Flying out soon, anyone got any advice? Any tricks to using a TWIC at an airport? Any advantages to be had? I have heard that you can use your TWIC to go through the employee line and avoid all the tourists. I have flown many times with my TWIC in my wallet but never really bothered to see if I could use it. I’m probably wasting my time but I just thought I’d give it a try this time. If I can’t use it to make my time at security any easier then I’ll just use it as god intended: as a coaster at the airport bar.
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;111160]Flying out soon, anyone got any advice? Any tricks to using a TWIC at an airport? Any advantages to be had? I have heard that you can use your TWIC to go through the employee line and avoid all the tourists. I have flown many times with my TWIC in my wallet but never really bothered to see if I could use it. I’m probably wasting my time but I just thought I’d give it a try this time. If I can’t use it to make my time at security any easier then I’ll just use it as god intended: as a coaster at the airport bar.[/QUOTE]
It is definitely not supposed to allow you to use the airport employee line. I would be shocked if you could pull that off and it would be a serious airport security issue.
Go ahead, pull it out and try to use it to co through security.
But, have your drivers license or passport ready for when they give your TWIC card the stinkeye and ask for, " a government issued ID"
Last time I tried to use it, they looked puzzled as to what it was. Then asked for my DL
I use my TWIC all the time to get through airport security (although not the employee line). It has NEVER been an issue, even at non-maritime airports (like San Luis Obispo in CA). Sometimes it gets an odd glance, but I have never been asked for another ID to support it.
[QUOTE=Flyer69;111170]Go ahead, pull it out and try to use it to co through security.
But, have your drivers license or passport ready for when they give your TWIC card the stinkeye and ask for, " a government issued ID"[/QUOTE]
It is a govt issued ID. Make them get their supervisor if they hassle you over it. I had to do that. I told the dumbass “it was issued by you, the TSA!” I stood there until the supervisor came and let me through. I had time to burn so I wanted to make a point.
[QUOTE=Bayrunner;111189]It is a govt issued ID. Make them get their supervisor if they hassle you over it. I had to do that. I told the dumbass “it was issued by you, the TSA!” I stood there until the supervisor came and let me through. I had time to burn so I wanted to make a point.[/QUOTE]
I have done that 4 times in the last three years. It is so much fun ramming something like that up a bureaucrat’s ass…
[QUOTE=cmakin;111181]I use my TWIC all the time to get through airport security (although not the employee line). It has NEVER been an issue, even at non-maritime airports (like San Luis Obispo in CA). Sometimes it gets an odd glance, but I have never been asked for another ID to support it.[/QUOTE]
I have never had a question using it at airports either.
Yes. It is indeed a government issued ID. But, you have to realize that this was the TSA in Maine, where requesting a supervisor only means you will be talking to someone with an even higher level of incompetence.
Worked in Newark today for me & I got taken to the front of the line.
It always works for me in DFW and NOLA!
[QUOTE=Bayrunner;111189]It is a govt issued ID. Make them get their supervisor if they hassle you over it. I had to do that. I told the dumbass “it was issued by you, the TSA!” I stood there until the supervisor came and let me through. I had time to burn so I wanted to make a point.[/QUOTE]
Not fer nothing but BOTH of the aforementioned employees of the TSA are friggin’ worker bees NOT policy makers. The TWIC was NEVER designed to facilitate ANYTHING in an airport regardless of who issued it. But hey, if jerking those guys chains floats yer boat, get to it.
Maybe some TSA let you pass via the employee line as a professional courtesy. Like cops who pull over another cop in civilian attire let their brothers off if they show their cop IDs.
Or maybe they’re just confused.
No, but it IS a government issued photo ID from their OWN agency and should be honored as such. Lets not mention that by gaining said TWIC, they certified you as a non terror threat to sensitive security areas…for them NOT to accept it as valid ID shows how worthless the program is.
The guy who sucks the shit out of the port-o-lets in Texas City holds a TWIC. What’ s the point of all this?
I used my TWIC to get a 50% government employee discount at a Red Lion Hotel once. I told the gal at the desk that I worked with the DoT and she hardly looked at the TWIC before saying OK!
SHWEET!
btw, I often use my MMC or TWIC when at airport security and sometimes it takes the TSA peons a moment to figure it out but they do in the end. I used to use my MMD as well.
I wonder if my Ralph’s card would work?
[QUOTE=“c.captain;111296”]btw, I often use my MMC or TWIC when at airport security and sometimes it takes the TSA peons a moment to figure it out but they do in the end. I used to use my MMD as well.
I wonder if my Ralph’s card would work?[/QUOTE]
I used to use my mmd and got free checked bags (without asking) a few times.
The TWIC sometimes helps at the airport. I believe they are required to accept it as Id. Hotels will not accept twic as id, but I recently got a “military” discount at a hotel.