Despite the government shutdown, I am happy to report that TSA is continuing to expand TSA PreCheck across the country and has not paused the roll out of PreCheck in new airports during the partial shutdown. Last week, when I flew from San Diego on October 3rd (day 1 of the shutdown), the TSA agents told me that due to the shutdown all TSA training was halted and the launch of TSA PreCheck in San Diego would be delayed due to the shutdown and lack of training. In spite of what I was told, I was ecstatic today when I found a sign at the north checkpoint in terminal 2 for TSA PreCheck! I was able to use it while flying on American Air and I was through security in less than 2 minutes!
The good news is that the TSA is still rolling out PreCheck across the country during the shutdown and ALL check points at SAN should have PreCheck by the end of October! The agents confirmed that TSA PreCheck is being rolled out one check point at a time, with roughly a 1-2 week lull between each launch. The timing should provide the TSA agents at SAN to work out kinks and provide training to all TSA agents. Currently, only the new large security check point in T2 North has pre-check, making it extremely convenient for United & Delta travelers, but is also accessible to all participating airlines that fly from T2 (American, Delta, United, Hawaiian, & Virgin). Next week the much smaller south T2 check point should receive TSA PreCheck , which will be extremely convenient for Virgin, American, & Hawaiian frequent flyers, and the Alaska Airline T1 check point will be launched in approximately two weeks, on or around October 27th. The TSA agents reported that the SouthWest Airline Check point will be among the last to receive PreCheck, with no date set at this time.
This is fantastic news for travelers across the country and is especially good for me as a weekly flyer from San Diego! I’ve waited WAY too long for PreCheck and am looking forward to keeping my shoes and belt on and my laptop in its bag! It’s like flying when I was kid! Thank you TSA! I applaud you for a change!
