Need airport help while traveling through Seattle? Just ask Team Green

 

The team in green

The man had been waiting an hour for his mother to exit international arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Spotting me in a bright green jacket wearing a name tag that said "Carol," he asked me a few questions about when the flight might arrive and where to get a coffee. 

I answered. He wandered away, then he came back with another question, and finally another.

"Carol," he said, glancing at my name tag, "Why the hell would anyone volunteer to work at the airport?"

I smiled. "Well, sir, to help people like you."

My husband, Tom, and are part of a group of 130 volunteers assisting travelers with directions and information at key locations inside and outside security.

We normally work a three-hour shift on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. helping people with everything from finding the Uber pick-up to making a phone call, finding a hotel room or locating a lost phone or passport.

One of the perks is three weeks of free parking in the airport garage, but the real reward is the appreciation we feel after offering what seems to be the slightest bit of help. People have thanked me with hugs and kisses. One called me his "guardian angel." Another treated me to a Matcha latte from Starbucks.

When you are in a hurry, tired, confused or irritated about a cancelled flight, we are a friendly face with an answer. 

If you don't speak English, we are there to help. Some volunteers speak various foreign  languages. Others use translation apps. If those fail, we will walk you to wherever you are going, or help you phone an English-speaking relative. We can't help you carry your bags, but we can help you find your gate, advise you on where to eat, the best areas to wait between connections and where to nurse your baby in private.  

Many airports have similar volunteer programs, but Seattle's program is especially important, given on-going construction and expansion projects that have disrupted traffic, baggage claim services, TSA check points and departure gates. 

If you've been frustrated navigating Sea-Tac, you're not alone. A recent survey by JD Power ranked Sea-Tac 17 lowest out of 20 nationwide "mega" airports for customer satisfaction. 

Construction is winding down, so many of the problems that led to the poor showing should be resolved by spring in time for the 2026 cruise season and the FIFA World Cup games  in June.

If you will be among the thousands traveling through Sea-Tac in the next few months, help awaits, not only from the volunteers, but from a paid staff of professional Pathfinders. In the meantime, I have some ratings of my own to hand out, along with some pro-tips.

Start by downloading the free green flySEA app. Use  it to check your gate, arrival and departure times etc. Tip: Instead of scrolling through the various categories such as "Dining" or "Ground Transportation, go "Maps" and type in what you are specifically looking for: ie: "children's play area" or  "espresso" or "ATM," and a list of locations will appear.

Sea-Tac's new Checkpoint One

Fastest TSA checkpoint: Checkpoint 1 downstairs from ticketing at the baggage claim - arrivals level. Sea-Tac has six TSA security checkpoints. All but one are on the departures-ticketing level where lines are likely to be longest.  If you have only a carry-on and don't need to check a bag with your airline, Checkpoint 1 is your best bet. Ask to be dropped at arrivals, near Door 6.

P.F. Chang's overlooks the N Concourse

Best restaurant with a view: P.F. Chang's on the mezzanine at the N Concourse. Some might argue for Salty's, upper level, Central Terminal, but P.F. Chang's is healthier, and although pricey, most of its bowls and entrees are big enough to share. 

Starbucks Not

Best places for coffee: Forget the lines for to-go orders at Starbucks, and head either to Costa Coffee, N Concourse, with its spacious seating area, or Dilettante Chocolates and Mocha Cafe in the main terminal for decadent drinks and desserts. A newly-opened 7-11 at baggage claim has the best price ($3.19) on regular drip coffee. Check out the locally-owned Neighborhood Cafe in the ticketing area of the main terminal (before security) for its bargain breakfast sandwiches ($7.45) and some unusual Filipino snacks  such as black-sesame rice krispie treats and Ube cookies.

Filipino treats at the Neighborhood Cafe 

Best restroom areas: Sea-Tac has all-gender bathrooms, family bathrooms, adult changing areas and private nursing rooms (The best is the nursing suite with comfortable chairs and sofas on the N Concourse mezzanine). Outside security, there's a new nursing room outside  Checkpoint 6, near the Alaska Airlines bag check area. Search "restrooms" on the SEA app for other locations.

