Is there a disadvantage to signing up for TSA PreCheck?

I don't know what they would be? Anything that makes going through security easier is a benefit. Some have claimed that the lines now for precheck are longer than regular lines. Personally I find that very hard to believe and something that I have never seen. However, I would sign up for Global Entry ($100/5years) since PreCheck comes with Global Entry.

Thanks Frank, the Global Entry vs PreCheck was actually what I was researching as well. There is no separate line at either of my tiny departure airports, but leaving shoes on is an advantage. I will look to see if the PreCheck application office is the same as the Global Entry application office.

Editing to add: Did check the Global Entry application offices. Nearest I see is SEATAC at 6 hours away. Or SLC at 14 hours away. Guess I could do a mileage run for SkyMiles and hop down to SLC for an appointment. PreCheck is available sort of locally, about 90 miles away and near a Mall which is an inducement to travel.

If your local airport is not qualified as an "International" airport, then perhaps you'd have to go through security again at your connection point, where the pre-check benefit might be greater.

No real disadvantages if you are a solo traveler. If you have travel companions who do not have pre-check, then you will have to wait for them to get through the regular line. Global Entry is worthwhile if you do any international travel. I have not seen any issues with lines for pre-check in any of the airports that I have been through recently (ATL, CLT, MSY, DFW, LGA, TPA). On my most recent trip, I left my house at 7:25 AM and had my wife drop me off at the terminal. I was inside security by 8:00 and I live 20 miles from the airport (CLT). The pre-check security line had about 8 people in front of me and it still took less than 5 minutes to get through. Regular lines were at around 20 minutes to go through.

Thanks! Laura, we usually try to connect with the nice SEA -> AMS flight and while we routinely have a 6 hr layover in SEA, we don't have to go thru security again. I did go thru MSP last fall to LHR and did not have to go thru security there either.

Stephen, thanks for your experience. It sounds like it has worked well for you.

First, there is technically no Global Entry office. You apply on line and then schedule a five minute interview with an immigration office at one of the airports. With some advance planning you could work the interview into a time period between plane changes when you are in an airport with an immigration office. For example your 6 hr layover in SEA would be a perfect opportunity.

Frank - If you schedule the interview during a stopover, if approved during the interview, is it effective immediately? For your current travel?

Christi- No, I don't think it is effective immediately.

Pam- Well worth it to get Global Entry. Saves major time upon arrival back in the USA. Hubby used his after a conference in the Caribbean. Even though Charlotte doesn't typically have extremely long wait time at immigration, he was able to go straight to the Global Entry kiosk and scan himself in! Worked like a charm. And the ID they give you for global entry is acceptable for the TSA even when you are only using PreCheck. Saves taking your driver's license if you didn't want to use it at your destination. We've found that using Precheck saves us MAJOR time in Charlotte, Las Vegas, Boston, SanDiego, and other airports. And I agree that not having to take out the 3-1-1 bag, take off shoes, jacket etc. is worth it, too.

I agree that if you are going to sign up, might as well pay for Global Entry over precheck. Precheck just basically gets you to a (sometimes) shorter line where you get to keep your shoes on and don't have to take your laptop out of the case. Global Entry addst to that by getting you through immigration in about 2 minutes... plus there is the "cool factor":) as you get to pass all the people you were just on the plane with :)

On Global Entry, after they do the initial background check (from your online application), you then schedule for interview and fingerprinting. You can schedule when you want (so could potentially do it when you are already planning to be at the airport). They told me it was effective right after the interview and I got the card about a week later. You don't actually need to carry or show the card. You do need to add your Global Entry number to your frequent flyer profile to be eligible for precheck so in reality, it is not immediately effective for precheck. However, if you interviewed on the way to Europe you should be able to use global entry on return to the U.S.

We just had our "interview" for Global Entry this weekend and they said that typically (if there is no problem with your fingerprints) they have the approval before you leave. Their system was slow that day and we got the email notification that we were approved within 30 minutes of the end of our interviews. They said that once you're approved, you can use your known traveler number for Global Entry right away without having to wait for the card to arrive (7-10 business days).

There's actually about three dozen enrollment centers, the process (other than the application) must take place at one of them, and they're not all at airports. You're cleared when you walk out the door, regardless of documentation.

Less than three dozen airports have GE lanes/kiosks but I've never entered through one that didn't. It's almost keep on walking with a minute's pause at the terminal gadget. I've never waited more than ten minutes and five is unusual - - it may be that mostly the upper-crust, front-of-plane people use it and they're gone by the time I straggle along.

PreCheck lines can look as long as the regular lines, but you scoot along faster and there's no time lost reputting yourself together. .

Thanks for the responses. Ed, thanks for the comments. I see I didn't look closely at the enrollment centers, and do now see that there are some non-airports listed there. Too bad I can't just head on up to my nearest border crossing into Canada!

I may try to work out an appointment at the SLC center. Would it be correct to guess that the office would be on the non-secure side of the airport? I'm heading thru there in August with a transit time of about 2.5 hours. My experience with the flight from Idaho is that it is usually a little early, altho I know I can't count on that. I am not sure 2.5 hours gives me enough time altho I can usually get from the way far gate where the little planes come in to the concourse the MSP flights usually leave from in 10-15 minutes.

I could also drive. It's about 13 hours one way, but it would be a good excuse to make a quick visit to Yellowstone and it might be less stressful not to fit it in this time. Too bad I'm not going thru Seattle this time!

At SLC it's in the CBP office on the second floor of the international (westernmost) terminal.

I don't know how you'd wiggle around there on a connecting flight without going outside unless you just hooked a right when you came out of T1 or T2 and started asking once you got into the international terminal proper. Anyway, SLC is an easy airport.