Lufthansa Is First European Airline To Offer TSA Pre✓®

Eligible passengers flying Lufthansa now able to have expedited screening at security checkpoints of participating U.S. airports / Trusted-traveler program participation adds to air carrier’s quality promise to its customers

On August 31, 2016, Lufthansa German Airlines became the first European air carrier to participate in the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s TSA Pre✓® program. As a result of this initiative, Lufthansa customers that are eligible will experience an expedited and efficient screening process at the security checkpoint of participating U.S. airports.

The safety of Lufthansa German Airlines’ customers is of utmost importance and is of paramount priority. Following this, the airline’s main focus is on a premium customer experience and quality promise. With TSA Pre✓®, both initiatives are addressed in that all program participants are closely vetted and held to high security standards, and once they are part of the program, will undergo an optimized travel experience with faster and more convenient passenger security facilitation at more than 180 airports nationwide.

“Lufthansa strives to maintain its role as one of the leading airlines in the aviation industry, and in doing so, continually aims for improvement and innovation advancements,” said Juergen Siebenrock, Vice President, The Americas, Lufthansa Group. “Together, we are pleased in advancing this important U.S. government trusted-traveler initiative, the TSA Pre✓® program. This is one of several new initiatives that adds to our commitment towards constantly enhancing the quality level of the customer experience on the overall journey with Lufthansa.”

If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening, information is embedded in the barcode and the TSA Pre✓® imprint will appear on the passenger’s boarding pass. When TSA scans the barcode at the security checkpoint, the passenger may be referred to a TSA Pre✓® lane. Expedited screening may allow passengers to keep on shoes, belts and light outwear, as well as leave laptops and 3-1-1 compliant bags in carry-on baggage.

Currently, U.S. citizens, dual citizens, and lawful permanent residents are eligible to apply to the TSA Pre✓® Application Program, as well as members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler programs such as NEXUS for Canadian Citizens, as well as Global Entry which is currently available for eight nationalities including Germany.

TSA Pre✓® is also available for U.S. Armed Forces service members, including those serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Reserves and National Guard.

U.S. Border Control Wants To Peek At Your Facebook Account

NEWS

The puns almost write themselves: U.S. Border Control wants to "friend" you. Travelers set to "dislike" new Border Control proposal. But this is no laughing matter. SmarterTravel fills us in on what this means for social media-addicted travelers.

The U.S. Border Control is proposing adding a new line to the form travelers fill out when visiting in the U.S. for under 90 days without a visa. According the Guardian, the line would be added to both the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (Esta) and I-94W forms and would read, “Please enter information associated with your online presence—Provider/Platform—Social media identifier.”

Would it Work?

I'll point out the obvious here: What on earth does that even mean? Furthermore, what sort of valuable information could a traveler possibly provide in response? I have a Facebook account? My Instagram handle is loveshotdogs435? 

"It’s unclear if or how the DHS would verify information written on a form before hitting border control, leaving the possibility of false information being put down," The Guardian points out, "and while the information may be optional, it will likely be difficult to discern what is and isn’t required on the form."

RELATED: 10 Things You Should Never Do in the Airport Security Line

Exactly. There's really no (non-draconian) way to ensure that A) a person provides the right information, like a URL or properly spelled social media handle; and B) a person provides correct or true information. And obviously there's no reasonable way to tell if a person's social media profile suggests that they pose a threat before they've left the airport and entered the country.

The Office of the Federal Register states that "collecting social media data will enhance the existing investigative process and provide DHS greater clarity and visibility to possible nefarious activity and connections by providing an additional tool set which analysts and investigators may use to better analyze and investigate the case."

Anyone who's watched the news over the past several years can understand the thinking here. Social media can offer a window into the minds of would-be attackers, but too often only serves to explain those attackers' motives in hindsight.

If authorities could peer through that window before something bad happens, clearly that would be great (though it does raise a host of serious privacy questions, but that's a whole other story). But is a line on a customs form an effective way to gain that access?

More from SmarterTravel:
Will Suspending Bag Fees Lead to Shorter Security Lines?
Is the TSA’s PreCheck Overpriced and Overcomplicated?
The TSA Can Now Force You Through a Body Scanner

Read the original story: Border Control Wants to Peek at Your Facebook Account by Carl Unger, who is a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.

How To Avoid Long TSA Lines On Your Next Flight #TSA

Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)

You’ve probably already heard horror stories about unusually long TSA security lines at airports, which may only get worse as the summer travel crush adds more travelers.

While we wait for the TSA to fix this (mainly by adding more employees and trying to keep the ones they have), here are some strategies to make sure you don’t miss your flight.

USA TODAY

Long TSA line strands 450 fliers overnight as woes expand

Get to the airport super early. If you hate waiting at airports this might be a good time to splurge for an airline lounge day pass. American, for example, charges $50 for aone-day pass.

Plan to arrive at the very least two hours before boarding for domestic, three to four hours for international. But for some airports, such as Miami when the cruise ships come in, even two hours might not be enough.

Perhaps the best advice is to sign up (now!) for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. I prefer Global Entry because it includes PreCheck and it’s good for five years for a $100 fee. Some premium credit cards, such as the Amex Platinum Card, reimburse the fee.

USA TODAY

What is TSA's PreCheck expedited screening program?

The only problem with PreCheck is that at some airports the special lines are only open for a few hours a day, again because of staffing shortages. But not only are the lines much shorter than regular TSA lines, you don’t have to take out your laptop and liquids, and you can leave your shoes and light jacket on.

Another hack: Buy priority access to TSA lines such as JetBlue's "even more speed," which gives you expedited lines through TSA.  United has a similar program called Premier Access, which starts at $15. Delta calls it “Sky Priority” and it’s available at select airports.

Fly from less busy airports. If you live on Long Island, fly from Islip rather than from JFK, for example.  Long Beach usually has shorter lines than LAX, and so on.

USA TODAY

Five questions about extremely long airport security lines

Try to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday when airports are less busy. Some times of the day (such as midday) are slower than during the morning and evening rush, so lines should be shorter.

If you really want to make your plane on time and you fly Delta, their VIP Select Service is offered at LAX, JFK, San Francisco, LaGuardia and Atlanta. For $250, on top of any Delta fare, you get escorted to the front of the TSA line and even get a transfer between flights via a private car service on the tarmac, plus other VIP perks such as Skyclub lounge access (book via Delta's VIP phone line at 855-235-9847). American has a similar program but it’s only available to business- and first-class passengers.

By George Hobica, the founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. Airfarewatchdog features the best airfares on thousands of routes verified by a team of expert fare analysts.