New TSA Rule Helps Families Skip Long Lines

Families are getting faster security lanes under new TSA policy

Families are getting faster security lanes under new TSA policy ©Image Credit: Unsplash / Phil Mosley
Families are getting faster security lanes under new TSA policy ©Image Credit: Unsplash / Phil Mosley

Airport security just got a whole lot easier—especially if you’re traveling with kids or serving in uniform.

The TSA’s “Families on the Fly” program, which first launched as a pilot in Orlando, is officially going nationwide. Parents traveling with children will now have access to dedicated security lanes at every U.S. airport, cutting down the long, stressful lines that often plague family travel.

The rollout will prioritize airports with high volumes of family travelers before expanding to every terminal across the country.

At the same time, TSA is extending new benefits to military personnel and veterans. Uniformed service members will now be able to use PreCheck lanes free of charge at any airport, just by entering their Department of Defense ID as their Known Traveler Number when booking flights. They’ll also have access to a special “Honor Lane,” already live at 11 airports and growing.

Gold Star families and certain disabled veterans will also now be eligible for complimentary TSA PreCheck. In addition, military spouses will receive a $25 discount off enrollment, and families traveling together can save $15 on PreCheck membership under the updated policy.

All of this comes as the TSA begins a broader rethink of outdated airport screening practices. Homeland Security has already moved to eliminate the “shoes-off” rule and is now evaluating whether to drop liquid restrictions entirely—a shift that could mark the most significant security change since the early 2000s.

“We’re expanding the experience for travelers who need it most,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. “Families and those who serve shouldn’t have to choose between convenience and security.”

While PreCheck remains $85 for five years for the general public, the growing list of exemptions is making it more accessible than ever, especially for travelers who need it the most.

So if you’re planning a trip with the kids or heading home from duty, it might finally be your turn to skip the worst of airport security and keep your shoes on while you’re at it.

Source: the-sun.com