Precheck for teen

[PrincesCJM]

My oldest turns 13 soon and I know that 13-17 aren't guaranteed precheck on his boarding pass when traveling with someone who does have it (both parents do). With our luck, or lack there of, he wouldn't get it on his boarding pass while the rest of us do so I think I want to get him signed up. Has anyone recently gotten at Known Traveler Number (KTN) for a teen? It appears as though I'd have to get him a state ID first because he doesn't have any photo identification, which seems like a waste to me but whatever

 

[Jimsig]

My oldest turns 13 soon and I know that 13-17 aren't guaranteed precheck on his boarding pass when traveling with someone who does have it (both parents do). With our luck, or lack there of, he wouldn't get it on his boarding pass while the rest of us do so I think I want to get him signed up. Has anyone recently gotten at Known Traveler Number (KTN) for a teen? It appears as though I'd have to get him a state ID first because he doesn't have any photo identification, which seems like a waste to me but whatever

It was a few years ago when I got my then almost 13yo DD her own KTN. I used her passport for the photo ID. If you have any plans in the next 5 years that would require a passport that would be the way to go.

 

[Genie+]

It appears as though I'd have to get him a state ID first because he doesn't have any photo identification, which seems like a waste to me but whatever

Unfortunately there is some kind of glitch in the system for state IDs that are not driving licenses. We have a young adult family member who kept having their TSA pre-check status left off boarding pass repeatedly. The last time one of the Clear agents told me this was known issue, for whatever reason the TSA precheck system has trouble recognizing state issue IDs that are not driving licenses.

(Not sure if it makes a difference - we are in NJ, which has not fully gotten onboard with the “Real ID” changes yet.)

 

[_19disnA]

Since the TSA website indicates your child could get pre-check when traveling on the same ticket with an adult, I wouldn't bother with it unless you fly a LOT. The worst that would happen is you all have to go through the regular security line or the others use pre-check and he does the regular security line on his own which doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

 

[Deb1993]

There are 5 in my family and we have 3 KTN (all 5 have passports) and my younger two are always TSA pre-check.

 

[WinterSolider]

Get him a passport and then get him Global Entry instead, which also includes PreCheck.

 

[EACarlson]

My oldest turns 13 soon and I know that 13-17 aren't guaranteed precheck on his boarding pass when traveling with someone who does have it (both parents do). With our luck, or lack there of, he wouldn't get it on his boarding pass while the rest of us do so I think I want to get him signed up. Has anyone recently gotten at Known Traveler Number (KTN) for a teen? It appears as though I'd have to get him a state ID first because he doesn't have any photo identification, which seems like a waste to me but whatever

I have not yet, but am considering it later this year when my oldest turns 13. In my case, we qualify for tribal identification cards, but had considered going the State ID route. If the $85 for Pre is worthwhile to you, why would the (in my state) $28 fee push you off? A state ID also makes many things easier if the child is not going to get a driver's license immediately at 16.

Get him a passport and then get him Global Entry instead, which also includes PreCheck.

Only if actually planning to travel out of the country in the next five years. Otherwise it's a waste of the money for the passport, the additional fees for GE and the additional time it takes to obtain and then visit a GE enrollment center. I had to drive 5 hours to get to someplace that had open appointments, after waiting 10 months for conditional approval. My MIL got precheck at our small airport 15 minutes from us and it took 5 days from application to appointment to issuance.

 

[WinterSolider]

Only if actually planning to travel out of the country in the next five years. Otherwise it's a waste of the money for the passport, the additional fees for GE and the additional time it takes to obtain and then visit a GE enrollment center. I had to drive 5 hours to get to someplace that had open appointments, after waiting 10 months for conditional approval. My MIL got precheck at our small airport 15 minutes from us and it took 5 days from application to appointment to issuance.

It's useful for every person to have a valid government ID, even if they're not planning to travel out of the country.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

My 23 year old has a state ID and never a driver’s license, and has no problems with precheck, but she has always had Nexus which includes precheck. We did Nexus because it gives KTN to all your children under 18 and when we did it there was no additional fee to add the children. It also was significantly less than precheck alone. However, earlier this year I read they made fees for all the services that have precheck the same.

