• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Ask Scott
Travel Codex

Travel Codex

Your Resource for Better Travel

  • Subscribe
  • Credit Cards
  • Reviews
  • Guides & Tips
  • Award Travel

United Adds PreCheck Info to Boarding Passes

by Brad
Last updated January 28, 2019

Beep Beep Beep!  YES!

PreCheck is probably the best innovation brought forth by the much maligned TSA.  And now, its even easier to know if you qualify before you head to the airport.  Airlines have now added information on boarding passes that show if that particular flyer has qualified for PreCheck access for that flight.

precheck-boarding-pass-united

here is a (slightly redacted) boarding pass from a recent flight where I qualified for PreCheck

PreCheck shows on boarding passes

For those that qualify, PreCheck allows for a much easier, and typically much faster security experience.  It is similar to the ‘old’ days, before the TSA.  Shoes, jackets and belts can remain on, electronics can stay in bag.  The only restriction I’ve noticed is that mobile phones must be run through the belt, rather than carried through the walk-through metal detector.  I scan my boarding pass at the entrance to the PreCheck lane, get 3 beeps, then put my phone in the bag, put it on the x-ray and walk through the metal detector.  It can be done in less than a minute, it is quite awesome.  More details on this process from the the TSA website here.

ua1709_tsa_precheck_ord
View of the PreCheck area in Terminal 1 at O’Hare.

Most larger airports in the USA now have dedicated PreCheck lanes.  Below is a map from the TSA site showing airports as of May 2013.

precheck-may2013-map

From the TSA

Here is more information from the TSA site on eligibility:

Certain frequent travelers from Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and certain members of CBP’s Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS who are U.S. citizens are eligible to participate. TSA plans to expand TSA Pre✓™ to include additional airlines, as well as airports that participate in a CBP Trusted Traveler program, once operationally ready. In addition, accompanying passengers 12 and younger are allowed through TSA Pre✓™ lanes with eligible passengers.

Each airline also has information on how to access the PreCheck lanes at each airport.  In some airports, only certain airlines are eligible for PreCheck due to the terminal configuration.  For example, There is PreCheck at McCarran airport in Las Vegas, but it is not available at Terminal 3, where the ticket counters are for Alaska and United.  In that case, those flyers can still access the PreCheck lanes, but they must clear security in Terminal 1.

Huge Sale: Lindblad Expeditions Galápagos Cruise From $5,000
Trending
Huge Sale: Lindblad Expeditions Galápagos Cruise From $5,000

I am a Trusted Traveler via my NEXUS and Global Entry membership.  I think I have received PreCheck at least 90% of the time when flying on eligible itineraries.  It might be 100%.  I can’t remember being denied. Approval rates aren’t nearly as high for people who only signed up through the airline without Global Entry membership.  I only have a few data points, but my wife has yet to get 3 beeps despite being registered for the program with United.

More info on PreCheck

Up until this information became available on boarding passes, there were a few options to pre-determine PreCheck eligibility.  Scott here at Travel Codex has a detailed summary of how to find this information.  I still find myself using this for piece of mind, and the fact that I sometimes cut it too close before flights.   The barcodes used are not secure, so a barcode scanner app can find the information.  As Scott’s article mentions, you are looking for a 3 preceding the UA UA in the code below.  These steps are likely no longer necessary, but I’d be interested if the PreCheck logo was displayed, but access was not granted.  Hopefully that wouldn’t happen, but who knows.

precheck-output-qr-scan

Redacted info pulled from QR code on boarding pass above showing “3 UA” meaning PreCheck approved.

Final Thoughts

The PreCheck logo denoting approval is now shown on both mobile and printed boarding passes.  My experience is with United, but I understand that both Delta and US Airways will also have this information included on their boarding passes, which should allow flyers to know which security line to head to.

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about my poor experiences on United of late, but this is one area that is a big improvement,  making the travel experience much less stressful. If you can get PreCheck, by all means go for it.

  • 2shares
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Read This Next

  • Win Two Passes to the United Club
  • United Is Finally Moving Forward with TSA PreCheck
    United Is Finally Moving Forward with TSA PreCheck
  • a screenshot of a qr code
    Boarding Pass Barcodes Contain Your Personal Information

About Brad

Brad is a frequent traveler, based in Milwaukee. He typically travels in around 200,000 miles per year, much of it for business, and often in economy. This blog focuses on experiences and tips from the perspective of a frequent business traveler trying to maximize value. In addition to frequent work trips, he uses miles and points for even more travel with his wife and young child.

Primary Sidebar

Over 100K+ Followers

Subscribe to updates from Travel Codex

none

Learn to how to find the cheapest awards.

Search Now

none

Transfer points to get more value.

See Options

none

Compare credit cards to earn more miles.

Explore Offers

Contact

If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact:

Scott Mackenzie
Editor in Chief
scott@travelcodex.com

For updates:
Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe to Apple News

Privacy Policy


© Travel Codex, LLC All Rights Reserved.


Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Travel Codex with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.