An airline put me in precheck a few years ago due to FF status. Now it requires an application to government and fingerprint. And global entry (immigration) wants an eyeball scan. Biometric collection to avoid a TSA massage is not privacy.
It basically always required all those things. For a brief period they were doing a trial with frequent fliers, but it was always the exception and never the norm.
But uh, make no mistake, they were only putting you into Pre because they had all the data you are being asked to provide already. The application is like your tax returns - the goal is to see if you provide what they already know, not to surprise them with something new.
That seems reasonable using existing data, but why a finger print?
And I thought the checkpoints were to prevent physical contraband on planes. TSA facial recognition, while also allowing old people and precheck to wear shoes, doesn't stop that.
