What is the Qantas TSA Pre ?

[mrsterryn]

As per this link it appears to have started on Dec 17
However I am not sure what it means when I land in lax

TSA PreCheck | Qantas

Qantas customers enrolled in a US trusted traveller program will be able to utilise TSA PreCheck at US airports.

www.qantas.com

 

[ozflier]

Note that you need to be enrolled in a USA "Trusted Traveler Program".

Such enrollments are not yet available if you are using an Australian Passport. There was an announcement last year about this becoming available of Oz PP's but I have come across no further updates.

So basically , if you have an Australian passport only , then you need to wait until we can join these Trusted Traveler programmes .
I'm not sure the reasoning behind the original announcement .
What has changed?

 

[Pushka]

If you are in any of those programs then it isn’t random. I have GE and same as you with TSA Pre.
It’s randomly assigned to some other passengers who aren’t enrolled in anything, hence the experience of Pushka etc.

I’m very random. I wished I’d known what it meant when I saw the boarding pass. We watched and waited as people took off their shoes, their belts, their jackets and in one case a women had to shed down to a very skimpy top (an oldie too) and we eventually summonsed up the effort to start the process. Waiting in line we took off our shoes. Got to the first pass and the guy gave us this pink stick thingie, still not knowing what that meant we waited until another security guy saw it then took us straight through. Others around us were not happy Jan.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Only useful for me once Australian passports are on the Trusted Traveller List. I do hold a Overseas Citizen of India card but i suspect this isn't enough.

 

[Himeno]

To get Precheck from TSA, you need to be a US citizen, U.S. national, have a green card. Otherwise, you can get it as part of a Trusted Traveler Program
There are 3 TTPs that could come with precheck. Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI. NEXUS and SENTRI are for entries into the US from Canada and Mexico, but can come with GE and precheck access in some situations

Global Entry is the most useful to people outside North America (or those from the US who travel outside NA). Currently citizens of US, Argentina, India, Colombia, UK, Germany, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and Mexico can apply for Global Entry (Canadians are expected to get NEXUS). The Netherlands had been on the list, but the US/Dutch agreement expired and there has been no movement on renewing it.

Just having precheck membership (either directly from TSA or via a TTP), does not mean you will get access on every flight. Travelers are vetted for Precheck every time they fly. You also need to be flying with an airline that is part of the program (though all US domestic carriers are). TSA does not guarantee that precheck holders will get precheck access every time they fly.

 

[defurax]

Just having precheck membership (either directly from TSA or via a TTP), does not mean you will get access on every flight. Travelers are vetted for Precheck every time they fly. You also need to be flying with an airline that is part of the program (though all US domestic carriers are). TSA does not guarantee that precheck holders will get precheck access every time they fly.

Do you have any example of that apart from someone suddenly becoming SSSS? I know dozens of NEXUS members and I have never ever heard of them not having TSApre printed on their BP. I also don't remember reading stories from NEXUS members not having TSApre printed on their BP on FT or other websites.

 

[aggie57]

If you are in any of those programs then it isn’t random. I have GE and same as you with TSA Pre.
It’s randomly assigned to some other passengers who aren’t enrolled in anything, hence the experience of Pushka etc.

I fly a lot within the US and am not on any trusted traveler program. Sometimes I get TSApre for no known reason, on United at least but hardly ever on American. No idea why. Roll on GE for Australian passport holders is all I can say.

 

[ayebee]

Have also had a few TSA Pre over the years. Several on AA, one on Westjet where you go through US immigration etc in Canada, and recently on Jetblue.
Was told by airline rep they were randomly assigned "for the experience" to encourage more people to apply (and pay), but I never understood how that could apply to Australian passport holders.
I assume the process is not totally random and that some sort of vetting had been done.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

I fly a lot within the US and am not on any trusted traveler program. Sometimes I get TSApre for no known reason, on United at least but hardly ever on American. No idea why. Roll on GE for Australian passport holders is all I can say.

Same here on AA. If I book and pay via AA.COM I will typically get TSApre. If I book an AA flight via QF then nothing.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I can’t remember ever not getting tsa precheck? We had it again departing jfk last May (J with Qatar). Not a member of any programs....

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just having precheck membership (either directly from TSA or via a TTP), does not mean you will get access on every flight. Travelers are vetted for Precheck every time they fly. You also need to be flying with an airline that is part of the program (though all US domestic carriers are). TSA does not guarantee that precheck holders will get precheck access every time they fly.

Do you have any examples of this ?
They have it on the website but in practice I’ve only seen it not given if the name was incorrect on ticket or KTN not entered.

