4 ms·

Not to threadjack, but: people are mentioning "priority access at security" as a perk of higher FF status. Which begs the question: what does FF status have to

Not to threadjack, but: people are mentioning "priority access at security" as a perk of higher FF status. Which begs the question: what does FF status have to do with security? You could get a higher status by just renting a car (or cars, as per the story). Does that make you a less of a security threat at the airport? Shouldn't security be independent of your status in some points collecting game??

wclax04 11y ago
Its just a shorter line at security. Same security checks though.
mseebach 11y ago
The miles in this trick aren't status miles, so they won't affect your ability to use fast track. But, that said, fast track security is the exact same security as regular security, it just have more staff allocated (at the airline's expense), so the lines will (usually) be shorter. Also, fast track will have a high percentage of experienced travellers that know to pack their liquids in a plastic bag, to remove their laptops and shoes, and when etc, and especially know the total futility of engaging with the security staff at all, so things tend to flow faster.
arcticbull 11y ago
A lot of people do this; you're conflating 'status' and 'earning points' -- none of the miles earned here count towards elite status. You can't get elite status from 'just renting cars'. You generally (with a few exceptions) need to fly 25, 50, 75 or 100K BIS ("butt-in-seat") miles each year. Security takes time at airports and airlines want to look after their best customers, so they have arrangements with TSA/airport officials to create a shorter line for passengers with status and passengers in premium cabins. Doesn't affect what happens when you get to the end of it.
- Someone1234 11y ago
  This is totally accurate. I just want to add, that the TSA now has "TSA Pre" (or Pre-Check) which categorically DOES impact the level of screening pax need (i.e. they need less screening with TSA Pre). Express doesn't (you just skip the queue), TSA Pre does. This is free to members of Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS programs, active duty [US] military, DoD employees and other federal employees with security clearance. For everyone else it costs $85/5 years ($17/year~) and may require an in-person interview. I'd argue that if you are a frequent traveller, this is BETTER than status at the moment. The TSA Pre line is shorter and moves quicker than even the express line. And if you travel even semi-regularly $85/5 years is almost nothing compared to the time and hassle savings (look at it as one trip's lost lounge access).
  - rufo 11y ago
    I'd argue the extra $15 for Global Entry is worth it, if you're considering signing up for a Trusted Traveler program. You can go from landing in the US to curbside in single-digit minutes, and even if you don't often fly internationally, skipping one gigantic miss-your-connection-long line is worth it. If you live nearby (or can easily get to) a Canadian border point, NEXUS is an even better value. $50 for five years, includes Global Entry privileges, and you get expedited access in and out of Canada - dedicated lanes if you drive, Global Entry-style kiosks if you fly. It can take a month or two for your interview however as both governments have to approve you. I do have mixed feelings about forking over money to a system I would much rather see replaced or overhauled. However, considering how often I've flown in the last couple years, my NEXUS membership has absolutely been worth it for Pre-√ alone, and the times I've used NEXUS/GE have been equally handy.
    - arcticbull 11y ago
      +1 to Nexus. I've had it for years and it's really improved my travel experience more than my AA EXP status ;) well except for the upgrades.
  - JoshGlazebrook 11y ago
    It's also worth mentioning certain credit cards will credit you the amount for some of these programs. For example American Express credits the fee for global entry on their higher end cards: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/expedite-your-travel.html https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/expedite-your-tra...
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
fr0sty 11y ago
All that means is you get to queue-jump when you get to security rather than wait in the longer general queue. The actual security screening is the same.
- 1024core 11y ago
  My point is: why? Why does the TSA (a Federal agency) offer differing services based on your value to the airlines? In my humble mind, these two are orthogonal. Of course, if you have one of those Trusted Traveler statuses, it is different, as the TSA has screened you. But your airline status has absolutely nothing to do with the TSA!
ubernostrum 11y ago
When TSA rolled out the precheck program (which is, basically, pre-9/11 screening where you leave everything in your bag, leave shoes on, and go through a metal detector in a usually-short line), they began by inviting people from the upper tiers of frequent-flyer programs into it. I don't exactly know the thinking there, but I'd guess it's that someone who flies that much is unlikely to be a risk due to having gone through their standard screening so many times. These days, though, they've gotten rid of that and now if you want precheck you have to enroll in it or get it from another trusted-traveler program (Global Entry, in my case). Some airlines have had a separate lane set up to funnel their status-holders to the front of the normal security lines, too, though that seems hit-or-miss in these days when most of the frequent flyers have precheck in some form or another.
deleted 11y ago
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wclax04 11y ago

