WASHINGTON—The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for the highest number of passengers the agency has seen at airport security checkpoints across the country during this summer travel season, which runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. There is. TSA expects Friday, May 24, to be the busiest day of the Memorial Day long weekend, with nearly 3 million passengers expected. The agency expects to screen more than 18 million passengers and crew from May 23 to May 29, an increase of about 6.4% in the number of checkpoints compared to the same period in 2023. I will do it.
“We are working closely with our airports, airlines, and travel partners to ensure we are fully prepared to handle the increased travel volume this summer,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. “We also continue to deploy cutting-edge checkpoint technology that increases security effectiveness and efficiency and improves the passenger experience, and our retention and adoption rates are at an all-time high. Masu.”
TSA continues to modernize airport security checkpoints across the country with a focus on enhancing detection methods to best protect aviation systems. This summer, airline passengers can expect to encounter some of these latest checkpoint technologies, and some important travel tips are recommended. These include:
Tip 1: Be aware of new checkpoint technology and follow TSA guidance. TSA uses second-generation Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2), which has the same functionality as CAT, to identify passengers using an acceptable photo ID along with flight details and prescreening status. Verify the authenticity of your ID. However, it has added camera functionality. Passengers can voluntarily consent to have their photo taken in real-time to verify their identity using any TSA-acceptable ID. Facial recognition technology used by the TSA helps ensure that the person standing at the checkpoint is the same person depicted on the identification card. Please keep your boarding pass safe. No photos are stored or stored after an ID match is confirmed, except in a limited testing environment to evaluate the effectiveness of the technology. A passenger who does not wish to be photographed can request a manual check of her ID from a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) without penalty or loss of the opportunity to get in line. For more information about how TSA uses facial recognition technology, please see TSA's Privacy Impact Assessment, Fact Sheet, and Biometric Technology webpage.
Some airports have computed tomography (CT) equipment. These units significantly improve carry-on baggage scanning and threat detection capabilities. The CT unit allows the TSO to see her 3D image of the passenger's bag, reducing the need to physically inspect the contents of the bag. Security with CT equipment Passengers undergoing screening in the lane will not be required to remove liquids or laptops from the 3-1-1, but will place all carry-on items, including bags, in the bin for screening. is needed. Passengers are also reminded to bring a maximum of one carry-on baggage and one personal item with them during security screening.
To date, TSA has deployed 2,050 CAT units at 223 airports. Of these, 238 CAT units employ second generation (CAT-2) technology and are installed at 84 airports nationwide. In addition, TSA has more than 820 CT units deployed at more than 240 airports nationwide.
It is important that passengers follow the instructions of the TSO, as screening procedures may vary from airport to airport depending on available technology and the current threat environment.
Tip 2: Do you carry a firearm? Prepare, pack, and declare. Firearms are prohibited at security checkpoints, in secure airport areas, and in aircraft cabins, even if the passenger has a concealed carry permit or is within a constitutional jurisdiction. Passengers may carry firearms, but firearms must be stored securely in the passenger's checked baggage. It is unloaded and packaged. Locked into a hard-sided case. You will declare this to the airline when you check in at the ticket counter.
TSA does not confiscate or seize firearms. If a passenger carries a firearm on their person or in their carry-on baggage through a security checkpoint, TSO will contact local law enforcement and ask them to safely unload and take possession of the firearm. Depending on local laws, law enforcement may also arrest or extradite passengers. TSA can impose civil penalties of up to nearly $15,000, and for a first-time violation, a passenger who brings a firearm to a security checkpoint will have her TSA PreCheck® status disqualified for five years. A second violation will result in permanent disqualification from the program and additional civil penalties.
Tip 3: Empty your bag, check it before you leave, and remember the 3-1-1 rule. When airline passengers start preparing for their trip with an empty bag, they are less likely to be stopped at security for carrying prohibited items. Before packing your empty bag, check TSA's “What Can I Bring?” A tool to know what is prohibited. If you're going to the beach, you may be wondering how to bring sunscreen. Liquids larger than 3.4 ounces, sunscreen containers, and alcohol must be carried in checked baggage. Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes are allowed in your carry-on bag as long as each item weighs 3.4 ounces or less and is packed in a quart-sized bag. Each passenger is limited to one quart-sized bag containing liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes.
Tip 4: Make sure you have a REAL ID or another acceptable ID. Adult passengers over the age of 18 must present a valid ID at the airport checkpoint to travel. If you plan to fly within the United States using a state-issued ID or driver's license after May 7, 2025, make sure you have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID. please. If you're not sure if you have a REAL ID, contact your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. For questions regarding acceptable IDs, please visit TSA.gov.
Tip 5: TSA PreCheck® members: Make sure your reservation includes a known traveler number (KTN). With approximately 20 million TSA PreCheck members, it is essential that airline reservations include the passenger's correct KTN, full name, and date of birth so that passengers can truly “travel with peace of mind.” If you fly with multiple airlines, you'll need to make sure her KTN is updated on each airline's profile after each trip. TSA PreCheck passengers are low-risk travelers who don't have to remove their shoes, belts, 3-1-1 fluids, food, laptops, and light jackets at TSA checkpoints. TSA's wait time standard for his TSA PreCheck lane is less than 10 minutes for him, and for the standard lane he is less than 30 minutes.
If you are not already enrolled in TSA PreCheck and would like faster passenger checkpoint screening, we recommend enrolling with one of our TSA enrollment providers starting at $77.95 for a 5-year membership. Most new registrants receive their KTN within 3-5 days. Members can renew their membership online up to 6 months before expiration, with additional 5-year terms starting at $68.95. For more information on enrolling or renewing TSA PreCheck, as well as enrollment locations and pricing information for all her TSA PreCheck enrollment providers, please visit TSA PreCheck at https://www.tsa.gov/precheck.
Tip 6: Give yourself plenty of time. Summer travel can be busy, so plan ahead. Allow enough time to park or return your rental car, take a shuttle to the airport if necessary, check in with your airline, drop off your luggage, and prepare for security. Save time by taking items out of your pocket and putting them in your carry-on bag instead of putting them directly into the bin on the conveyor belt.
Tip 7: Respect TSA and other front-line airport and airline employees. Violence and unruly behavior on transport is unacceptable and leads to significant delays at checkpoints for travelers. TSO works with all front-line airport and airline workers, as well as local law enforcement, to ensure travel is safe and secure. Assaulting a TSA officer is a federal crime and is subject to penalties and arrest.
Tip 8: Contact TSA for questions, compliments, complaints, and assistance. To contact TSA, text TSA directly to 275-872 (“AskTSA”) on your mobile device, X on social media or @AskTSA on Facebook Messenger. The automated virtual assistant is available 24/7 for frequently asked questions, and the AskTSA staff is available from 8am to 6pm Eastern Time 365 days a year for more complex questions. Travelers can also contact the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673. Automated service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Passengers who need additional assistance through security can request a TSA Passenger Support Specialist (PSS). PSS are her TSOs with specialized training, including how to effectively assist and communicate with people who have disabilities, medical conditions, or require additional testing support. Individuals must contact the TSA Cares Passenger Support Line at (855) 787-2227 to request passenger assistance at least 72 hours in advance. Live Assistance for both TCC Care and TSA Care is available from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on weekends and holidays.
TSA urges all passengers to remain vigilant. If you see something. Say something®. If you're traveling abroad this summer, check out U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Know Before You Go page to learn about the documents you'll need. For those traveling with kids this summer, TSA offers kids videos for kids preparing for their next trip.
For more information on changes to air travel, please see the Department for Transport's recent announcement.
Photo via Pixabay
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