DH and I both have pre-check now, but before we did, if one of us got it, the other one always encouraged them to take advantage of it and just meet up at the gate.
I don’t crave the “company” while in line. Gee whiz, I just surfed the net, did my thing, and met DH at the gate. I don’t see the problem here, or why it would disqualify someone from the relationship. I have also had pre-check when DH didn’t, and he insisted I go ahead while he parked the car. Pre-check is worth it to me for not having to get half undressed lol.
Since we both have it now (no idea why we didn’t get it sooner), it’s not an issue, but then again, it never was in terms of this particular question.
I don’t have TSA pre-Check or Global Entry, although I’m applying for Global Entry soon. Dh, prior to Covid, was a frequent international traveler due to his job. He has Global Entry and has priority status on Delta and its partners. Therefore, except in rare circumstances, he only travels Delta in the U.S., even if it means he has to make a connection somewhere. I, OTOH, prefer flying direct, and in recent years, it makes the most sense for all of my travel to be on SWA. Most of my travel has been either alone or with girlfriends. The few times H and I were going to the same destination, we flew separately on different airlines, WTE of our D’s college graduation this past spring. He flew SWA also. I never even gave it a second thought that he went thru the pre-check line and I had to go in the regular line. He just waited for me on the other side.
I honestly don’t understand the big deal unless one person needed assistance. And as others pointed out, why clog up the regular line if you have the ability to go thru the pre-check line? I’m an adult, I don’t need a babysitter while I’m in line.
My daughter’s boyfriend is active duty military therefore eligible for pre-check. I would not expect him to wait with my daughter in the regular line. If she wants his company when they travel, she is more than capable of signing up for TSA pre-check herself.
I think it depends on the person, though I did not think about TSA not wanting pre-check people in the regular line. Personally, it wouldn’t matter to me if they left. But, if I was a young 20s year old who had not flown much, or was nervous about the whole flying experience, etc., it would have been nice for the person to stay with me. If it’s a new couple, it would have been nice to ask “Do you mind if I go through the pre-check and wait on the other side?”
One thing I would never do is take another’s bag with me through security, unless it was an immediate family member. In that case, it would be “our” bag.
I’m not sure what the big deal is. If someone wants TSA PreCheck, it’s not difficult to obtain.
The way I interpreted the original poster’s post was that a youngish newish couple was called into question because the boyfriend went through TSA line while the girlfriend went through the normal security line. I myself find it rather selfish that the boyfriend made this choice and would be insulted if this happened to me. Not everyone interprets it that way as evidenced by this thread.
Have been in this situation several times. H usually goes through the pre-check with most electronics and meets me on the other side, often with breakfast and coffee I do get a little annoyed with him when he doesn’t budget enough time to get to the airport (he always counts on being able to get through tsa-pre and forgets that I don’t do that).
Upgrades too - he is very good at giving those to me if he gets upgraded and I don’t! The last time we all flew together, he was able to get upgrades for all three of us - but couldn’t get one himself!
A funny anecdote - H and S recently flew together to a conference (S was tagging along). H got to board early due to his status. He went ahead and boarded. S was still in the waiting area and an upgrade to business class came through. Technically should have been for H (higher in line) but S got it instead and took it happily! Sent his dad a picture from the business class seat
I do get a little annoyed with him when he doesn’t budget enough time to get to the airport (he always counts on being able to get through tsa-pre and forgets that I don’t do that).