An expansion of the PreCheck program for airline frequent fliers is ready to launch for those willing to provide background information, in exchange for wearing shoes and carrying liquids through security.
The Transportation Safety Administration, part of the Dept. of Homeland Security (TSA) worked with American Airlines and Delta in the PreCheck pilot program that was in effect at seven airports around the country including Los Angeles Intentional (LAX).
The TSA announced it is expanding the scope of PreCheck to 35 airports including Boston Logan, where 9/11 hijackers began their morning of terror. A separate security line is used for members of the program which shortens the entire experience.
Airline passengers pre-qualified and accepted in PreCheck can pass through security with belts, light jackets and shoes on their bodies. Laptops can remain in cases and liquids in small sizes will no longer need separate screening through a quart-size plastic bag.
The TSA was careful however, to say that the listed benefits "could include" those items, leaving room for changes as well as the right to randomly select a PreCheck member for more scrutiny.
Although still limited to what airlines call their frequent fliers, it should give hope to travelers who may benefit down the line from a further expansion of PreCheck.
TSA Administrator John S. Pistole told media, "We are pleased to expand this important effort, in collaboration with our airline and airport partner as we move away from a one-siz-fits-all approach...."
The airlines expected to participate, besides American and Delta are United, US Airways and Alaska airlines.
Once the TSA has done its due diligence on an applicant, a code will be embedded into that passenger's boarding pass to identify him or her as qualified for the PreCheck screening process.
The criteria for inclusion in the program are not published and the agency declined to specify what they are or might be. The easiest way to start the process is to check with the airline whose frequent flier program you belong to.
Another method is to go to the government's website at www.globalentry.gov and provide the necessary personal information along with a $100 fee. Once in PreCheck, a traveler will automatically be placed in the Global Entry program for international flights.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/Defininetlynotdodgy
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