 

[EACarlson]

It's useful for every person to have a valid government ID, even if they're not planning to travel out of the country.

OK, so you have two options. A state issued ID that costs $30, is valid for eight years, is easy to carry around everywhere and takes about a week to get. Or a passport that costs $135, is valid for 5 years, can take months to get and doesn't fit very well in any wallet. I know which I would go with, and probably why less than half the country has one.
And still doesn't take into account the absolute hassle that is applying for and receiving GE if you're not leaving the country on a regular basis already. Or living near a major international airport.

My 23 year old has a state ID and never a driver’s license, and has no problems with precheck, but she has always had Nexus which includes precheck. We did Nexus because it gives KTN to all your children under 18 and when we did it there was no additional fee to add the children. It also was significantly less than precheck alone. However, earlier this year I read they made fees for all the services that have precheck the same.

The problem with Nexus is that in order for it to be worthwhile to get, you need to be near the Canadian border for the interview process.

 

[WinterSolider]

OK, so you have two options. A state issued ID that costs $30, is valid for eight years, is easy to carry around everywhere and takes about a week to get. Or a passport that costs $135, is valid for 5 years, can take months to get and doesn't fit very well in any wallet. I know which I would go with, and probably why less than half the country has one.
And still doesn't take into account the absolute hassle that is applying for and receiving GE if you're not leaving the country on a regular basis already. Or living near a major international airport.


The problem with Nexus is that in order for it to be worthwhile to get, you need to be near the Canadian border for the interview process.

If $135 over five years is a financial burden I would recommend someone not travel in the first place.

Everyone should have a passport, and that's my advice I'm giving to OP, and I'm not sure why it makes you so upset. Your defensiveness is, frankly, bizarre. Just disagree and move on, nobody insulted your mother.

If someone MIGHT want to take an international vacation, it would be a heck of a lot easier if they already had a valid passport rather than adding "get a new passport" to their list of to-dos for the trip.

 

[sam_gordon]

If $135 over five years is a financial burden I would recommend someone not travel in the first place.

Everyone should have a passport, and that's my advice I'm giving to OP, and I'm not sure why it makes you so upset. Your defensiveness is, frankly, bizarre. Just disagree and move on, nobody insulted your mother.

If someone MIGHT want to take an international vacation, it would be a heck of a lot easier if they already had a valid passport rather than adding "get a new passport" to their list of to-dos for the trip.

Seems like a strange hill to die on. I side with @EACarlson. If there are no plans to do an international trip (including a cruise), there is no reason to get a passport, much less Global Entry, which is what you originally recommended. Either would be a waste of money. And yes, having a passport simply because one MIGHT take an international trip is, IMO, a waste of money.

Unless you're going to plan to take an international trip in less than 6 months, there's no reason to have a passport "just in case".

 

[hrhdhd]

If $135 over five years is a financial burden I would recommend someone not travel in the first place.

Everyone should have a passport, and that's my advice I'm giving to OP, and I'm not sure why it makes you so upset. Your defensiveness is, frankly, bizarre. Just disagree and move on, nobody insulted your mother.

If someone MIGHT want to take an international vacation, it would be a heck of a lot easier if they already had a valid passport rather than adding "get a new passport" to their list of to-dos for the trip.

Okay. I'll disagree and move on.

 

[EACarlson]

If $135 over five years is a financial burden I would recommend someone not travel in the first place.

Everyone should have a passport, and that's my advice I'm giving to OP, and I'm not sure why it makes you so upset. Your defensiveness is, frankly, bizarre. Just disagree and move on, nobody insulted your mother.

If someone MIGHT want to take an international vacation, it would be a heck of a lot easier if they already had a valid passport rather than adding "get a new passport" to their list of to-dos for the trip.

Nobody said it was a financial burden, but it certainly would be wasteful spending for the majority of Americans.
That was not your advice, your advice was that instead of getting Precheck, OP should get their son a passport and GE. When that statement was pushed back upon, your response was that everyone should have a valid government issued ID. Which I agree with, but there is a much more economical and easier way to do that. Considering OP stated that they felt getting the teenager a state ID was a waste, how much more wasteful is getting a passport if they have no plans on leaving the country?