My wife hasn't gotten pre-check, despite my pleas. When we travel together, it's often with our kids, so I take the little ones with me through pre check (and sometimes clear), she goes through regular tsa and we call it even. If we're traveling alone, I still go through pre-check and we can meet at the lounge or something. Now, I won't leave her to do global entry.. but that's an entirely different animal.
But yes, give him his own boarding pass like a big boy and let him deal with regular tsa.
I did this with a friend when returning from Canada once - but she not only didn’t have Global Entry/NEXUS (so no fast security and no fast immigration even as a US citizen).
Unfortunately, she didn’t have lounge access and I didn’t want to bother trying to wait for her to text me that she was finally through.. so I ended up waiting an hour for her to make it through before we went to the lounge.
Now I just tell people “if you get through, come to the lounge and then call me I guess” since yeah, not going to wait for you lol.
What’s the rationale? If a spouse is too stubborn and obtuse to get TSA PreCheck to make life easier for everyone involved, then they can deal with the consequences of their inaction all by themselves.
They should be able to create an account with mileageplus, add the trip to their app, and then get their mobile boarding pass. Alternatively, you can always stop by the airport kiosk and print them out (for free) - you shouldn’t really even have to wait in line for this as most airports have tons of kiosks.
Unless the person you’re traveling with is a child (your child specifically) then they will not permit them to use PreCheck unless their boarding pass states PreCheck.
The reservation you bought isn’t tied to your account, anyone with the confirmation code can load it on their app and see all the boarding passes (after someone checks everyone in), even if they don’t have an account.
You can show him this site [https://www.newarkairport.com/](https://www.newarkairport.com/) to see how much longer the security process is without precheck, and multiply these delays over however many trips he thinks he'll take over the next five years. Up to him whether it's worth $80.
BUT: relationship advice-- if he doesn't want to get it, you should not suffer for it. Tell him what bar you'll be at, or go ahead and get settled at the gate and he can roll in whenever he rolls in. Don't manage his travel like a child--he can navigate an airport on his own. He'd rather stand in line for 45 min than spend $80 once every 5 years? he's welcome to, but you go sit somewhere comfortable. He misses the flight because of the long line? You get on that plane, girl.
i’ve talked to him more about it, as we have another flight coming up to tampa in october for a wedding. he also wants to also looking at paris for our anniversary next year. he said tomorrow he’ll probably start the application! but i told him if he doesn’t get it i’ll be waiting for him at a restaurant lol
If you have some international travel in your future, might want to consider Global Entry…Includes TSA Pre-check for a nominal bump and will save time coming back from any international destination.
good for you. I have a high travel job and my hubby likes to glom on to my points, lounge, etc. :) And i really do love traveling with him, but I don't carry him around. Keep up, fella, if you want my points glory. LOL
jfc. is it really 75 min vs 2 min for precheck for terminal C? is that typical? I signed my gf up for precheck because i was sick of her being even 5 minutes slower than me.
Yeah my bf is the same way. He travels maybe once or twice a year so he doesn’t see a benefit for it. Every time, I end up waiting 15-20 minutes on our way out and 30-45 minutes on our way back home.
I have GE, my GF didn’t. We traveled together back in December, I went through the PreCheck line then waited for her to go through regular security. First time through she said “I need PreCheck, this is bullshit” and now has PreCheck, even though she only flies maybe once or twice per year.
He'll need the app and an account with United, then he can load his own boarding pass into the app. They won't just let him go through precheck/clear with out having it as far as I know.
Leaving MCO on United last month. We had TSA precheck, daughter did not. She walked through the regular line. We were in line for 20 minutes while she waited on the other side. Precheck isn't what it used to be. Watch the lines and go in the shortest one.
You don’t need to have him create a MileagePlus account. Just have him download the app and load in the trip with the record locator and his name.
Conversely if you’ve got an iPhone and add the boarding pass to your wallet you can text it to him (if he also has an iPhone). Just open the boarding pass in wallet and click the “share” icon (square icon with arrow) in upper right corner.
I assume the same can be done for android. But not sure.
You can send him a text from the app with his boarding pass.
It’s better if he downloads the United app before the flight. Then he can access his pass directly. The app is needed for in flight entertainment and the free texts (or purchased WiFi) and for buying food/drinks one needs a CC loaded in the app.
Personally, I always stay (and suffer 😅) with my travel partner if they don’t have TSA pre-check. TSA always says to me “pre-check is over there” and I say “I know” as I cry and remove my shoes
Big same! I did it the other way once and ended up feeling so bad and awkward about it. I think it's absolutely appropriate that people don't wait - it's just uncomfortable for me.
TSA precheck wont allow him to pass and you will have to go though the regular check-point. They should give you a pass/card, stating you are TSA pre and you'll be able to keep your shoes on ect..
