Tag Archives: TSA PreCheck

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Have you Read my Most Popular Posts of 2022?

Good afternoon, from rainy Northern California.  Every year, I like to check out my stats from Google Analytics to see which blog posts were the most popular.  I created 2 lists by looking at all blog posts written in 2022 and then I looked at which posts were read the most in 2022, but written in previous years (#stayingpower).  I will list the blog posts from top to bottom based on pageviews, share the original published date, and provide my thoughts or a short summary of each blog post.  If you are curious, here were the most popular posts from 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

2022’s Most Read Posts (Written in 2022)

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Pilot Program Announced: BART Riders to SFO get Access to Priority TSA Security Lines

Good afternoon everyone.  I just received an email from BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) about a new pilot program that was just announced for BART passengers traveling to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).  According to the announcement, passengers who take BART to SFO will have access to priority TSA security lines.  This is kind of a goldilocks line between general TSA security lines and TSA PreCheck lines.  I believe the screening process is the same as general TSA security, but with a shorter line.  Since I have TSA PreCheck, I would probably never go through the priority TSA security line, but this is good news for passengers who do not have TSA PreCheck or are heading to SFO for an international flight.

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How to Renew your Global Entry Card & Membership Online ($100 Fee Every 5 Years)

Good morning everyone.  A few years ago, I wrote how to sign up for Global Entry, and now I am writing about how to renew your Global Entry membership (most of the process is the same).  I didn’t know my Global Entry membership was expiring in November 2019 until I received this email from Global Entry with the cryptic subject line “Program Expiry”.  I have several credit cards that reimburse the $100 fee for Global Entry (including my Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card), so it was a no brainer to renew my Global Entry membership.  To get started, I went to the Trusted Travel Program website.

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Reality Check: Traveling with Non-TSA PreCheck Travelers Sucks

Good morning everyone, I hope you had a great weekend. This past weekend, I was reminded how great TSA PreCheck is and how terribly regular airport security is. You are only as fast as your slowest non-TSA PreCheck traveler. For example, I sped through TSA PreCheck (barely slowing down to put my iPhone in my backpack, putting my backpack on the conveyor belt, putting my carry on bag on the conveyor belt, walking through the metal detector, and picking up my bags) then I waited 15-20 minutes on the other side of security for the non-TSA PreCheck travelers to go through security.  In that 15-20 minute window of time, I realized how much I take for granted having TSA PreCheck.  It is a total game changer for me, especially at SFO when I go through security twice, first to visit the SFO Centurion Lounge, and then again to get to my departure terminal.

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Image source: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/tsa-airport-long-lines-223666

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Global Entry Adds Enrollment on Arrival at IAH, HOU, AUS, SFO & YVR

Good afternoon everyone, happy Sunday.  I recently signed my girlfriend up for Global Entry and she was conditionally approved shortly after that.  Unfortunately, the soonest Global Entry interview time she can get for SFO is early December.  This morning, she received an email from Global Entry (donotreply@cbp.dhs.gov) with the subject line: “Why Wait? Interview for Global Entry When You Arrive.”  She sent the email to me, and since I had never heard of enrollment on arrival, I thought it might be useful for others who are considering applying for Global Entry soon or are waiting for their Global Entry interview.

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Here is the entire email:

Dear Global Entry Applicant,

Starting today, you have the unique opportunity to interview for Global Entry when you return from your next international trip at Houston, Hobby, Austin, San Francisco, and Vancouver.

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