Signs indicate private nursing areas

Best place to sit while waiting for a connecting flight: One of the biggest complaints about the airport is the lack of seating, other than tables and chairs inside security and seats at the gate areas.  

Lounge area in the S Concourse

The best place to relax inside security is the lounge area at the S Concourse furnished with couches and comfortable chairs. 

Outside security, options are fewer. There are chairs in the International Arrivals area, but it's often crowded and the seats look and feel like large concrete blocks.  If your layover is long,  considering taking the DoubleTree Inn's free airport shuttle to its hotel near Sea-Tac, and having lunch in its atrium lounge. 

Live music in the Central Terminal

Best entertainment: The live musicians who perform in the Central Terminal, A and N Concourses, and the SEA Pups, trained volunteer therapy dogs around for free cuddles and hugs. 

Best wheelchair service:  If you're traveling on Alaska Air, ask to try out one of their driverless wheel chairs. The little robots have a place for your carry-on, and emit a fun little  sound as they drive you to your gate. 

Self-driving wheel chairs

Best way to meet up with a friend or loved-one: Get a one-time Visitor Pass by clicking on this link. Download a QR code to your phone, then show your TSA-approved ID, and enter the gate area through Checkpoint 4.

Best way to get downtown: Link Light Rail if you don't have much luggage. Head over any skybridge on the ticketing level into the parking garage. A walkway and a free shuttle lead to the station for the $3, 40-minute ride downtown. Starting on March 28, Sound Transit will operate an overnight bus between SeaTac and downtown Seattle every 30 minutes between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Taxis and Ride Shares leave from the third floor of the parking garage.  Don't assume that Uber or Lyft are cheaper than a taxi. A flat-rate taxi to downtown might cost $40-$60 while a ride share can sometimes cost $80 or more.

Need anything else?

Just ask Team Green. We're here to help.

Closing out international travel in 2023: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

 

Skip the Global Entry kiosks with this mobile app

Who would expect the U.S. government to be helpful when it comes to smoothing the hassles of air travel? 

Who would expect a respected organization representing people over 50 to be promoting a rip-off passport scheme?

And who would expect a major travel magazine to nominate a war-torn country for a "Readers' Choice" award?

Examples of all three crossed by inbox this week. Let's label them examples of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of travel as we close out 2023.

The Good: U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry Mobile App.

Members of the government's Global Entry trusted traveler program can skip the kiosk checks at many airports when reentering the country from an international destination by downloading the Global Entry Mobile Application available on the Apple App store or Google Play.

Most Global Entry kiosks no longer require passports and fingerprints, but instead clear incoming passengers through facial recognition. Once pictures are taken, an immigration officer sees your information on a screen and waives you through.

The app allows you to skip the kiosk check entirely by registering your Known Traveler number ahead of time, then taking a selfie when you arrive and hitting "submit."

So far, 15 airports have been approved to accept the app including Seattle Tacoma International, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles and Chicago O'Hare.

AARP promo for passport services

The Bad: AARP's "Rush My Passport" service.

"Renewing your U.S. passport has never been easier," touts a promotion on the AARP website advertising "exclusive pricing" on U.S. Passport renewal "bundles" through a private vendor passport and visa service called RushMyPassport. 

Apparently following the clear and detailed directions on the U.S. State Department's passport application and renewal site is too complicated for those over 50, the group of citizens that the AARP represents.  

Thus, the idea that it's some how worth it to pay $415 for it's "Expedited Service Bundle" (estimated 5-week wait) vs. the $190 you'd pay by filling out the forms on the government's website and applying for expedited renewal ($130 for regular service plus $60 for expedited) directly by mail.

The RushMyPassport charge for its "Smart Service Bundle," - standard renewal (estimated 10-week wait) - is $335 vs. the government's fee of $130.

What does a "bundle" include for the extra money? According to the AARP/RushMyPassport website, it includes:

*A user-friendly online experience

*All government and shipping fees (postage)

*Document pre-check for accuracy

*Concierge-level assistance and dedicated support

Really?...And no mention that passport processing times have returned to pre-pandemic standards, according to the State Department. Routine services taking between six and eight weeks, and expedited services two to three weeks. That’s about a month faster than the estimated wait times from this March.

