The summer travel season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, meaning more passengers will be passing through airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced various steps they're taking to prepare for the high volume of passengers.
TSA announced that teenagers aged 13-17 may now accompany TSA PreCheck enrolled parents or guardians through TSA PreCheck screening when traveling on the same reservation and when the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the teen's boarding pass. Children 12 and under may still accompany an enrolled parent or guardian when traveling through the TSA PreCheck lanes anytime without restriction.
To modernize airport checkpoints, enhance security effectiveness and efficiency and improve the passenger experience, TSA is deploying new technology solutions nationwide. Credential authentication technology (CAT) units confirm the authenticity of a passenger's identification credentials, along with their flight details and pre-screening status without a boarding pass. With CAT, passengers only need to provide their acceptable photo identification to the officer. Travelers who do not wish to participate in the facial matching process may opt out in favor of an alternative identity verification process without losing their place in line.
TSA is also deploying computed tomography (CT) units to checkpoints nationwide. CT units give TSA officers the ability to review a 3D image of passengers' bags and reduce the need to physically search the contents of the bag. Passengers screened in security lanes with CT units do not need to remove their 3-1-1 liquids or laptops, but they must place every carry-on item, including bags, into a bin for screening.