Thomas Cook Group Airline to Offer TSA Pre-Check on Summer Flights

WHY IT RATES: The screening process will speed up thanks to Condor and Thomas Cook partnering with TSA—Eric Bowman, TravelPulse Senior Editor

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Just in time for the busy, peak summer travel season to Europe, Thomas Cook Group Airline announces the availability of TSA Pre Check, the expedited screening program from fifteen U.S. gateways beginning on May 02. The airline is a smart choice for travels to Europe and beyond.

With this new partnership, Thomas Cook Group Airline makes travels for their customers even more comfortable. The German fleet serves Frankfurt from Anchorage, Austin, Baltimore, Fairbanks, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland and Seattle with onward connections to 120 destinations throughout Europe via Condor and a network of partner airlines. Travelers to the U.K. market are connected to Manchester, London and Glasgow from New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orlando, Boston, Las Vegas and Seattle.

“We are proud to be able to offer TSA Pre Check to our passengers departing from the U.S. While other new long-haul competitors are notorious for ‘nickel and diming’ passengers with add-on costs, at Thomas Cook Group Airline, we are always looking for ways to add value and convenience at an affordable fare,” said Christoph Debus, Chief Airlines Officer for Thomas Cook Group plc. “TSA Pre Check is a service that our U.S. passengers tell us they greatly value as it saves them precious time at the airport.”

TSA Pre Check is an expedited screening program that enables trusted travelers to enjoy a smart and efficient screening experience at more than 200 U.S. airports. With a TSA Pre Check boarding pass, there is no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light jackets.

TSA Pre Check is available when departing from a U.S. airport to a foreign country, and for domestic, connecting flights after returning to the U.S. Travelers who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. can apply for TSA Pre Check for a cost of $85 for five years, or $17 per year through the TSA Pre Check application program. Once approved, travelers will receive a “Known Traveler Number” to input when making an airline reservation and will have the opportunity to utilize TSA Pre Check lanes at select security checkpoints when traveling on Thomas Cook Airlines UK or Condor.

Compared to other low-cost carriers who offer “unbundled“ fares, all Thomas Cook Airlines U.K. long-haul passengers receive free checked baggage as well as meals and in flight entertainment, available on seat-back screens with a choice of free and paid-for premium content, featuring more than 30 movies and 50 TV shows. Premium Class on Thomas Cook Airlines U.K. features seats with added legroom, leg rests and adjustable headrests, a premium in flight, in-seat entertainment system with extended programming, USB ports at every seat, premium meals and complimentary beverages and an in flight, well being amenity kit. All Condor long-haul passengers receive complimentary checked baggage, complimentary beverages and meals and complimentary in flight entertainment included in their base fare.

Premium Class passengers receive seats with added legroom, leg rests and adjustable headrests, a premium in flight, in seat entertainment system with extended programming, USB ports at every seat, premium meals and complimentary beverages and an in flight, well being amenity kit. Condor’s Business Class features reclining seats (170 degrees), a personal in-seat, premium touch-screen (15 inches) entertainment system, power and USB ports at every seat and gourmet, five course meals with complimentary wine, beer and cocktails and an in flight, well being amenity kit. Business Class passengers also have access to priority check in and business class lounges at most airports. Condor Airlines is a partner with Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan frequent flyer program, providing members more opportunities to earn and use miles on flights to Europe.

Other passengers who are eligible for TSA Pre Check include all members of Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI members who are U.S. citizens or U.S. lawful permanent residents and NEXUS members who are Canadian citizens. TSA Pre Check is also available for U.S. Armed Forces service members, including those serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Reserves and National Guard. To find the program that best suits your travel needs, use the Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler comparison tool.

TSA continues to incorporate unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, throughout the airport. All travelers will be screened, and no individual will be guaranteed expedited screening.

For more information, visit tsa.gov or read the frequently asked questions about TSA Pre Check

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SOURCE: Condor Airlines press release