The Ugly: Conde Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice awards, ranking Israel as a top destination.

"The past two months have been challenging for Israel," reads a tone deaf press release, "but good news has arrived with the announcement of Conde Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, which ranked Israel as the eighth Best Country in the World. In addition, Tel Aviv was the third most Googled city in 2023."

"This news is sure to boost the morale and spirit of our many travel partners and stakeholders across the county as well as the people of Israel," said Eyal Carlin, tourism commissioner to North America for the Israel Ministry of Tourism.

“We’ve been working closely with our travel advisers, encouraging them to work with their clients to postpone travel to Israel, not cancel it. "

Postpone? The reality is that everything has changed since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. it will be a long time before this part of the world will be in a position to welcome visitors. In the meantime, there are more critical concerns than restarting tourism. 

Testing requirement lifted for international flights, but at what cost to travelers' health and safety?

 

Pre-departure testing no longer required

Airline passengers traveling to the U.S. from abroad no longer have to produce a negative Covid test taken the day before travel. The move eliminates one of the hassles of flying internationally, but at what cost to the safety of customers and crew?

From the feedback I received on a recent blog post arguing in favor of keeping the requirement, many believe pre-departure testing is not worth the trouble or expense, even as highly-transmissible Omicron variants spread, and passengers no longer have to wear masks.

For those readers, the Biden Administration had good news over the weekend. As of Sunday, June 12, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its testing requirement which applied to all travelers entering the U.S. by air - vaccinated and unvaccinated. Airlines and others in the travel industry pushed the administration to drop the requirement, arguing it was hurting demand for international trips. 

Over the weekend, they praised the government's decision, citing mainly economic benefits, but not addressing how the move might affect the health and safety of passengers and crew. 

The administration put in place the testing requirement last year, as it moved away from restrictions that banned nonessential travel from several dozen countries. The initial mandate allowed those who were fully vaccinated to show proof of a negative test within three days of travel, while unvaccinated people had to present a test taken within one day of travel.

In November, as the Omicron variant swept the world, the administration toughened the requirement and required all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, to test within a day of travel to the US.

The CDC, which says it still recommends testing before any flight, said it will reassess the decision in 90 days.  “If there is a need to reinstate a pre-departure testing requirement — including due to a new, concerning variant — CDC will not hesitate to act,”  and official said.

Let's hope so, because in the meantime, anyone with Covid or with symptoms of Covid can now board an international flight to the U.S., no questions asked. There is no requirement that anyone wear a mask. Airlines argue that their filtration systems offer good protection, but that's not reassuring when someone sitting next to you for hours is coughing, or the plane sits on the tarmac for an hour waiting for a gate to open up (which happened to a friend recently in Newark and Seattle).  

Here's the situation one traveler found himself in when he recently boarded a flight from Los Angeles to Wyoming to see friends. 

"I sat rigid in my seat, and was aware of everything happening around me," he reported. "Simply put, I call it the C & S flight — Coughing and Sneezing. Everywhere. Every 4.3 minutes. Yes, I timed it."

Some argue that because the CDC never required pre-departure testing for domestic flights, it didn't make sense to require testing before boarding international flights. I'd counter that one bad decision doesn't justify another at a time the government is bracing for the pandemic’s "next wave" by asking for billions of dollars in Covid relief.

One prediction: Watch for airlines to equate the elimination of testing and masking requirements as a sign of downgraded risk. That could give them an opening to reinstate fees and penalties for cancelling or changing flights. The ability to change a flight, or cancel  and receive a credit has no doubt kept many sick people off planes. With Covid risks downplayed, how long will those policies stay in place? 

The only constant is change when it comes to travel in the post-Covid era

Fast-pass pilot program in Seattle

When and if you decide to fly soon, a grab bag of changes awaits at airports, on airline booking sites, at rental car agencies and at international borders.

Here's a few to note, with more to come in the next few months.

