you will get that every time you travel. There is some amount of randomness involved.

Maybe it happens, but for me and DH, never. And, we've had PreCheck since it first started out in 2011.

 

[FreeTime]

I did forget to add above in regards to SW, if you don’t see it on mobile go to a desktop and go into your profile. Click safe. Then generate the boarding pass on the desk top. It will appear on your mobile one when you refresh.

 

[sam_gordon]

Good tip to have your KTN # available somewhere. But I would also suggest as soon as you look at your boarding pass (before leaving for the airport), look to see if it has the Precheck mark on it. If it doesn't contact your airline.

 

[Mle8308]

I have my KTN listed in my phone so it is always with me.

Yes! In my contacts and I have a screenshot of the approval notice with the KTN saved to photos. And I check my boarding pass before I get to the airport so if it's not listed, I can either call or chat with the airline to get it added.

 

[EACarlson]

Good tip to have your KTN # available somewhere. But I would also suggest as soon as you look at your boarding pass (before leaving for the airport), look to see if it has the Precheck mark on it. If it doesn't contact your airline.

This is the way. As soon as I can generate a boarding pass I look to make sure it lists Pre. If it doesn't then I call and try to find out why, usually it's because the travel agent my company uses screwed something up along the way that I have to fix.

 

[Donna M]

Just wanted to remind people that having TSA preCheck doesn't guarantee you will get that every time you travel. There is some amount of randomness involved.

If you paid for TSA, you should have it every time, it should not be random. There are times you can get it randomly if you have not signed up for it.

Added: There are some comments downstream on my post. I will clarify that it should not be random or willie nillie ( like I used to get it once in while with SW), but there may be situations where something came up, like not having your KTN number on the ticket.

 

[EACarlson]

If you paid for TSA, you should have it every time, it should not be random. There are times you can get it randomly if you have not signed up for it.

There are times where you will not get it. It may be because your airline ran out of slots, it may be that you are randomly selected for full screening. You may end up with the dreaded ZZZZZ on your BP which guarantees secondary screening. Big warning on the front page of tsa.gov, Pre does not guarantee expedited screening.

 

[Brian Noble]

Maybe it happens, but for me and DH, never. And, we've had PreCheck since it first started out in 2011.

I've had it since the Delta pilot program in DTW (and I think MSP), and typically flew somewhere between 50K and 75K miles/year pre-Covid. I think I've been sent to the "regular" line maybe two or three times, but it had been a while since it had happened, even before the pandemic shutdown.

 

[SLThomas318]

If you paid for TSA, you should have it every time, it should not be random. There are times you can get it randomly if you have not signed up for it.

Def. don't get it every time. We knew when we signed up that some times it would not be assigned. One of our previous trips my husband got it and I didn't. He wrangled the kids thru pre-check and I enjoyed my alone time in the regular line

We do have our numbers stored in our phone, so if it happens again I might check at the counter when we arrive unless that line is insane.

 

[Lewisc]

If you paid for TSA, you should have it every time, it should not be random. There are times you can get it randomly if you have not signed up for it.

Not true

From the TSA website

TSA uses unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, throughout the airport. All travelers will be screened, and no individual is guaranteed expedited screening.

 

[Cheburashka]

Just wanted to remind people that having TSA preCheck doesn't guarantee you will get that every time you travel. There is some amount of randomness involved.

We've sailed with TSA Pre-Check dozens of times and have never had it not apply to us.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you paid for TSA, you should have it every time, it should not be random. There are times you can get it randomly if you have not signed up for it.

For years TSA has been clear that although you may have been cleared through the program as a low threat such that you can qualify for lower security measures you may not always be selected to use it.

At times it can be an error such as a dropping off your profile or be an issue with a flight you've already booked then added after the fact but it's not always. When TSA wants you to contact them is if there's a pattern of you not getting pre-check rather than this time you didn't get it but you usually do.