TSA PreCheck Pilot Expands to Busiest US Airports

DHS will expand TSA PreCheck (TSA Preê), a passenger pre-screening initiative, to additional airports across the US following its success at seven pilot locations. TSA PreCheck has screened more than 336,000 passengers through PreCheck lanes. The program enhances security by enabling TSA to focus on passengers they know less about while providing expedited screening for travelers who volunteer information about themselves prior to flying.

TSA PreCheck is currently operating with American Airlines at airports in Dallas, Miami, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Los Angeles. It operates with Delta Air Lines in Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis. US Airways, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are all opting in new passengers. They will begin operations later this year.

TSA PreCheck Procedure

If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening following PreCheck vetting, they will embed information in the barcode of the passenger’s boarding pass. TSA will read the barcode at the security checkpoint. They may then refer to the passenger to a PreCheck lane. There, the passenger will undergo expedited screening, which may not include removing the following:

• Shoes.
• 3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on.
• Laptop from bag.
• Light outerwear/jacket.
• Belt.

TSA PreCheck Expansion Locations

As part of the initiative’s expansion, DHS will implement TSA PreCheck at the following airport locations throughout 2012:

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
• Denver International Airport (DEN).
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
• Honolulu International Airport (HNL).
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND).
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
• Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL).
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).
• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
• O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
• Orlando International Airport (MCO).
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).
• Portland International Airport (PDX).
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
• Tampa International Airport (TPA).
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

TSA will expand PreCheck to additional airlines and airports once they are ready. Eligible participants include certain frequent flyers from participating airlines and members of CBP’s Trusted Traveler programs who are US citizens and fly on a participating airline. Individuals interested in participating in the pilot can apply via Global Entry.

TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport. They will guarantee no individual expedited screening. As part of the agency’s risk-based security initiative, TSA is currently testing several other screening initiatives. This includes initiatives designed to provide positive ID verification for airline pilots and the use of expanded behavior detection techniques.

For more information about TSA’s risk-based security initiatives, visit www.tsa.gov.