Vaccine verification

No U.S. airline is requiring that passengers provide proof of vaccination, but some foreign airlines are, and many countries are or are expected to allow vaccinated visitors to enter without showing a negative Covid-19 test or requiring a quarantine (Iceland and Greece are two so far).

The U.S. has not come up with a digital system for entering and verifying Americans' vaccination records, leaving travelers to figure out how to safely carry and preserve their paper cards, or come up with a digital solution on their own

For residents of Washington State, and many others, one way is to electronically access your records on file with the Washington State Department of Health. Doctors and clinics are required to provide immunizations to the state, mainly so parents can prove to schools that their children have the necessary shots.

I registered on the state's mobile site, MyIrMobile, and requested that my Covid immunizations be added. Once registered, you can access your information anytime from your device.

The other way is by electronically accessing records on file with your health care provider, in my case, Kaiser Permanente. My information was easily verifiable by opening Kaiser's app, signing in, and clicking on "immunizations." 

PreCheck for those who don't have PreCheck

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (now called SEA Airport) is one of the first in the U.S. to investigate a virtual queuing system as a solution for crowded general screening lines. 

SEA Spot Saver is a free, reservation-based system for those who are not signed up for TSA's PreCheck expedited screening program, and instead must use the slower general screening security checkpoints. The pilot program will test if SEA Spot Saver reduces wait times and crowding.

The pilot will run through August at Checkpoints 2 and 5 from 4 a.m. to noon to reduce congestion during the peak morning travel period. To use the system, passengers on either Alaska Airlines or Delta sign-up up a day in advance of travel for expedited screening without an extra cost, membership, or account. 

Changing/cancelling reservations

Some airlines have begun to pull back on their Covid policies of allowing changes or cancellations without a fee (Customers receive an e-credit for cancellations and pay whatever the fare difference is for the changes).

Delta so far still allows free changes and cancellations, and surprise, if the fare drops between the time you booked and make a change, it gives you a credit for the difference.

This happened to me when I thought to recheck the price on a flight I purchased for travel in November. The fare had dropped $75. I was about to cancel and rebook at the new, lower fare, when I saw a more convenient return flight. The fare difference for the better flight was $22 in my favor which Delta credited to my account.

Delta also added an accelerator to the way it calculates mileage and spending requirements to maintain elite status. This makes it easer for those of us who will fly this year, just not as much as usual, to retain elite status.

When it comes to accommodations and tours, if your provider does not have a generous cancellation policy, look elsewhere. Travel is still too uncertain to lock in non-refundable or even partially-refundable reservations.

In researching a possible trip to Iceland in August, I've found that nearly every tour company offers total refunds for trips cancelled 24 hours in advance. The Airbnb I booked in Reykjavik is cancellable with a full refund, including the Airbnb fee, up to a week in advance. This has been the case with most Airbnbs I've booked recently in the U.S as well, with many offering full refunds for cancellations within a day or two of arrival.

Testing requirements

Expect these to change as more countries sort out their policies for vaccinated visitors. Iceland, for instance, still requires a rapid test on arrival, but will revaluate that rule June 1. 

Be aware of Hawaii's changing Covid rules

The island of Maui in Hawaii waives a test on arrival for vaccinated tourists, but like all the islands, requires proof of a negative test taken 72 hours before departure from the mainland, even for vaccinated travelers. 

As of this week, vaccinated inter-island travelers can upload an image of their vaccination card to Hawaii's Safe Travels portal and avoid additional testing. The state and the individual islands change their requirements frequently, so double-check on current rules close to the time you leave. 

Keep in mind, the U.S has not yet changed its requirement that anyone, including American citizens, entering the country, present proof of a negative Covid test taken no more than three days before departure. Recently approved were self-administered tests performed through an approved telehealth company. 

Rental cars

Cars are in short supply for various reasons, and rates for summer travel are outrageous. There are ways to whittle down the price below what you'll get by plugging in dates for airport pick-up and drop-off. Consider renting off-airport even if you have to take a taxi or Uber to reach the site. 

