4toejam

I use Global Entry (which includes TSA Pre√). Global Entry helps you on re-entry to the United States from foreign countries. I also have Pre√ for travel in the United States and leaving the country. The fees are $85 for 5 YEARS not annually (TSA Pre√) and $100 for 5 years not annually. I recommend getting Global Entry which gives you TSA Pre√ with the Global Entry fee of $100. "tdekany" gave a great chart to explain this on page 5 of this discussion. It is very clear. There is a drawn-out process to qualify for these cards including an interview process; however, it is simple. It does take time for the review of your application and the wait to get the interview can be lengthy (my Global Entry process took a collective total of 5 months). Prepare, make no mistakes on the application and schedule your interview as soon as you get the letter of acceptance. Global Entry uses your passport your identification as a global entry and Pre√ holder. Very convenience and efficient.

If you travel frequently, get Global Entry and save the inconvenience of the search done on the regular TSA lines. It really help me with my photographic equipment I took to Africa last April (2017).

Rickyb

Precheck is only for USA use. No good for outside USA.

Rickyb

Fees galore sounds like a very unwelcomed tax. I have been flying for over 60 years and was a private pilot, but now flying is really a boar what has happened to this world? I can remember getting on a Pan Am 747 to Paris with rolls of over 100 films and no problem. Time to think about air travel in this very new, speculative world we now live in.

4toejam

Rickyb - you are absolutely correct. The Pre√ allows u to travel domestically (or the USA) and for travel leaving the US on an USA airline. The rest of the world does not utilize Pre√ for the protection of the consumer. Global Entry allows you to check through customs quickly upon the return to the USA. Neither are designed for worldwide usage. That said, there are several countries and airlines that are looking to use the USA Global Entry for their security purposes as well.

4toejam

Rickyb - I respect your thoughts on unwelcome tax; however, I disagree. The fee of $85 for Pre√ is for 5 years (less than $20/year). The Pre√ means you have been granted clearance to travel and not be subjected to the extended lines at TSA checkpoints....and not taking equipment out for search....and not taking shoes, belts, etc off when passing through the X-RAY. Basically you have the convenience and expedited time going through TSA checkpoint by utilizing a special line for Pre√ cleared travelers. I'll pay less than $20 a year for that expedited convenience. Stand in line and don't pay for this service provided to you as a Pre-Cleared passenger....you have to be cleared overtime you go through the TSA checkpoint......I don't! It is your privilege to do it the OLD way! Additionally, travel in the world today with terrorism is much different than it was 60 years ago....no comparison...the "Good OLE-DAYS" are gone! Move forward and cherish life. Good day!

A side to your July 29, 207 20:06:11 reply....the use of an uncastrated male pig or wild hog as in
"Boar" is inappropriate here....do you mean "to bore"?

Dalex

Just my 2 cents worth: just traveled back & forth to Iceland, my camera bag is my only carry on. I have a LowePro with a half dozen lenses and a couple of bodies. At both ends it just went on the belt through the x ray machine. There have been times going back over the last ten years or so when some TSA employee pulled my bag aside and wanted to go through it. I refuse and tell them to get a supervisor because I don't want them touching, or maybe dropping anything. All the supervisors do is ask me to take off the lens caps and look through the lenses to make sure that they are in fact camera lenses. One onece said to me that I could have a stick of dynamite in that 70-200 and the X-ray machine wouldn't see it. Which I suppose is true. My experience is that there are no hard and fast rules across the country regarding shoes, belts, carry ons, etc. Some places won't let you bring a drink through unless you take a drink from it, others won't let you bring a drink through if it has been opened. When you ask why that is, the response is typically "This way we keep the terrorists guessing".

tbr48

We fly about six times a year, usually coast to coast. We got Pre-Check when it was first offered. It makes flying a bit easier. Shorter security lines, not having to remove shoes, belts, etc. All well worth the $85. Signing up was easy. They checked our fingerprints electronically, and we had to fill out a form and answer a few questions. In a couple of weeks, we got letters from the TSA assigning us our Known Traveler Numbers, which we use when we make flight reservations. Over the years the world and flying has changed. It's not going back to the good old days, so complaining about it is a waste of time. As others have said if you can't accept the current realities of flying then simply don't. Complaining is not going to change anything.

btbg

All of you that are saying deal with it are correct. Nonetheless, it is unconstitutional for the government to check my possessions without probably cause. When the airlines were doing security that was constitutional.

The TSA is not. The government has no right to search my belongings period. And personally I would rather have freedom than security. Franklin was correct when he said something to the effect of those who give up liberty for security will soon have neither.

And I have done what they say in the past and have two broken camera lenses because of it. Of course I will comply, otherwise will never be allowed on the plane and could get arrested. However, that doesn't make it right.

