The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports the expansion of TSA PreCheck to include eligible customers of Southwest Airlines. The program now includes eight domestic carriers: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.
TSA PreCheck is an expedited screening program that 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 PreCheck operations are available at 100 airports nationwide. More than 18 million passengers have experienced TSA PreCheck since it launched in October 2011.
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“Working with Southwest Airlines to offer TSA PreCheck underscores our commitment to increase the number of Americans eligible for expedited screening, while protecting the traveling public,” said TSA Administrator John S. Pistole. “Expanding TSA PreCheck to additional carriers and airports gives us the opportunity to provide the most effective security in the most efficient way possible.”
Passengers who are eligible for TSA PreCheck include U.S. citizens of frequent traveler programs — including Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards — invited by participating airlines. Additionally, 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 said it will launch an application program, allowing more U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to enroll in TSA PreCheck.
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If a Southwest Airlines passenger is eligible for expedited screening, a TSA PreCheck 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 TSA PreCheck lane. Southwest Airlines will also print a TSA PreCheck indicator directly on the boarding pass so passengers will know in advance that they have been cleared for expedited screening.
TSA said it will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport. No individual will be guaranteed expedited screening.
Visit www.tsa.gov or www.southwest.com/TSAprecheck.