Costco and Expedia are two places to comparison shop. If you are willing to drive a pick-up truck (I'm not), you'll likely find a better deal than you will on in-demand economy cars. And don't forget the Airbnb-style sites where individuals rent their personal cars. Try Turo and Get Around, with descriptions of the cars, and reviews by past users. I didn't see any bargains when I checked, but if you've dreamed of getting behind the wheel of a Mercedes or a Tesla, this might be your chance.  

Fed up with airport security lines? Here's a PreCheck primer

While thousands of travelers moving through U.S. airports are waiting in long lines at security checkpoints and missing flights, others are breezing through special PreCheck lanes in minutes.

Anyone who flies frequently should by now have the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck expedited security clearance which allows passengers to sidestep the long lines, and walk through special lanes with no requirements to remove shoes, jackets, belts or liquids from carry-ons.

PreCheck has been around for several years, but the program is only now catching the attention of some travelers due to out-of-control wait times at airport security checkpoints  nationwide. Passengers who apply provide some personal identity information and fingerprints. Once vetted as low-risk, they are PreCheck approved, meaning, with some random exceptions, they will find TSA Pre✓ printed on their boarding passes, making them eligible to join the special lines.  

There are three ways to apply, all with fees attached. The most streamlined is the online TSA Pre✓ program, good enough for people who never fly internationally. For those who do, two other programs offer better benefits.  

Here's what you need to know, and here's a link to a handy chart comparing requirements, costs and benefits. 

TSA Pre✓ Program: 

What it does: Authorizes PreCheck expedited security clearance at U.S. airports.

Cost: $85, good for five years. 

How to apply: Complete an online application, then schedule an in-person appointment at a local application center by calling 855- 347-8371. At the time of your appointment, you'll be  fingerprinted. You'll also need documentation proving your identity and proof of citizenship or legal residency. Bring your current U.S. passport, enhanced driver's license, Green Card, or if you don't have those, a regular driver’s license (or other government photo ID and birth certificate). In the Seattle area, application centers are at  4123 4th Ave. South in Seattle and 15015 Main St. in Bellevue.  Unfortunately, TSA does not have an application center at Sea-Tac Airport although it does at some other U.S. airports. 


International travelers will find the best way to obtain PreCheck clearance is by applying for either the U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection's Global Entry program, or the Canadian version, called Nexus. Both come with expedited PreCheck clearance.

Global Entry

What it does: Allows expedited entry into the U.S. from another country, including Canada. Air travelers avoid lines at customs and immigration by running their passports through special kiosks and verifying their fingerprints. Global Entry cards have radio frequency identification, which enables their use at SENTRI (Mexico) and NEXUS  (Canada) expedited travel lanes entering the U.S. Global Entry cards are not valid for entry into Canada via the NEXUS lanes and kiosks. 

Cost: $100, good for five years.

How to apply: Click here, fill out the online form, then wait for notification of an in-person interview. You'll have your picture taken and fingerprints scanned, and be notified of approval shortly after.


Nexus

What it does: Allows for expedited airport entry into the U.S. and Canada from other countries and for land and sea border crossing into the U.S. and Canada. 

If you live near the Canadian border, this is your best bet because 1) It's half the cost of Global Entry) 2) It comes with PreCheck clearance. 3) It allows you to use fast-pass lanes when entering and leaving Canada by car, while a Global Entry card allows you to use the fast-pass Nexus lane only when leaving Canada. Yes, it's hard to wrap the brain around the idea that it's a better deal for U.S. citizens to apply for Canadian Nexus clearance than our own Global Entry, but indeed it is.

Cost: $50, good for five years.

How to apply: Same as above (The U.S. and Canada have reciprocal agreements). 

Nexus members can use PreCheck lanes at U.S. airports. In Canada, they can use "trusted traveler" airport security lanes, but must first submit to an iris scan (available at no cost at Canadian airports). I had mine scanned the last time I was in Vancouver. It took only a few minutes, and now I'm good to go.  

With demand increasing, expect a wait to be approved for any of these programs. Meanwhile, allow plenty of time at the airport to clear security this summer. Wait times have been brutal, leaving airlines and passengers fuming due to missed flights and connections. Some airports, Seattle-Tacoma included, have started taking the situation into their own hands.

