Re: [84attendees] passport cards and such, was YVR Checkin Counter

[Randall Gellens <[e-mail]>]

At 3:48 PM -0400 8/14/12, Bede McCall wrote:

>  I suspect that one idea lurking behind the GE card is that you 
> could use it as an ID card and possibly as a backup for TSA's 
> PreCheck.  The thing about PreCheck is that it's supposed to be 
> based on an encoding printed on the boarding pass;  my instincts 
> say there will be quite a few TSA shirts out there who will insist 
> on seeing the GE card regardless.

Pre-Check is not an ID-based system at all.  It's a TSA "Known 
Traveler" program, similar to but distinct from the CBP "Trusted 
Traveler" programs.  CBP does thorough background checks and 
interviews to enroll someone in one of the Trusted Traveler programs, 
after which the traveler is trusted and has expedited entry into the 
U.S. each and every time.  In contrast, the TSA allows certain 
travelers to be eligible, based on having high frequent flyer status 
in a participating airline or being enrolled in a CBP trusted 
traveler program.  Eligible passengers must also consent to sharing 
information with the TSA, and may be selected on an instance by 
instance basis for expedited screening.  The TSA's selection process 
is said to be based on the perceived threat level of the flight as 
well as what is known about the eligible passenger.

No ID is needed or used for Pre-Check.  Eligibility is verified by 
the airlines and submitted to the TSA, who determine if the passenger 
is selected for expedited screening in each instance.  The 
information does seem, based on anecdotal evidence, to be encoded in 
the "selectee" field of the PDF barcode on a boarding pass.

So, I can't see why a TSA employee would ever want to see someone's 
GE or passport card in connection with Pre-Check.

>  Much of the confusion that results from the welter of cards stems 
> from the fact that there are multiple government agencies involved, 
> each with a different mission/policy base and few of which 
> communicate with each other in meaningful ways.  On the US side, 
> State (Passport and Passport Card) doesn't have much to say to DHS 
> (GE, PreCheck, ...) and within DHS the multiple agencies (e.g., 
> TSA, CBP, ICE) don't have a strong history of cooperation.  The 
> nascent TSA PreCheck program is a glimmer of hope, if only because 
> TSA is basing PreCheck enrollment on the existing CBP Global Entry 
> program rather than competing with CBP.

TSA isn't basing Pre-Check on CBP GE (nor NEXUS/SENTRI), but TSA is 
allowing those enrolled in Global ENtry or SENTRI or NEXUS to be 
eligible for Pre-Check, as an alternative to having high status in a 
participating airline's frequent flyer program.

-- 
Randall Gellens
Opinions are personal;    facts are suspect;    I speak for myself only
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The illegal we do immediately.  The unconstitutional takes a bit
longer.                                        --Henry Kissinger