No one likes stress while traveling, but that’s often a fact of life if you happen to spend any time traveling through an airport. Although the Transportation Security Administration is committed to keeping everyone as safe as possible, having to submit to all the rules and regulations can be a pain.
For those who want to get things over and done with well in advance, 200 airports offer TSA Precheck — a service designed to help get through security checkpoints and on your way as quickly as possible. However, just like with anything else, there are disadvantages in addition to the advantages. Here’s what you need to know to decide if TSA Precheck is the right choice for you.
1. Pro: You Can Skip Long Lines
This is one of the best TSA Precheck benefits. You get to skip ahead of the herd and enter the significantly shorter line. So long as it’s noted on your boarding pass, impatient kids under 12 who may not like standing around for hours on end can go right ahead and jump to the shorter line with you. This is a big pro for families heading off on a family vacation. Family trips are supposed to be fun and relaxing — one thing main security lines at airports are not.
2. Con: It’s More Intense
TSA Precheck requires travelers to go through a background check and fingerprinting to be in the program. The enrollment process can seem daunting to those with busy pre-travel schedules or general unease in certain circumstances. For example, interviews are required that must be done well ahead of the travel time.
If you’re somebody who’s very private or have some things in your past you’d rather keep hidden, then opting for TSA Precheck may not be for you. It’s doubtful there’s a person alive who particularly enjoys a background check and a nerve- wracking interview.
3. Pro: It’s Low Cost
Yes, it’s true just wandering into the regular security line is free every trip. It’s also true that the majority of people aren’t going to want to shell out more money on top of their regular travel expenses and spending money. But paying extra for TSA Precheck can be well worth it.
For five years, you’ll get ease of access at the airport — those glorious short lines and quick checks — for only $85 per person over the age of 13.
4. Con: It’s Not Everywhere
As you read at the start of this article, TSA Precheck is only available in 200 airports nationwide. This is a tiny portion of the several thousand airports there are as a whole. So if you’ve already paid for your enrollment without checking if your regular airports offer Precheck, then you may have just wasted your time and your money.
About MR. Cooper:
Albert Cooper is a known content writer from California, USA. He writes content in different niches such as social media marketing, finance, business etc. He’s a daytime blogger and night time reader currently working as a chief content advisor for some business and finance groups. He enjoys pie, as should all right-thinking people.
I have metal in 6 joints and thought Pre-check would save me from being “patted down” every time I travel. .WRONG. They still make me walk through the scanner, which goes off, then I’m “patted down”, which is actually “felt up” because the scanner shows the left hip prosthesis as being in my crotch. It’s a waste of money, in my opinion.