I’ve spent the first 29 years of my traveling life without TSA PreCheck. I was excited to finally get it and breeze through security while traveling.
I was heading down to Albuquerque for Christmas. My parents still live down there and I like to go back for the holidays. After a hefty sprint to customs after our trip to Mexico, I finally got Global Entry (and by extension, PreCheck).
If you are approved for Global Entry, you are automatically eligible for TSA PreCheck. Check out this list of Credit Cards that get you Global Entry for free.
TSA PreCheck Is So Quick.
I walk up to the agent checking boarding passes & IDs. The other agent complimented me on choosing “the appropriate government agency to represent going through the airport”. I was wearing my Tie Die USPS shirt I thrifted a while ago. Not entirely sure what he meant by that, but I’ll take it. 🤷♂️
I have heard rumors that the pre-check line at Denver International Airport can get pretty ridiculous. I’m sure it’s one of those “If everyone’s special, no one is” things. Thankfully it wasn’t bad at all this time.
Got Scolded. Karma Ensued.
After my boarding pass matched up to my ID I walk over to the bins to start loading up my carry-ons. I chose the shorter line (because who wouldn’t?). I’m behind a few people but it doesn’t take long till I’ve got the bins in my hands ready to carry my luggage through their Superman’s Strip Search™️ ride at Denver International Airport.
This older woman is standing at the back of the rollers and taking forever to load up her stuff. Several bins worth of space open up in front of her, and she wasn’t shuffling down the line like she’s supposed to. I waited what I considered to be an appropriate amount of time before I slide past with the finesse of a deer, set both my bins on the roller, and yeet my bag in to one of them.
“Did you just skip in front of me?!” I hear from behind me.
I turn around. this woman obviously cares about the fact that I’m going to walk through the metal detector 30 seconds before her. Not wanting to start a fuss I move my bins and let her slide by.
Not thinking anything of it, I get in line to go through the metal detector. To my surprise, she gets “randomly selected”. She gets the pleasure of going through the full body scanner, instead of just the metal detector (one of the nice perks of PreCheck).
Something on her scan flagged and she had to get patted down. It felt really nice being able to get my bags and everything before she even got through. If she had just let me jump in front of her, it would’ve been me “randomly selected” and she would’ve actually gotten through faster.
Funny how things like that work, huh?
Glad I’ve been Pre Checked.
I’m not entirely sure why a background check lets me not have to take my shoes off or electronics & liquids out. However, I’m glad I have it and I’m kicking myself for how long It took me to get PreCheck.
If you don’t have it already and you fly more than once a year, definitely consider getting PreCheck. It’ll save you so much time and stress getting through security.
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