The Department of Homeland Security is temporarily halting TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, two of the most widely used trusted-traveler programs in the United States, amid a partial government shutdown.
In a statement to CNN regarding the suspension of those programs, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Patrol “are focusing on the general traveling public at our airports and ports of entry and have suspended courtesy and special privilege escorts.”
You do realize TSA Pre isn’t like a super expensive thing that only rich people have, right? I get it free with at least two credit cards and also get it free with my airline status. My airline status comes from flying for work so much. Either way, it’s only $70 per year. We’re not talking millionaire-level exclusivity here.
Most of those “certain people” going through TSA Pre and Global Entry fly far more often than you. They are fully aware of the reality of flying and how much it sucks. Business travelers have gone through the shit you go through on your once a year vacation. Some of them have it paid for by their company as a perk. Some of them get it through airline status (which means they flew a lot before they got this perk). Some of them get it through a credit card perk (which will be used during business travel where the company will reimburse costs).
All of them gave the government a bunch of sensitive personal information to get pre-screened before going to the airport so that they didn’t have to stand in line with people who haven’t been pre-screened.
You have to deal with an hour of bad annoyance once or twice a year… and you are mad that people who have to fly 12 or more times per year are able to avoid some of that annoyance after being vetted through another annoying process?? How evil are you?
It’s actually even cheaper. The $70 is for five years.