The Port of Seattle recently hired 90 private contractors to assist passengers in a move to alleviate TSA's security checkpoint mess. With the summer travel season approaching,   Sea-Tac and the airlines became pro-active in taking steps to avoid a fiasco such as the one at Chicago's O'Hare International recently when 450 passengers missed their flights due to long waits at security checkpoints. 

Sea-Tac Airport hires private contractors to help reduce wait times at security checkpoints

Starting next week, 90 private contractors will assist passengers at Seattle Tacoma International Airport as the Port of Seattle moves to alleviate TSA's security checkpoint mess that's been causing long lines and missed flights nationwide.

With the spring and summer cruise ship and tourist crowds about to flood airport checkpoints, Sea-Tac is being pro-active in taking steps to avoid a fiasco such as the one at Chicago's O'Hare International over the weekend when 450 passengers missed their flights due to long waits at security checkpoints. Let's hope it helps.

Here are the details from a Port of Seattle press release issued today: 

"The Port of Seattle is taking several steps to prepare for a record number of travelers anticipated this summer at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  Starting next week, 90 private contractors will assist passengers at security checkpoints and free up TSA personnel to open up more lanes to reduce wait times. An exercise with Sea-Tac, TSA and major airlines led to several strategies designed to make security lines more efficient for travelers.

For the first four months of 2016, passenger traffic has increased 10 percent compared with 2015, which recorded a 12.9 percent passenger increase. More than a half a million passengers are expected to pass through Sea-Tac during Memorial Day weekend (from Thursday May 26 through Monday, May 30), traditionally the kickoff to the summer travel season during the five-day period The busiest day is projected to be Friday, May 27 with approximately 145,000 passengers – that’s 25,000 more than the Friday before Memorial Day last year!

“The Port of Seattle is proactively working to improve the customer experience at checkpoints where we can and working with the TSA to manage wait times  with our record passenger numbers,” said Daniel Zenk, Sea-Tac Airport senior operations and customer service manager. “While these added contractors and other changes will help in the short term, we realize the long solution to the growth at Sea-Tac is more TSA staff, more open lanes and more K9 units. We will continue to work with our federal elected leaders to maintain the level of service our customers expect at the nation’s fastest growing large airport.”

Changes Sea-Tac is making to keep up with record crowds:

-90 full-time equivalent contract workers to free up TSA personnel
-Contractors to work non-regulatory positions before and after x-ray screening
-More areas and tables to get ready for screening while in line (divesting)    
-Pilot program test led to 40 percent faster divesting
-More areas to gather belongings post-screening (revesting)
-Increased focus on line management with Sea-Tac staff targeting peak times
-Hiring more customer service staff for summer
-More signage to direct travelers to checkpoints
-Adding live music performers near checkpoint lines to reduce passenger stress

Sea-Tac’s busiest travel period is June through August (August is typically the busiest month, followed by  July and June). Advice is to arrive a minimum of two hours before domestic and three hours for international flights.


Peak travel days are Thursday and Friday.

TSA agrees to outside study on health effects of body scanners

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been removing controversial “backscatter’’ body scanners from some of the nation’s largest airports, but it appears Sea-Tac will be stuck for a while with what looks like obsolete equipment.

The machines, purchased two years ago from Rapiscan Systems, use X-rays to detect explosives or other weapons hidden beneath clothes. Replacing them in many U.S. airports are millimeter-wave machines made by L-3 Communications that don’t emit X-rays and feature privacy software that produces a generic rather than real nude image of passengers’ bodies.

“At this time, there are no plans to swap out the backscatter scanners at Sea-Tac,” said TSA spokeswoman Lorie Dankers.

Read more about why in my Travel Wise column for The Seattle Times. 

Seattle Port Commissioner John Creighton (@jwcreighton3) made a good point Monday in a tweet he posted urging the TSA to reconsider. "15M people/year go thru security @SeaTacAirport, its time we urge feds to replace scanners at SEA as well.''

