Secret Security Line – No Waiting @ JFK T4

by Adam

I’m currently in the waiting room for my Global Entry interview at JFK T4 and will be departing for Prague on Delta 210 later this evening. Anyway, after check-in I headed downstairs to the Global Entry office and happened to stumble upon a completely separate security checkpoint on the arrivals floor.

T4JFK2

As I write this, according to one of the TSA managers, the line upstairs at the main security checkpoint located past check-in is averaging 37 minutes for non priority passengers and 18 minutes for those with any type of priority security access.

The line downstairs…well there is absolutely no one there. No lines regardless of status.

T4JFK3 T4JFK4 T4JFK5

I chatted with the TSA agent down here who said there is little to no signage upstairs telling anyone that there’s even an alternate checkpoint (I didn’t see any either). So…make use of this “hidden” checkpoint while you can prior to T4 installing some proper signage!

PS – Check out what’s left of T3…

T4JFK6

T4JFK1

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Related Articles

14 comments

mark August 17, 2013 - 6:21 pm

Shocked a travel blogger is just now getting Global Entry. A little late to the party, no?

Reply
adam August 20, 2013 - 4:37 am

@mark – Full-time job, multiple online businesses, and constant international travel just hasn’t left me much time to sit down and get the interview done. Luckily, I’ve only had one horrible US customs experience in the last five years (ATL arrival from JNB).

Reply
Billy August 17, 2013 - 7:09 pm

Another “secret” spoilt by bloggers!

Reply
adam August 20, 2013 - 4:36 am

@Billy – Not sure how this “secret” was spoiled. The whole point of this blog is to share information with each other. Even if all Point Me to the Plane daily readers were to make use of this security checkpoint, it would still be almost completely empty…and they would all have to be flying on the same day.

Reply
The Weekly Flyer August 17, 2013 - 8:14 pm

Ghost town in there. Enjoy your trip to PRG.

Reply
adam August 20, 2013 - 4:34 am

@The Weekly Flyer – Yep, only downstairs though, mad house upstairs! Thanks!

Reply
Greg August 17, 2013 - 8:23 pm

Yes…it’s there for connecting international passengers coming out of customs.

Surprised waits are really that long upstairs though. 18 minutes for SkyPriority??

Reply
adam August 20, 2013 - 4:33 am

@Greg – Thanks, yes my colleague waited 24 minutes in the SkyPriority line! Crazy busy.

Reply
Review of Delta’s new JFK Terminal 4, and JFK-ATL BusinessElite 767-300 (76W) | MC in the Air August 26, 2013 - 9:24 pm

[…] wait times.  I knew that I had the option of going to the unmarked downstairs checkpoint, where Point Me to the Plane reported that there were no lines, but I was early and wanted the full experience so I could check it out. Even the PreCheck lane had […]

Reply
Automated Passport Control Now Live @ JFK Terminal 4 - Point Me To The Plane October 9, 2013 - 11:27 am

[…] Secret Security Line – No Waiting @ JFK T4 […]

Reply
Secret Security Check @ JFK – Still Kicking @ T4 w/ No Waiting - Point Me To The Plane November 2, 2013 - 5:30 pm

[…] in August I posted about a “secret” security line at JFK T4 that was actually on the arrivals level. Several commented that I had ruined it for […]

Reply
DeltaGoldLass December 23, 2013 - 6:31 pm

Thank you!!!! I love this community
Namaste!

Reply
John Paul Zajas August 27, 2015 - 1:03 pm

Does this security line still exist?

I am traveling through this terminal next week?

Reply
Karn July 26, 2018 - 12:22 am

Can I check in my baggage at this Delta transfer desk if I want to avoid checking my bag at departure floor?

Reply

Leave a Comment