You can now pay $100 to bypass the body scanners and pat downs at the airport

[somtum]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...630937016.html

Hate the full-body scans, pat-downs and slow going at TSA airport security screening checkpoints? For $100, you can now bypass the hassle.

The Transportation Security Administration is rolling out expedited screening at big airports called "Precheck." It has special lanes for background-checked travelers, who can keep their shoes, belt and jacket on, leave laptops and liquids in carry-on bags and walk through a metal detector rather than a full-body scan. The process, now at two airlines and nine airports, is much like how screenings worked before the Sept. 11 attacks.
To qualify, frequent fliers must meet undisclosed TSA criteria and get invited in by the airlines. There is also a backdoor in. Approved travelers who are in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's "Global Entry" program can transfer into Precheck using their Global Entry number.
"It's a completely different experience than what you're used to," said Matt Stegmeir, a platinum-level Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) frequent flier who was invited into Precheck when it opened at his home airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul. Besides zipping through security screening quickly and easily, Mr. Stegmeir noticed another difference: TSA agents at the Precheck lane are usually smiling.

[21forme]

Do they accept Riyals?

[Anton Chigurh]

Remember Clear, or whatever it was called?

Same idea. That went bankrupt.

Simpler and cheaper: get rid of screening, period. Second best: make more screening lanes, or put the devices at the gate, as they do in the Netherlands, and you have no lines.

D'Oh!

[AP360]

An airport in Florida is kicking the TSA out from what I hear. They are tired of a costly show that really doesn't accomplish anything other than extreme inconvenience, unreasonable intrusions and a false sense of security.

Really? I didn't know they were allowed to kick them out? If that's the case, then that may be just what it needed to slowly get the ball rolling... who knows, if this is successful, more states will follow suit... Hmmm...

[Marvin]

Global Entry is great; the pre-check is icing on the cake. If you have an Amex Platinum card and use it to charge the $100, Amex will refund the fee.
This is different than Clear and will be around for a while.
If you do a lot of international travel then Global Entry will save you a lot of time.

[Roswell Crash Survivor]

Really? I didn't know they were allowed to kick them out? If that's the case, then that may be just what it needed to slowly get the ball rolling... who knows, if this is successful, more states will follow suit... Hmmm...

They can,theoretically. Realistically, the FAA will rein them back in into the acting company (for security theatre) by threatening to revoke any number of permits/licenses etc for commercial flights to land/depart from an airport.