I spend a fair share of my time in airports and airplanes. Air travel is a pretty major component of my ministry right now. And thankfully, the Pittsburgh International Airport recently opened up a TSA Pre Check screening area which drastically reduces the wait time for what the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol calls the "trusted traveler."
I am now a "trusted traveler" having gone through the process of the online application, a thorough background check and an in person interview with a U.S. Customs Agent. All of this was worth every penny and every minute spent in locking this wonderful privilege down.
In order to receive the TSA Pre Check status, you need to have Global Entry clearance. And you can find out more about this here. I will use TSA Pre Check much more than Global Entry (re-entering the U.S. from another country which requires a visit with U.S. Customs) -- but it appears that TSA Pre Check stations are opening up in many U.S. airports which will make my life significantly easier.
TSA Pre Check security screening lines are (for now) much shorter and it allows you to:
- keep your belt on
- keep your light jacket on
- keep your shoes on
- leave your laptop computer in your carry on bag
- leave your liquids in your carry on bag
This is a great privilege and I have been blessed to use this now a few times since being cleared for the program. I have saved at least 20 minutes at each airport where I just walked right up to the short TSA Pre Check line and went through an abbreviated security screening.
The other helpful part of this program is that those who are not accustomed to all of the latest rules and regulations in place by TSA are in the general screening area. Not to be all "fly-ier than thou" but my fellow travelers ahead of me in the security screening line can effectively slow down the entire process because they might be trying to carry on a gallon of Fiji Water or their enormous bottle of Aveda product. And from there, trying to argue with the TSA Agent just trying to do his/her job by asking them to either discard the offending liquids or to put it in their checked luggage. Fighting with TSA will get you nowhere - not to mention slow down the entire screening process for those behind you just trying to make our flight.
From now on, I will be sure to travel with TSA Pre Check airports and be sure to keep all of my information current with the 5 years that I have this wonderful benefit. Many thanks, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for this program. You hit a home run with me with Global Entry and TSA Pre Check - one of your newest "trusted travelers."
