Just curious, if you're traveling on personal business, as an airline dude with id, are you able to go through the TSA Pre Check line? Or what ways are there to expedite getting through security as an airline pilot flying on personal biz?

 

I know of two ways. Get global entry - cost $100 and authorizes you pre-check. Addiitonally, if you are military you can register your CAC card which also authorizes pre-check.

Some places will let a Pilot with an airline ID through pre-check but it is not consistent.

Scoop

 

Uniform + Known Crewmember seems like the easiest to me. Hit the bathroom once inside and ditch the uniform. I did that all the time until we lost KCM.

Now I joined global entry, got the known traveler number which allows you to enter that into a specific airline's FF profile. That gets you the "TSA prechk" printed on you boarding pass (assuming you're traveling on a real ticket) which seems to be the only way to get through that checkpoint, from what I can tell. There may be other ways through an airline's FF program to get the TSA prechk option without joining global entry, but I decided to go that way based on my travel habits.

If you're just jumpseating, without KCM, expediting can only be done via the crew/employee line in uniform.

Showing up in civvies to jumpseat with a crew ID doesn't do much in my experience. It may get you through the crew access location and avoid the big line, but you're still going to have to do the full millimeter wave scan, liquids/laptop out of bag, shoes off at most locations I've been through.

 

agreed. I don't get near an airport without my uniform.

it's against the rules but KCM + uni get through and change is the best way.

Why the F the TSA doesn't trust you as a crew member without a monkey suit tha ANYONE can buy is beyond me. The hard part to obtain is the ID, anyone can get a uniform.......

 

Thanks for the info....

 

If you don't need Global Entry for international travel you can register just for PreCheck for $85 instead of the $100 for GE. Both are good for five years.

TSA Pre?? Application Program | Transportation Security Administration

 

hmmm, I wonder why you lost KCM?

 

Uhhh.... because FedEx decided they weren't going to pay for it?

Are you trying to imply that I was violating some rule by going through KCM in uniform and then changing into civvies to go on the first leg of my trip as a FedEx pilot just because that first leg was a deadhead?

Does that mean we can't change into sweats after takeoff on a long haul flight if we got there via KCM?

 

Shoes OFF, Belts OFF! (you're a big boy, aren't you!)

Toilet Safety Administration ''I'm a Big Boy'' - YouTube

 

To be blunt, yes.