The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has expanded its of Pre-Check expedited security program to include eligible customers of Southwest Airlines, makes a total of eight domestic airlines that are now part of the program. Other carriers include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.
TSA Pre-Check allows pre-approved airline travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on in select screening lanes. TSA Pre-Check operations are now available at 100 airports nationwide. More than 18 million passengers have experienced the program since it launched in October 2011.
“Working with Southwest Airlines to offer TSA Pre-Check underscores our commitment to increase the number of Americans eligible for expedited screening, while protecting the traveling public,” said TSA Administrator John Pistole. “Expanding TSA Pre-Check to additional carriers and airports gives us the opportunity to provide the most effective security in the most efficient way possible.”
Passengers eligible for TSA Pre-Check include U.S. citizens in frequent-traveler programs — now including Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards — who are invited by participating airlines. In addition, U.S. citizens who are members of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler program and Canadian citizens who are members of CBP’s NEXUS program qualify to participate.
Later this year TSA will launch an application program, allowing more U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to enroll in TSA Pre-Check.
If a Southwest Airlines passenger is eligible for expedited screening, a TSA Pre-Check indicator will be embedded in the barcode of the boarding pass so that when scanned at the checkpoint, the passenger may be referred to a Pre-Check lane. Southwest Airlines will also print a TSA Pre-Check indicator directly on the boarding pass so passengers will know in advance that they have been cleared for expedited screening.
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