As far as the live interviews for precheck, the person who said that there are multiple interview locations within 25 miles of him clearly doesn't live anywhere near where I do. Closest interview sight appears to be 145 miles away. That means it would take a tank of gas and a day off work just to do the interview. Not such a great deal that way.

mikenolan Loc: Lincoln Nebraska

There's a story on the wires today about arrests in Australia for some kind of attempt to get an IED onto an airplane, not much details. So, yeah, the bad guys are still out there trying to blow up planes.

BillH1980 Loc: Texas

I have global entry and have traveled to Europe several times this year (2017) as well as multiple times in the US with a carryon with one dslr (no lens attached), two lenses (one is 200 mm in a soft case), and three batteries. It also contains a laptop and ipad plus 3 phone chargers. I experienced multiple situations.

Most of the time my backpack goes through the x-ray machine with no delay in the US. But sometimes the x-ray operator requested further screening - sometimes visual, sometimes with the chemical sensor swab analyzer. The delay was never more than a few minutes.

In Europe returning to the US and for local flights within Europe I always had to remove the camera body, lenses, laptop, ipad, and sometimes the charger and cables from my backpack and put in a bin for the x-ray. On occasion they took the 200 mm lens from the soft case for inspection. Getting my backpack weight below the allowed carryon weight for European airlines was the most difficult challenge. One delay was 20 minutes, but most were the normal 5 or 10 minutes getting through the security machine (wait in line not included).

And there are random inspections that can be more detailed. The takeaway from my experience is to be prepared for the likely situations, arrive in plenty of time, and chances are you will make it through airport security with your camera gear in good order.

mikenolan Loc: Lincoln Nebraska

Once, when I was taking a domestic flight out of LaGuardia, the chemical swab test on my laptop bag tested positive for nitroglycerine. To say that the TSA folks freaked out would be an understatement.

I made my plane, but not by much.

Glasgow

Watch going to Sky Harbor as a TSA Agent pushed a laptop on to the floor as it was in his way or something to that effect.

art pear Loc: North Dakota

There is no mandatory removal of you camera from your bag.

From tsa website in regards to DSLRs....You may transport this item in carry-on or checked baggage. For items you wish to carry on, you should check with the airline to ensure that the item will fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat of the airplane.
To help officers get a clear look at your bag and reduce the need for additional screening, we suggest you pack your bag in neat layers (layer of clothes, layer of electronics, layer of clothes, layer of shoes, etc.) and wrap cords tightly around electronics items.

BillH1980 Loc: Texas

Lack of mandatory removal of cameras does not prevent the screeners from requiring them to be removed. Although cameras might get through easier in a carry-on roller bag with only clothes I don't because sometimes roller bags must be checked at the last minute because of filled overhead space or small overhead bins. I went through airport security thirty times this year with a DSLR in my backpack and found what works for my situation. I made it through every time.

A few times I made it through security in the precheck line without removing my computers, lenses or DSLR from my backpack. Usually I was either told before screening to remove my camera and lenses (I was not in pre-check line) or they had to be removed after screening and rescreened (in pre-check line and non-pre-check line). Because of the potential for extra delays of re-screening my backpack, I now routinely remove my camera from it, regardless whether I need to remove my computers or not.

The FF DSLR body, two extra batteries and a 24-70 lens fit into a 8" x 8" x 4" hard case (just barely). The 70-200 lens is in a soft case. I put both into a small, very lightweight backpack of thin material (really just a small zippered bag with shoulder straps). It fits inside of my normal backpack with the computers, etc. So it is easy to remove the thin backpack and place it on the belt. (I also use it to carry the camera when walking around.) This works well for me getting through airport security in the US usually with one pass through the x-ray screening. Traveling within Europe or from Europe to the US, laptops must always come out, but most of the time, my camera lightweight "backpack" went through the x-ray scanner by itself without having to take the equipment out of the square case or soft case. What works for me may not work for others or someone who travels with more camera equipment, and there is still the possibility of random more-thorough inspections. The anticipated threats to air travel safety can affect the thoroughness of the screening.

I have wondered how one of those equipment vests would work going through the x-ray scanners. One would reduce my backpack weight to meet the carry-on weight limits in Europe. To summarize, there is currently no problem getting through airport security screening traveling with carry-on camera equipment. I also had no problems traveling with the DSLR in Asia last year, but that was before the enhanced screening of laptops, etc. The screening process is variable so be prepared.

Dave783 Loc: New Jersey

Flew from Phila. to Orlando and back, two weeks ago, no pre-check, carry on camera bag with two SLR's, two batteries each, flash, brackets, cables. It went through the x-ray conveyor, never had to open it. No problems.