Can teens pre-check with TSA

[caribbeandream]

My son is 13yo but does have a passport. However, from what I have read pre-check is for adults and their children ages 12 and under. Does that simply mean that I have to pay for him or that pre-checking is only for adults?

 

[tobikaye]

From TSA precheck FAQ: https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/faq

Is there an age restriction to apply for TSA Pre✓®?
There is no age restriction to apply for TSA Pre✓®. However, family members ages 12 and under traveling with an eligible parent or guardian with a TSA Pre✓® indicator on their boarding pass can participate in expedited screening.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

My son is 13yo but does have a passport. However, from what I have read pre-check is for adults and their children ages 12 and under. Does that simply mean that I have to pay for him or that pre-checking is only for adults?

It’s not just for adults. For 13 and up, they need to apply/pay for the pre-check program.

 

[caribbeandream]

Thank you for the info! I must have been looking in the wrong place.

 

[goofy4tink]

You may have seen a comment that states the policy for children boarding with parents who have precheck. I have precheck (I paid for it). If I have my 11 y/o child with me, that child can go through precheck with me, no problem. But, if my child is 13, no, they usually aren't allowed through. 12 and under can go through under their parents precheck, older than 12, they're pretty much on their own. Unless they have paid for precheck.

 

[PurplePencil]

My son is 13yo but does have a passport. However, from what I have read pre-check is for adults and their children ages 12 and under. Does that simply mean that I have to pay for him or that pre-checking is only for adults?

If you were to pay for pre-check and want him to have it you would have to pay and apply for him in addition to you. If either of you have it show up on your boarding pass without applying, only the person with pre-check could go through. However, if pre-check shows up for him but not you and he wants to stay with you he can go through the normal queue and go through the metal detector (still has to remove liquids if in normal line)

 

[n2mm]

Yes 13 needs to apply. We will pay for our granddaughter in march when she turns 13.

 

[bumbershoot]

Anticipating my son's 13th birthday is what got me to apply for nexus for the two of us. Bonus, his nexus was free. Sure we had to drive almost to Canada for the interview, but it was the cheapest option (gets you nexus, global entry, and tsa precheck) and we like driving up there.

 

[PurplePencil]

Anticipating my son's 13th birthday is what got me to apply for nexus for the two of us. Bonus, his nexus was free. Sure we had to drive almost to Canada for the interview, but it was the cheapest option (gets you nexus, global entry, and tsa precheck) and we like driving up there.

So why would anyone want global entry for $100 when you can get nexus for $50 (Am I understanding the dhs website properly that Nexus works like Global Entry is for all international flights and not just those between US and Canada?)

 

[supersnoop]

So why would anyone want global entry for $100 when you can get nexus for $50 (Am I understanding the dhs website properly that Nexus works like Global Entry is for all international flights and not just those between US and Canada?)

Well, for one, all the interview locations are in or near Canada. The extra cost is a lot less than traveling to an interview center for most folks.

Also, Nexus is administered by Canada, so I can’t imagine it would work like Global Entry for flights that don’t include transiting Canada.

Plus, several credit cards will refund the Global Entry application fee. I haven’t seen on that covers Nexus.

 

[PurplePencil]

Well, for one, all the interview locations are in or near Canada. The extra cost is a lot less than traveling to an interview center for most folks.

Also, Nexus is administered by Canada, so I can’t imagine it would work like Global Entry for flights that don’t include transiting Canada.

Plus, several credit cards will refund the Global Entry application fee. I haven’t seen on that covers Nexus.

Thats what I thought, PP made it seem that Nexus included all Global Entry, dhs and your reasoning make it seem only flights between US and Canada.

 

[bumbershoot]

So why would anyone want global entry for $100 when you can get nexus for $50 (Am I understanding the dhs website properly that Nexus works like Global Entry is for all international flights and not just those between US and Canada?)

Apart from not living near Canada, I have no idea why people don't get it.

Also, Nexus is administered by Canada, so I can’t imagine it would work like Global Entry for flights that don’t include transiting Canada.

You get NEXUS, you get Global Entry, and you get Pre. You get all 3 of them. NEXUS gets you into and out of Canada easily. GE gets you through customs in the US easily no matter where you're coming from, and I believe you just scan your passport for it b/c the passport is connected to the system), and Pre gets you through TSA as long as you're using a participating airline.

NEXUS is magic. I tried to convince DH to get it when he first got his job traveling, but he didn't trust me and paid the GE fee. And now we can't drive through into Canada using the NEXUS lanes if he's in the car b/c he doesn't have NEXUS.


And now, despite both the US and Canadian interviewers telling me that GE worked at any GE place, you've got me scouring flyertalk.

 

[georgina]

I think when we interviewed for GE we were told we could use the Nexus lanes?

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I thought Nexus was only good for traveling between the US and Canada? I didn't think you could use it at other international points of entry into the US? Or am I thinking of something else?

 

[bumbershoot]

And now, despite both the US and Canadian interviewers telling me that GE worked at any GE place, you've got me scouring flyertalk.

Flyertalk and tripadvisor, enough people stated clearly that they have used the GE kiosks/lanes in US airports when coming from anywhere in the world, and in intl airports with pre-clearance (like Dublin) that I'm confident again. Clunky wording on the NEXUS website.

I think when we interviewed for GE we were told we could use the Nexus lanes?

That's what DH says he was told when he was with me and DS for our interviews. I wasn't paying attention though. It's possible.

I thought Nexus was only good for traveling between the US and Canada? I didn't think you could use it at other international points of entry into the US? Or am I thinking of something else?

NEXUS gives you three things. Ease of traveling between US and Canada, Global Entry, and Precheck (the last only works if you're using an airline that participates...so on our upcoming trip to Ireland on Aer Lingus, we won't have access to Precheck...DH, however, will since he's going on Delta). NEXUS is not easy to get; it takes ages (I applied in December and if I'd insisted on using the Boeing Field/King County Airport location we wouldn't have had an interview until June...thankfully we were willing to drive to Blaine and got in in January), and you get to be interviewed by two separate people. It was daunting.