TSA considers letting passengers who can prove they are “pretty good” at going through airport security skip screening entirely
WASHINGTON, DC — The Transportation Security Administration is considering an unorthodox new policy in an attempt to speed up airport security lines. The approach allows TSA agents to allow passengers who can demonstrate they are “pretty good” at going through security to skip the whole process altogether.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesperson Jennifer Block spoke to reporters at a press conference earlier this week after the policy was announced by the agency’s administrator.
“With the sudden uptick of post-pandemic revenge travel our airports are more clogged than ever. We simply can’t keep up and passenger frustration is mounting,” Block shared. “Bottom line, we had to try something new.”
The new policy is relatively straightforward. Passengers who can demonstrate to TSA Agents that they know how to get through the airport security lines efficiently will be entered into a program the agency is calling “TSA You’re Good.”
Agents will be trained to visually identify potential candidates for the program by profiling passengers in the line. Some of the visual criteria include:
- People wearing business suits
- People who look mildly irritated at the passenger in front of them in the line
- Folks using TravelPro luggage
- Anyone with an “elite” frequent flyer/rewards luggage tag
- Folks still wearing Bluetooth earpieces for their conference calls
- Anyone still using a Blackberry (special consideration will be given to these folks — they won’t even have to demonstrate their skills)T
Folks who meet the visual criteria will be pulled aside by agents and asked to demonstrate their prowess at getting through the line through a series of drills. While the drills are still be worked through, they currently are slated to involve some combination of the following (along with proving their members of the TSA PreCheck program):
- Timed measurement of how long it takes passengers to put their bag on the conveyor belt
- Verification that the passenger can continue to keep their phone unlocked right before approaching an agent for ID
- A trick question to see if they remove their suit jacket when asked by an agent
- Provide 6 recent company expense reports (or receipts from the last 2 trips that are currently unfiled expense reports)
- Proof they own a set of Bose Noise Canceling Headphones
The exact timing of the TSA You’re Good program was not revealed, but the agency hopes to roll the program out before the summer travel rush. They are currently trialing it at the busy Orlando Airport.
