Southwest Airlines Community

Additionally, I totally understand how frustrating it can be to figure this stuff out since you're basically shooting information into a black box and hoping a PreCheck ticket spits out.  If you don't mind having some money locked up in travel funds keep in mind that you can make changes and test this to see if it works before you actually need it to work.  Make adjustments to your profiles or how you book companion tickets, then have the companion pass holder make a reservation for a flight tomorrow and add you as a companion.  Then check in as you normally would and see if the changes you made resulted in your getting PreCheck.  Then cancel the reservations you just made and repeat if necessary until you do get PreCheck.  Just make sure you always cancel your reservations more than 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure or book with points which are refunded if you accidently no-show.   Good luck!   --TheMiddleSeat ... View more

@robbhicks wrote: The previous answers are correct. But after verifying your KTN and name are stored correctly, remember what a TSA agent told me -- an eligible Pre-Check individual is NEVER guaranteed to get TSA Pre-Check approval on any particular flight. Yes, that's is the standard line, PreCheck isn't guaranteed, but I think that's mostly a disclaimer to protect themselves when the system glitches or otherwise screws up. I'm not a big believer in the existence of a funky algorithm and all the other jazz, it's mostly just a check of a name and then have a nice day, assuming the system is working properly that day. Thankfully I've had very good luck, can't think of a single flight that I didn't get Pre over the last few years.    --TheMiddleSeat     ... View more

@mknapp wrote: I just returned from CA and my return flight was not TSA Pre-check even though I booked it including my Know Traveler number.  My flight out was TSA Pre-check but not home.  How does this happen?  I did not have my number with me so I had to go back through regular screening. @mknapp what was your departure airport on the return leg?  TSA PreCheck is airport and airline specific.  For example Long Beach, CA isn't listed on the Southwest PreCheck page (click here) that includes a list of PreCheck airports.   Also on the same Southwest page the following caveat is listed (look under the "Who is eligible?" heading):   "...no one is guaranteed expedited screening. Eligibility is determined by the TSA on a per-flight segment basis."   So even if you were flying out of an airport with PreCheck there could have been something going on with the TSA system that prevented you from getting the okay for the expedited security. ... View more

From what I understand, the issues may be related to either the old booking system, or the conversion to the new one. One hopes that they dissapear once the new "next egneration reservation system" is fully integrated. ... View more