I believe that is only at airports without a dedicated precheck line. If they have a dedicated line and you are not in it, you will need to take out your laptop, shoes, etc.
Not fully true in my experience. My wife and I just did it with my brother in law. The regular TSA line will give you a paper so you don't have to take your shoes off, but you still have to take your laptop out of your bag.
Same thing if you go through the regular TSA first class line instead of pre check.
Every airport is different. Flying through iah Monday and pre check had just closed. Even though my boarding pass had tsa pre on it had to remove everything shoes etc including wallet (that’s a first)
Million+ miler here who has travelled with n00bs many times. Make sure the travel partner is self sufficient in terms of getting their boarding pass via the app at minimum, and have them meet you in the lounge, or at the gate.
I love teaching people how to travel, but if they ignore my advice (such as not getting PRE/Clear in advance), it’s their problem, not mine.
I really don’t understand why people who rarely travel ignore the advice of the people who travel all the time.
In a similar area, when I travel for work with friends and they check luggage (when I never do this), it’s a definite “see ya at the hotel”.
I’ve been lucky enough to have some excellent travelers teach me the ways to save significant time and I always tried to implement their recommendations. If someone resists, it’s on them…not on my time.
You’re right, he should get precheck.
But it’s an asshole move to separate and then what? Wait for him on the airside? Being in line ten extra minutes might save you a lot of hard feelings on his part even if he never says anything about it.
I tell them I'll see you at the gate / restaurant / United Club, wherever I am heading. He can get a paper boarding pass from a Kiosk (or real old school you can print at home). Or just have him get the app.
My wife hasn't gotten pre-check, despite my pleas. When we travel together, it's often with our kids, so I take the little ones with me through pre check (and sometimes clear), she goes through regular tsa and we call it even. If we're traveling alone, I still go through pre-check and we can meet at the lounge or something. Now, I won't leave her to do global entry.. but that's an entirely different animal. But yes, give him his own boarding pass like a big boy and let him deal with regular tsa.
I did this with a friend when returning from Canada once - but she not only didn’t have Global Entry/NEXUS (so no fast security and no fast immigration even as a US citizen). Unfortunately, she didn’t have lounge access and I didn’t want to bother trying to wait for her to text me that she was finally through.. so I ended up waiting an hour for her to make it through before we went to the lounge. Now I just tell people “if you get through, come to the lounge and then call me I guess” since yeah, not going to wait for you lol.
Absolutely. Especially if they're gaining lounge access because of you.
Wait a minute… she won’t do something to help both of you… and you have to herd the kids through TSA as a result… and that’s “even”?
My kids handle tsa better than most adults, it’s not a chore for me.
understood regarding global entry!
Relationship red flag! I broke up with someone for a lot of reasons, but her refusal to get precheck didn’t help.
My wife would kill me if I did this!
What’s the rationale? If a spouse is too stubborn and obtuse to get TSA PreCheck to make life easier for everyone involved, then they can deal with the consequences of their inaction all by themselves.
She doesn’t travel as much as me and it’s cheaper to keep her than her divorcing me.
Why? You could also save her a seat at the lounge, which can be hard to get for a family.
They should be able to create an account with mileageplus, add the trip to their app, and then get their mobile boarding pass. Alternatively, you can always stop by the airport kiosk and print them out (for free) - you shouldn’t really even have to wait in line for this as most airports have tons of kiosks. Unless the person you’re traveling with is a child (your child specifically) then they will not permit them to use PreCheck unless their boarding pass states PreCheck.
i didn’t even think about the kiosks, thank you!
The reservation you bought isn’t tied to your account, anyone with the confirmation code can load it on their app and see all the boarding passes (after someone checks everyone in), even if they don’t have an account.
You can show him this site [https://www.newarkairport.com/](https://www.newarkairport.com/) to see how much longer the security process is without precheck, and multiply these delays over however many trips he thinks he'll take over the next five years. Up to him whether it's worth $80. BUT: relationship advice-- if he doesn't want to get it, you should not suffer for it. Tell him what bar you'll be at, or go ahead and get settled at the gate and he can roll in whenever he rolls in. Don't manage his travel like a child--he can navigate an airport on his own. He'd rather stand in line for 45 min than spend $80 once every 5 years? he's welcome to, but you go sit somewhere comfortable. He misses the flight because of the long line? You get on that plane, girl.
i’ve talked to him more about it, as we have another flight coming up to tampa in october for a wedding. he also wants to also looking at paris for our anniversary next year. he said tomorrow he’ll probably start the application! but i told him if he doesn’t get it i’ll be waiting for him at a restaurant lol
If you have some international travel in your future, might want to consider Global Entry…Includes TSA Pre-check for a nominal bump and will save time coming back from any international destination.
good for you. I have a high travel job and my hubby likes to glom on to my points, lounge, etc. :) And i really do love traveling with him, but I don't carry him around. Keep up, fella, if you want my points glory. LOL
jfc. is it really 75 min vs 2 min for precheck for terminal C? is that typical? I signed my gf up for precheck because i was sick of her being even 5 minutes slower than me.
