WASHINGTON, June 24,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As airline passengers
prepare to take to the skies this Independence Day holiday, the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared for a
sustained period of high passenger volumes. TSA expects to screen
more than 32 million individuals from Thursday, June 27 through Monday, July 8, which is a 5.4% increase over
2023 Independence Day holiday travel volumes. On Sunday, June 23, TSA broke the record for most
people screened on a single day, screening nearly 3 million (2.99
million) individuals. This summer's record-breaking travel volumes
reflect the role TSA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
have in securing the nation's transportation systems, while
ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce, which is
vital to our country's economic well-being.
TSA anticipates the peak travel day will be Friday, June 28, when the agency expects to
screen more than 3 million individuals. TSA is staffed to meet its
wait time standards, which are 10 minutes and under in TSA PreCheck
lanes and 30 minutes and under in standard screening lanes. Seven
of the top 10 busiest travel days ever have occurred over the past
month.
"We expect this summer to be our busiest ever and summer travel
usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday," said TSA
Administrator David Pekoske.
"Compared to last year, we have cut our attrition rates by almost
half and increased our recruiting as a result of the TSA
Compensation Plan that was funded in the budget passed by Congress
and signed into law by President Biden. The traveling public is on
the move, which is a sign of a healthy economy. We are ready, along
with our airline and airport partners, to handle this boost in
passenger volumes."
Airline passengers should be aware that security screening
technologies may vary by airport. Although TSA follows strict
standardized screening protocols, it is important for passengers to
arrive early and listen to the guidance provided by Transportation
Security Officers (TSOs).
Below are some frequently asked questions that provide an
overview of the TSA technologies and procedures individuals may
encounter during screening process.
Do I need to show a boarding pass to the TSA
officer?
All airline passengers must have their acceptable
ID and boarding pass ready at the security checkpoint entrance.
Do I need to take off my shoes?
TSA requires
individuals in standard screening lanes to remove their shoes
during the screening process. However, individuals 12 and under or
75 and older are always permitted to keep their shoes on during the
security screening process.
Passengers with TSA PreCheck may leave their shoes on unless
they alarm during screening. Most airports have dedicated TSA
PreCheck lanes during some peak hours. Some airports have blended
lanes where passengers with TSA PreCheck are screened in standard
lanes, but they will receive a card indicating they have TSA
PreCheck to carry with them during screening, and will be screened
as a TSA PreCheck passenger.
Can family members go through the TSA PreCheck lane with
me?
Teenagers aged 13-17 may accompany TSA PreCheck enrolled
parents or guardians through 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 accompany an
enrolled parent or guardian in the TSA PreCheck lanes without
restriction. This benefit is another reason to join the nearly 20
million people who have enrolled in TSA PreCheck. For customer
flexibility, there are three TSA PreCheck enrollment providers from
which passengers may choose: Telos, CLEAR and IDEMIA. For more
information on any of the enrollment provider options and TSA
PreCheck, visit www.tsa.gov/precheck.
Other advice from TSA
With more than 430 federalized, commercial airports nationwide,
685 security checkpoints and 2,412 security screening lanes, it may
be challenging to know what to expect at any airport. Here are some
additional tips to help ensure an efficient screening
experience:
- Pack smart. Always start packing with a bag that is
empty to ensure there are no prohibited items present during
security screening. Place electronics larger than a cell phone and
travel size liquids at the top of your carry-on so they can be
easily accessible if they must be removed. Remember that all
liquids must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less if they are in your
carry-on bag.
- Arrive at the airport two hours before scheduled boarding
time. Allow ample time to park, navigate to the terminal,
check luggage with the airline if needed and proceed through the
checkpoint. Most flights board 30-45 minutes prior to the scheduled
departure time.
- Review guidelines for traveling with children. Airlines
may request proof of age documentation during check-in for children
12 and under traveling unaccompanied. Proof of age documentation
must also be provided for children two and under planning to sit on
an adult passenger's lap. A birth certificate is an acceptable
proof of age.
- Get assistance prior to traveling. Do you have a
question about an item and whether or not it is allowed through
security screening? Download the MyTSA app and use the "What Can I
Bring?" feature to determine whether an item is allowed or
prohibited in carry-on luggage. You may also snap a picture of an
item and send it to @AskTSA on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook
Messenger for real-time assistance. Passengers may text their
question to TSA by texting "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872). Passengers
who need additional assistance through security screening may
request a TSA Passenger Support Specialist (PSS). A PSS
is a TSO who has received specialized training, including how to
effectively assist and communicate with individuals with
disabilities, medical conditions or those who need additional
screening assistance. Individuals should request passenger
assistance at least 72 hours in advance by contacting our TSA
Cares passenger support line at (855) 787-2227. Live
assistance for both the TCC and TSA Cares is available weekdays,
8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, or weekends and
holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
ET.
- Double-check your luggage tags. Many bags look
alike, so passengers should tag every piece of checked luggage with
their name and address. We also recommended they include additional
addresses inside each bag in the event the outside tag falls off.
When retrieving checked luggage at baggage claim, it is important
that individuals check the tags to ensure they have picked up the
correct bag.
- Do you carry a firearm? Prepare, pack and declare.
Passengers may travel with a firearm, but it must be secured as the
passenger's checked baggage; packed unloaded; locked in a
hard-sided case and declared to the airline when checking in at the
airline ticket counter. Firearms are prohibited at security
checkpoints, in the secure area of an airport and in the passenger
cabin of an aircraft, even if a passenger has a concealed carry
permit or is in a constitutional carry jurisdiction. TSA does not
confiscate or seize firearms. If a passenger brings a firearm to
the security checkpoint on their person or in their carry-on
luggage, the TSO will contact local law enforcement to safely
unload and take possession of the firearm. Law enforcement may also
arrest or cite the passenger, depending on local law. TSA may
impose a civil penalty up to almost $15,000, and for the first offense, passengers
who bring a firearm to a security checkpoint will lose TSA
PreCheck® eligibility for five years. Second violations will result
in permanent disqualification from the program and additional civil
penalties.
- Do you have TSA PreCheck? Make sure your Known
Traveler Number (KTN) is in your airline reservation. TSA PreCheck
passengers do not need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids,
laptops, food items and light jackets at the TSA checkpoint. TSA's
wait time standards for TSA PreCheck lanes are under 10 minutes
whereas as standard lanes are under 30 minutes. If you are not yet
enrolled in TSA PreCheck, you may enroll via one of TSA's
authorized enrollment providers starting as low as $77.95 for a five-year membership. Most new
enrollees receive their KTN within three to five days. Members may
renew membership online up to six months prior to expiration for
another five-year term starting as low as $68.95. Visit TSA PreCheck at
www.tsa.gov/precheck for more information, and to begin your
enrollment.
- Respect frontline aviation workers. Violence and unruly
behavior in airports and onboard aircraft are not acceptable and
will result in significant delays at security checkpoints. TSOs,
along with all frontline airport and airline employees and local
law enforcement, are working together to ensure safe and secure
travel. Assaulting a TSA employee is a federal offense and will
result in penalties and/or arrest.
The Transportation Security Administration was
created to strengthen the security of the nation's transportation
systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce.
TSA uses an intelligence-based approach and works closely with
transportation, law enforcement and intelligence communities to set
the standard for excellence in transportation security. For more
information about TSA, please visit our website at tsa.gov.
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SOURCE Transportation Security Administration