According to the TSA website, that means you submitted to "a 10 minute, in person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting." [0]

There is no reason why that should be required in order to fly without "harassment".

[0] https://www.tsa.gov/precheck

> There is no reason why that should be required in order to fly without "harassment".

Can you explain why you think this way exactly? How does taking out your laptop and taking off your shoes count as harassment, exactly?

I submitted to a 10 minute in person appointment that included fingerprinting and answering questions about my criminal status (I'm not). That's it. It was super easy.

I have tsa pre-check, and I mostly enjoy it because travelers who have tsa precheck tend to pack efficiently and aren't surprised and hung up at various checkpoints during the security intake process. It's an added bonus that I don't have to take my laptop out or take my shoes off, but it's not that big of a deal.

I'm not a fan of the TSA but I have a hard time understanding why someone would be upset with the TSA precheck process.

I believe their point is that the 10 minute interview has no real world effect and so everyone should get the PreCheck treatment at security.

> or aren't willing/able to pay for the TSA pre program

Or are not eligible for any of the various 'pay more to be treated as a human' programs due to having the wrong citizenship (which is most citizenships).

Guess now we’re just waiting for the first TSA Pre-approved person to commit a terrorist attack.

Putting mafia style protection racket arguments aside (pretty soon TSA will not need money from taxpayers, they’ll just extort for convenience sake) - per the press release you have now been forced into a full scale biometrics ID program (reminder: TSA also has jurisdiction in metro rail and bus areas). How does that make you feel? Do you know what information sharing agreements they have with local law enforcement? Intel agencies? Other federal agencies? License plate metadata vendors?

Good luck out there! Glad you could save the 30 minutes, but I’d love a world where it wouldn’t require payment.