Its just a shorter line at security. Same security checks though.

mseebach 11y ago

The miles in this trick aren't status miles, so they won't affect your ability to use fast track. But, that said, fast track security is the exact same security as regular security, it just have more staff allocated (at the airline's expense), so the lines will (usually) be shorter. Also, fast track will have a high percentage of experienced travellers that know to pack their liquids in a plastic bag, to remove their laptops and shoes, and when etc, and especially know the total futility of engaging with the security staff at all, so things tend to flow faster.

arcticbull 11y ago

A lot of people do this; you're conflating 'status' and 'earning points' -- none of the miles earned here count towards elite status. You can't get elite status from 'just renting cars'. You generally (with a few exceptions) need to fly 25, 50, 75 or 100K BIS ("butt-in-seat") miles each year. Security takes time at airports and airlines want to look after their best customers, so they have arrangements with TSA/airport officials to create a shorter line for passengers with status and passengers in premium cabins. Doesn't affect what happens when you get to the end of it.

Someone1234 11y ago
This is totally accurate. I just want to add, that the TSA now has "TSA Pre" (or Pre-Check) which categorically DOES impact the level of screening pax need (i.e. they need less screening with TSA Pre). Express doesn't (you just skip the queue), TSA Pre does. This is free to members of Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS programs, active duty [US] military, DoD employees and other federal employees with security clearance. For everyone else it costs $85/5 years ($17/year~) and may require an in-person interview. I'd argue that if you are a frequent traveller, this is BETTER than status at the moment. The TSA Pre line is shorter and moves quicker than even the express line. And if you travel even semi-regularly $85/5 years is almost nothing compared to the time and hassle savings (look at it as one trip's lost lounge access).
- rufo 11y ago
  I'd argue the extra $15 for Global Entry is worth it, if you're considering signing up for a Trusted Traveler program. You can go from landing in the US to curbside in single-digit minutes, and even if you don't often fly internationally, skipping one gigantic miss-your-connection-long line is worth it. If you live nearby (or can easily get to) a Canadian border point, NEXUS is an even better value. $50 for five years, includes Global Entry privileges, and you get expedited access in and out of Canada - dedicated lanes if you drive, Global Entry-style kiosks if you fly. It can take a month or two for your interview however as both governments have to approve you. I do have mixed feelings about forking over money to a system I would much rather see replaced or overhauled. However, considering how often I've flown in the last couple years, my NEXUS membership has absolutely been worth it for Pre-√ alone, and the times I've used NEXUS/GE have been equally handy.
  - arcticbull 11y ago
    +1 to Nexus. I've had it for years and it's really improved my travel experience more than my AA EXP status ;) well except for the upgrades.
- JoshGlazebrook 11y ago
  It's also worth mentioning certain credit cards will credit you the amount for some of these programs. For example American Express credits the fee for global entry on their higher end cards: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/expedite-your-travel.html https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/expedite-your-tra...
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]

fr0sty 11y ago

All that means is you get to queue-jump when you get to security rather than wait in the longer general queue. The actual security screening is the same.

1024core 11y ago
My point is: why? Why does the TSA (a Federal agency) offer differing services based on your value to the airlines? In my humble mind, these two are orthogonal. Of course, if you have one of those Trusted Traveler statuses, it is different, as the TSA has screened you. But your airline status has absolutely nothing to do with the TSA!

ubernostrum 11y ago

When TSA rolled out the precheck program (which is, basically, pre-9/11 screening where you leave everything in your bag, leave shoes on, and go through a metal detector in a usually-short line), they began by inviting people from the upper tiers of frequent-flyer programs into it. I don't exactly know the thinking there, but I'd guess it's that someone who flies that much is unlikely to be a risk due to having gone through their standard screening so many times. These days, though, they've gotten rid of that and now if you want precheck you have to enroll in it or get it from another trusted-traveler program (Global Entry, in my case). Some airlines have had a separate lane set up to funnel their status-holders to the front of the normal security lines, too, though that seems hit-or-miss in these days when most of the frequent flyers have precheck in some form or another.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]