Couldn't agree more. Meanwhile, there is a bit of good news for those concerned about the health effects of the backscatter body scanners that emit small doses of radiation. It appears that TSA is finally going to address the safety issue of body scans. The Transportation Security Administration has tapped the National Academy of Sciences to probe the health risks of body scanner radiation after years of pressure from civil liberties groups and Congress, reports Nextgov.The study is limited to radiation and safety testing, and will not examine the privacy implications of the X-ray machines, according to the report.

An academy committee will review the Homeland Security Department’s current procedures for measuring radiation doses people receive from the technology systems, along with previous studies, Nextgov reports. The website said that it's unclear whether the experts are expected to report on government tests or outside experiments. The Electronic Privacy Information Center has taken legal action to obtain DHS records on TSA safety analyses and third-party studies.

In meantime, if you’re concerned about either safety or privacy, don't hesitate to exercise your right to opt out of a body scan, and submit instead to a physical pat-down and walk through one of the old metal detectors still in place at Sea-Tac and other airports around the country.

Global Entry, Nexus = PreCheck

Join Global Entry or Nexus, the joint U.S.-Canandian border crossing programs and you'll   automatically be approved for PreCheck, the Transportation Security Administration's fast-pass airport security program. It's not surprising why some private companies are creating a business out of helping people apply - for a fee, of course. 




Don and Melda Follett of Yakima take frequent road trips to Canada. So when they learned that by joining Nexus, the joint U.S./Canadian fast-pass border-crossing program, they could also qualify for PreCheck, the new expedited U.S. airport security screening for low-risk travelers, they decided to apply.

They went online, typed "Nexus" in a Google search box, then hit a link, thinking they were going directly to the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES), a website set up by U.S. Customs and Canadian authorities to streamline registration in either Nexus or Global Entry, a similar program for entry into the U.S. from other countries.

Only after they paid $353.25 on their MasterCard for two Nexus applications — that should have cost only $100 ($50 each) — did they realize they had mistakenly linked to an ad at the top of the online search page. That link took them to Immigroup Immigration, a Toronto-based private company that charges fees for its services.

Rather than pay a hefty cancellation charge and start over, the Folletts went ahead with their application through Immigroup. Lesson learned: "People need to know they should go through the U.S. website (https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes) and not get sidelined to another one," says Melda Follett.

That's certainly the advice of Mike Milne of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Seattle. Although the websites for commercial visa and immigration services (such as Immigroup) may look official, they're not (nor are they illegal).

"It's like paying someone to fill out your tax return," says Milne. "For the most part, you are able to do these things by yourself. But it takes time. We try to make it as easy as we can, but we're probably not all the way there yet."

With PreCheck eligibility now an added benefit (those who qualify can use special lanes at U.S. airports where they no longer have to take off jackets or shoes or remove laptops and liquids from carry-ons), American and Canadian officials say they're trying to streamline enrollment for Global Entry, Nexus and also Sentri, a program for expedited land-border crossings between Mexico and the U.S.

Those living in the Pacific Northwest will find Global Entry or Nexus the most useful. Here's what you need to know:

Global Entry: Allows expedited entry into the U.S. from another country, including Canada. Air travelers avoid lines at customs and immigration by running their passports through special kiosks and verifying their fingerprints. Or travelers show their Global Entry cards when entering the U.S. from Canadian land and sea borders. Global Entry cannot be used for entry into Canada or another country.

Cost: $100, good for five years.

How to apply: Go to https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes, fill out the online form, then wait for notification of an in-person interview (at Sea-Tac Airport, Boeing Field and other locations). You'll have your picture taken and fingerprints scanned and be notified of approval shortly after.

Nexus: A joint U.S./Canadian program for expedited airport entry into the U.S. and Canada from other countries and for land and sea border crossing into the U.S. and Canada.

Cost: $50, good for five years.

How to apply: Same as above. Interviews take place at Boeing Field, the Peace Arch border crossing at Blaine, the Vancouver, B.C., airport or in downtown Vancouver. Nexus members can use PreCheck lanes for certain U.S. airports. In Canada, they can use "trusted traveler" security lanes at Canadian airports, but must first submit to an iris scan.

Which way to go?

Nexus is the better value at $50 because, for now at least, it includes all the benefits that come with Global Entry.