Going through TSA doesn’t have to be slow
Holiday headache at the airport can be sped up with security clearance options
Ask folks wandering Bush Intercontinental Airport about their biggest travel-related annoyance, and dealing with TSA will be a common response. About 267,000 Texans are expected to fly to Thanksgiving destinations this year, according to AAA. With that many going through the TSA checkpoints at Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport, the security lines will likely back up quickly.
But you might thank yourself during the holiday rush if you opt for one of the approved security clearance options at Houston’s airports.
TSA without Pre-Check ($0)
If you go through TSA like a normal passenger, you’ll be expected to shuck your shoes, jewelry and belt, and remove electronics from your bag.
The wait spares no one. When I went through TSA recently, all I had on me was my work bag. I thought it’d go by quickly.
I made it through in about 11 minutes. What held me up during the process was when the TSA agent held onto my ID, questioning whether I knew that Real ID was being implemented next year and I would no longer be able to fly with this driver’s license.
“Well, you don’t want to be sorry when it’s a few more months from now and you need it,” he said, handing my pass and ID back to me.
To avoid getting held up at TSA in the future, request a duplicate card online (and remember, you don’t have to stand in line at DPS) if you have a non-Real ID card, or you will automatically be given a Real ID-compliant card when you renew. You can renew your Texas driver’s license up to two years before its expiration.
When packing your luggage, travel experts advise putting your electronics and liquids (no bottles over three ounces, one quartsize bag per person) toward the top or near a zipper for easy access.
That includes snacks. If you want to sneak applesauce into your bag for when in-flight pretzels don’t cut it, make sure the package is under three ounces and clearly labeled, preferably in English, experts said.
“The main thing is for everything to be verifiable by the ounces on their original containers,” said Ginger Davis, an AAA travel agent.
My mom ran into this problem earlier this month at Hobby Airport, when she’d packed a banh mi sandwich wrapped in white butcher paper to eat before the flight boarded. TSA asked her to step aside so they could search the sandwich and verify the safety of the grilled pork, pâté and butter. (The sandwich, she later reported, was not worth the trouble.)
Planning what to wear to the airport — not to mention what will be comfortable on the flight — is also a wise choice.
“You want to wear comfortable shoes you can easily get off, try to avoid any bulky jewelry, belts, things like that,” Davis said.
You can check the wait times for TSA checkpoints ahead of time for both airports on the Houston Airport System’s website, clicking on your airport and then “Departures.”
TSA Pre-Check ($85)
For $85, you can speed through TSA’s security checkpoints every time you fly for five years. Shoes, jackets and jewelry can all stay on, and electronics can be kept inside the luggage.
It’s a good option for frequent flyers, families with young children and older travelers.
The agency does a background check and fingerprinting when you apply. The online form is simple, but you do need to make an in-person appointment for fingerprinting and answering security questions.
TSA offers a map of PreCheck enrollment locations on its website. Once you get Pre-Check, make sure you add your Pre-Check number to your flight reservations to be eligible to enter the special line. You should apply for TSA Pre-Check at least a month before your planned travel date — it can take up to three weeks to get written notification of your approval after finishing the in-person appointment, but you can check the application status online.
Occasionally, a traveler gets lucky and is randomly selected for free TSA Pre-Check. When printing out a boarding pass 24 hours before the flight, the paper pass will indicate if the traveler’s been selected for TSA Pre-Check.
A TSA spokesperson said new legislation requires the agency to limit the use of Pre-Check lanes to those who have enrolled in the program.
“As such, the likelihood of non-enrolled passengers receiving TSA Pre-Check on their boarding pass has significantly decreased,” TSA spokesperson Carrie Harmon said.
In October, 93 percent of TSA Pre-Check flyers waited less than five minutes at security, officials said. Doesn’t that sound worth it?
TSA Global Entry ($100), Nexus ($50) and Sentri ($122.50)
For another $15, you can get Global Entry and waltz through security checkpoints internationally without fuss. It’s the same thing as Pre-Check, except foreign nationals can also apply for the program, and it’ll allow you entry by land or sea, should you find yourself driving across the U.S.Mexico border.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials review your credentials, and like TSA Pre-Check, all three programs last for five years.
Nexus allows skip-theline access at security checkpoints on the U.S.Canada border, while Sentri offers the same for the U.S.Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders. Sentri is particularly useful for frequent travelers coming and going to Mexico, as it allows the holder to use expedited lanes on border roads and pedestrian walkways.
Clear ($179, discounts available)
Re-launched at Bush Intercontinental Airport this year, this biometrics-based program helps travelers clear security checkpoints a little bit faster. It’s different from TSA Pre-Check: the program scans a traveler’s eyes or fingerprints, checks the boarding pass and allows passengers to skip the photo ID line.
Frequent flyers with United Airlines can pay a discounted rate for an annual membership — up to $70 off the $179 price tag — or receive a free annual membership if they belong to the Premier 1K club.
On United’s website, Clear says it thoroughly safeguards the data it collects.
“Such practices include, but are not limited to, encryption at rest and in transit, firewalls, multi-factor authentication, personnel security, privacy and security training, and intrusion detection and data leakage tools,” the website said.
Because Clear is only in use with United Airlines in Houston, don’t buy it if you don’t frequently fly with the airline. But if you’re going to spring for it, you should also get TSA Pre-Check. Clear will get you through the documents side; TSA PreCheck will speed you through security.
“In general, we think Clear and Pre-Check are great complements for one another,” said Rachael Rivas, a United spokesperson.