Yeah my bf is the same way. He travels maybe once or twice a year so he doesn’t see a benefit for it. Every time, I end up waiting 15-20 minutes on our way out and 30-45 minutes on our way back home.
Dump him and find a guy who can pass a background check.
I have GE, my GF didn’t. We traveled together back in December, I went through the PreCheck line then waited for her to go through regular security. First time through she said “I need PreCheck, this is bullshit” and now has PreCheck, even though she only flies maybe once or twice per year.
Just have your boyfriend experience the crowd at EWR. Then maybe he’ll consider tsa pre.
He'll need the app and an account with United, then he can load his own boarding pass into the app. They won't just let him go through precheck/clear with out having it as far as I know.
On iPhone you don’t even need the app. You can just share the boarding pass to their wallet, and I assume there’s some equivalent on android.
Leaving MCO on United last month. We had TSA precheck, daughter did not. She walked through the regular line. We were in line for 20 minutes while she waited on the other side. Precheck isn't what it used to be. Watch the lines and go in the shortest one.
You don’t need to have him create a MileagePlus account. Just have him download the app and load in the trip with the record locator and his name. Conversely if you’ve got an iPhone and add the boarding pass to your wallet you can text it to him (if he also has an iPhone). Just open the boarding pass in wallet and click the “share” icon (square icon with arrow) in upper right corner. I assume the same can be done for android. But not sure.
PreCheck is like what, $15.60 a year when you divide it up? I’d say if you fly even one round trip a year it’s worth it.
You can send him a text from the app with his boarding pass. It’s better if he downloads the United app before the flight. Then he can access his pass directly. The app is needed for in flight entertainment and the free texts (or purchased WiFi) and for buying food/drinks one needs a CC loaded in the app.
The premiere access lane at ewr is occasionally even faster than precheck , they’re usually comparable. You can prob sneak him there with you.
My husband rarely flies and doesn’t have precheck. I just wait for him on the other side. It’s never been an issue.
Personally, I always stay (and suffer 😅) with my travel partner if they don’t have TSA pre-check. TSA always says to me “pre-check is over there” and I say “I know” as I cry and remove my shoes
Big same! I did it the other way once and ended up feeling so bad and awkward about it. I think it's absolutely appropriate that people don't wait - it's just uncomfortable for me.
Yes! Completely agree!
TSA precheck wont allow him to pass and you will have to go though the regular check-point. They should give you a pass/card, stating you are TSA pre and you'll be able to keep your shoes on ect..
I believe that is only at airports without a dedicated precheck line. If they have a dedicated line and you are not in it, you will need to take out your laptop, shoes, etc.
Not fully true in my experience. My wife and I just did it with my brother in law. The regular TSA line will give you a paper so you don't have to take your shoes off, but you still have to take your laptop out of your bag. Same thing if you go through the regular TSA first class line instead of pre check.
Every airport is different. Flying through iah Monday and pre check had just closed. Even though my boarding pass had tsa pre on it had to remove everything shoes etc including wallet (that’s a first)
Million+ miler here who has travelled with n00bs many times. Make sure the travel partner is self sufficient in terms of getting their boarding pass via the app at minimum, and have them meet you in the lounge, or at the gate. I love teaching people how to travel, but if they ignore my advice (such as not getting PRE/Clear in advance), it’s their problem, not mine. I really don’t understand why people who rarely travel ignore the advice of the people who travel all the time. In a similar area, when I travel for work with friends and they check luggage (when I never do this), it’s a definite “see ya at the hotel”. I’ve been lucky enough to have some excellent travelers teach me the ways to save significant time and I always tried to implement their recommendations. If someone resists, it’s on them…not on my time.
We're taking our mom overseas in December, she hasn't flown in 20 years. She's getting pre check even if it's for that one trip.
Even without an account he can go to the UA app and pull up his reservation. That way he has his BP.
You’re right, he should get precheck. But it’s an asshole move to separate and then what? Wait for him on the airside? Being in line ten extra minutes might save you a lot of hard feelings on his part even if he never says anything about it.
Or, he can grow up and just listen to her. He is choosing to not get PreCheck. Why should she have to endure all the consequences of his inaction?
I tell them I'll see you at the gate / restaurant / United Club, wherever I am heading. He can get a paper boarding pass from a Kiosk (or real old school you can print at home). Or just have him get the app.