TSA previously offered a Managed Inclusion whereby passengers deemed to be a low security risk for flying would receive the TSA Pre-Check stamp on their passport and be referred to the TSA Pre-Check lines for expedited screening. These folks did not have to pay for the service, and were “pre-screened” in a sense based on their flying history and other undisclosed factors. Many frequent flyer programs also offered Pre-Check benefits to their top frequent flyers, though that wasn’t through an official subscription program.
Now, you won’t be able to use the TSA Pre-Check lanes without paying the fee and subscribing to the service, or one of the affiliated services that include it.
If you’re a member of Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS, you’re already pre-approved. Many premium credit cards come with the added benefit of waiving your Global Entry application fee, so you may not have to pay the fee outright.
Per the Travel Market Report:
A TSA representative from Orlando International Airport, speaking off the record, confirmed that the program ended nationwide this week, saying: “It’s accurate in that we are no longer conducting a security process called Managed Inclusion ll. It allowed some travelers to have their hands tested while in line, in addition to other layers of security. They were then referred to the TSA Pre Check line. This process has been eliminated nationwide.”
Why This is a Good Thing
Folks who don’t normally used Pre-Check who were shuffled into the Pre-Check line drastically slowed down the process. They’d attempt to take their shoes, belt and other light outerwear off, only to be told to put it all back on by a nearby TSA officer. Folks would take laptops out, pulling bin after bin out to dump all of their electronics out, only to realize they could have left it inside their bags.
Assuming that Ore-Check was a guaranteed way to get through security fast no longer became a reality, since there was a good possibility that passengers without the pre-clearance would be granted admittance, especially at larger airports such as JFK and IAD.
If you no longer receive TSA Pre-Check for free, you can view my post discussing if TSA Pre-Check is worth it for you and if you should pay the fee.
Are you effected by the elimination of the TSA’s Managed Inclusion program?
Jamie Larounis is an avid traveler, blogger and miles/points educator. Traveling well over 100,000 miles a year and staying in hotels for over 100 nights, he leverages miles, points and other deals to fly in first class cabins, and stay in 5-star hotels. The Forward Cabin shares his experiences, musings, reviews, tips, tricks, resources and industry news with you, the fellow traveler.
Why did you omit any discussion on the security aspect of the topic? Why does the TSA exist? For security (or rather for security theater). How does paying for pre-check change the security? Will it be better or worse (especially if you can get it for free by having a specific credit card)?
Forcing payment for TSA PreCheck allows everyone in the TSA PreCheck line to have had a background check run on them. Based on that, the TSA will approve applicants as low-risk flier. If you are one, you’re usually entitled to expedited screening.
Important note: Just because you paid for it doesn’t mean you get it 100% of the time. That said, usually, you’ll get it if you’re approved.
We do not pay for pre-check, but for our most recent vacation, I got pre-check on one leg of our flight while my family didn’t. Upon returning to the US (IAH), my kids were cleared to go through the expedited lanes of immigration (just collect the printout from the kiosk) while my wife and I weren’t. Checking in the next day for our flight home, my wife got pre-check and the rest of us didn’t. So when they say “pre-screened”, is that the official TSA term for rolling a dice? Something in our mystery file deemed us being low risk which allowed us to get pre-check, but also high risk which required extra scrutiny to pass through immigration?
the whole systems is a complete joke and only designed to fool the sheep into thinking they are safe.
According to TSA inspector, you are not allowed to use the pre check line unless your broading pass is stamped pre-check.. Having global entry does not allow you to use the pre check line carte blanche..
Correct. You need to apply your Known Traveler Number to the reservation and it will automatically update. But other than that, there’s no additional effort needed.
I do wish the author would have a third party check his spelling for typos and grammar use. It lacks professionalism and doesn’t lend any credibility to his blog.
I’m AA Exe Plat with Global Entry, have my Trusted Traveller number in my AA Profile (very easy to do) and I always receive precheck. That includes checking in for AA flights in a foreign country that includes a leg or too back in the USA later that day or next day.