re: TSA PreCheck KTN

I take about 150 flights a year. That usually means going through security ~75 times a year.

At MSY, I probably always save a minimum of 15-20 minutes going through the line. I also don't need a boarding pass, I don't need to take of f my shoes or take out my laptop etc etc.

Bonus - I can take my young kids through the line with me. Huge win.

If you fly at least once a year, it is worth it.

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Does it really make a difference in your travel experience?

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I walked into the New Orleans airport last on 5/19 only to see maybe 500 people in the TSA line. My wife and I had precheck and it saved us 2 hours no doubt. It is worth it if you use a large airport frequently.

In my personal travel experience, absolutely. I frequently travel for work and, honestly, want to spend as little time in ORD as possible. With PreCheck, I know how long it'll take to get from home -> gate. Every single time.

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So what if I have Clear with Precheck?

I have a TWIC card with work, and my Amex paid for the Clear membership?

What do I do when I get there? Can my kids go through with me?

My wife has Clear the same way but is not Precheck. She has to go in a separate line right?

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If you have both Clear and TSA Pre-Check, you can pick which line you want to go through. I've been at airports and seen longer lines at one or the other for whatever reason, so if you have both, just pick the shorter line.

If your kids are under 18, they can go through the Pre-Check line with you. I believe it's the same with Clear, but I don't have that, so you'll want to confirm.

Your wife will have to go through the Clear line if she only has Clear.

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If your kids are under 18, they can go through the Pre-Check line with you.

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Not guaranteed for 13-17

They have to have precheck on boarding pass and are not always included

My son got his own ktn when he turned 13 to avoid problems

I went on a work trip last year and one of the four of us traveling did not have pre-check. On our way back from the conference, the pre-check line was twice as long as the regular security line. The three of us went through pre-check quicker and had to wait 10-15 minutes for the person who did not have pre-check, even though our line was longer.

Also, wife (no pics) and I flew international last year. When we connected in Miami, they made everyone go through TSA security again. Pre-check probably saved us two hours of that craziness.

So yeah, totally worth it!

PreCheck is great for anyone that flies more than 1 or 2 times a year. I have Clear through a credit card, but its expensive and in my opinion not sure its worth the cost unless you are traveling almost monthly or more frequently, and sometimes have trips/flights where you can't always get to the airport 1.5 hours early.

That said, having Clear has given me enough time so even when I arrive less than an hour before a flight (not recommended) I will sometimes have time to get snacks and drink in a lounge before boarding.