Standing in lines drives me nuts (although, I’ll grant you, it’s a short trip).  It’s not that I don’t have time to kill; it’s just that I’d rather kill time on my own terms.

Sometime in the past year, I started noticing signs at the airport that said TSA Pre✓.  Then, one day, this summer, I found myself standing in the First Class line at McCarran’s D-Gates, doing my usual waiting-in-line-at-the-airport routine.  You know – shifting my weight from my right foot to my left and then back again; taking my license out of my wallet; unzipping my carry-on to get my computer ready; readjusting the shoulder strap on my shoulder bag; leaning against my roll-on trolley; then, every minute or two, grabbing everything and moving a foot-and-a-half forward, in my quest toward the X-ray machines.  At one point, I looked-up, and this guy walked right up to that TSA Pre✓ sign, flash something at the TSA rep, and bypass the whole thing.

Zoinks!  What was this?  A special line?  Why couldn’t I go in the special line?  Well, it turns out, I could.

When I got home from my trip, I went online and began the process to qualify for US Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler Program, by utilizing the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES).  Not merely a form or two, I had to dig-up important documents, list all countries I’d visited in the past decade, and get vetted by someone at the State Department (or maybe Homeland Security – I don’t recall).  Then, I received a letter telling me I’d qualified for the next step – an interview at CBP’s office at McCarran.  Of course, this was the week that Terminal 3 debuted, so after following the instructions telling me to go to Terminal 2 (which was now closed), I went to my appointment.  I waited in a room that was so new the Herman Miller chairs still had their tags attached.  Then, I was shown into a smaller room, was fingerprinted, asked some questions, and before you could say “bibbidi-bobbidi-boo” I was done.

I received my Trusted Traveler card, in the mail, a few weeks ago; just in time to use it on my trip to Seattle to attend my little cousin, Allegra’s Bat Mitzvah.  So, what are the benefits?  Well, I couldn’t use it on the flight to Seattle, since I was flying out of Terminal 3 on Alaska, and (as of July 10^th) it only works in Vegas flying out of Terminal 1 on American or Delta.  On my return flight, however, I was flying out of SeaTac, and there, it works at Checkpoint 5 North on Alaska, American, Delta, United, and US Air.  Since I’d entered the number when I booked the ticket, I was designated as a Trusted Traveler in a special bar-code on my ticket.  Then, when I went to the TSA Pre✓ line, I was greeted cordially, and asked to please keep my computer and liquids in my bag, and please keep my shoes on (sure – the one day I wore flip-flops, but whatever).  It was fantastic!

So, if you hate waiting in lines as much as I do, and feel confident that you’d pass a fairly comprehensive background check, then I highly recommend that you look into this.  Terrorists need not apply.

TSA Pre✓
Global Entry - Trusted Traveler Program
US Customs and Border Protection
Click HERE for info

Get into it!

[Editor’s Note: Allegra completely rocked her Bat Mitzvah; and she’s one heckuva cool kid!]