 

[ithongy]

The other thing which makes no sense is that I was still asked security questions at check in. Why would they screen Global entry/TSApre members if we are allowed in the US without immigration control.

Aussie here on Green Card with Global Entry. You just place your passport/green card on scanner upon entering USA, scan your finger prints, take white printed receipt & present to CBP officers upon exit. So no need to speak to anyone at counters.

 

[defurax]

Aussie here on Green Card with Global Entry. You just place your passport/green card on scanner upon entering USA, scan your finger prints, take white printed receipt & present to CBP officers upon exit. So no need to speak to anyone at counters.

You are correct. What I'm getting at is that GE and NEXUS members should be excluded from the stupid questions in Australia and Europe exactly because when we land in the USA we do not have to interact with any immigration agent and when we go to security in the US we keep all our stuff in our bags. So obviously we are not terrorists according to the US because we are "trusted travellers".

 

[blackcat20]

You are correct. What I'm getting at is that GE and NEXUS members should be excluded from the stupid questions in Australia and Europe exactly because when we land in the USA we do not have to interact with any immigration agent and when we go to security in the US we keep all our stuff in our bags. So obviously we are not terrorists according to the US because we are "trusted travellers".

Given even US citizens get the same questioning, they’re not going to exclude GE members from it.

 

[defurax]

Given even US citizens get the same questioning, they’re not going to exclude GE members from it.

IMO asking US citizens what is their reason to travel to the USA is ridiculous.
Asking US citizens with GE why they are travelling to the US is beyond ridiculous.

 

[Pushka]

IMO asking US citizens what is their reason to travel to the USA is ridiculous.
Asking US citizens with GE why they are travelling to the US is beyond ridiculous.

You are suggesting that anything the security does these days makes sense?

 

[Kathleen01]

Am I reading this incorrectly?

This is what the article reads:
"TSA PreCheck is only available at US airports, and is not available when departing or arriving in Australia."

Okay so QF have this for their passengers, SYD LAX service?
Isn't this considered 'Departing Australia"?

Why is this worded this way, as we Australia do not have TSA Pre checked Systems, which is purely American System mhhh

 

[jpp42]

It only applies to US airports, nothing about this has to do with the Australian end of the travel. (The only case where trusted traveler programs would be relevant outside US soil would be for the airports with CPB pre-clearance, which is Canada and Abu Dhabi and maybe some others, but Australia does not have this.)

 

[RedSMS]

In 2014 I was pre-checked flying from LAX-IND and IND-JFK flying AA, and again in 2016 on 1 or 2 of the 3 domestic flights I took (Southwest, United and Virgin America,) then I thought I learned that it was impossible for those who don't have a US PP like myself to get pre-checked. I assumed I was proven right in 2018 on United from LAX-ORD with United, ORD-BNA with Southwest, BNA-LGA with United and EWR-LAX with United.

I'm guessing that QF hopes to attract US PP holders to book on the Qantas website now that they have quite the partnership with AA.

 

[milehighclub]

IMO asking US citizens what is their reason to travel to the USA is ridiculous.
Asking US citizens with GE why they are travelling to the US is beyond ridiculous.

Well they may get asked why they were away, as opposed to why they are going (I'm not sure - perhaps a US citizen can confirm what they get asked)

As for GE - the airlines hire a third party security company to do it. Proving GE could be difficult (and they would have no way to verify).

Also the pre flight security checks come from the TSA not US Customs and Border Protection. The TSA is about security of flights. US CBP do their checks (in fact most countries do) prior to departure and veto anyone or get them to see ground staff and obviously make a final determination on who enters when they arrive. Using a kiosk doesn't stop anyone from getting flagged.

 

[fn0]

This week I flew QF93 to LAX and QF11 to JFK. When checking in I added my KTN, but what was very weird is that my QF93 BP showed TSApre, but not my QF11 BP, so very useless. Although it didn't seem like the TSApre lane was open at 7AM. Hopefully it works in the other direction when flying back to Australia from the US.

The other thing which makes no sense is that I was still asked security questions at check in. Why would they screen Global entry/TSApre members if we are allowed in the US without immigration control.

Two points are relevant;

Airlines: My experience has been that some airline checkin staff are ignorant of the requirements mandated by security, customs and immigration, and err on the side of obstructing one's travel.

US entry: Being a "trusted traveler" e.g. Global Entry, Nexus, Sentri etc does not mean you are allowed in the US without immigration control. It may appear so a lot of the time, but in practice you can and will be taken aside for questioning at random.