TSA Unveils Family-Friendly Travel Line

Enhancing Family Travel Experience with New TSA Initiative

Traveling with young children can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to navigating airport security. However, a new initiative launched by the United States Department of Homeland Security aims to make this process more manageable for families.

On Friday, the department introduced the “Families on the Fly” campaign, which is designed to reduce the stress associated with family travel. One of the key components of this initiative is the creation of a dedicated family lane at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints. This specialized lane is intended to streamline the security screening process and reduce overall wait times for families.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted the importance of this change during a press conference, stating, “There will be expanded areas that will give them the benefit of recognizing that they have children with them and will help make sure that we have the ability to take care of them and their families as they go through this expedited process with their kiddos.”

In addition to the family lane, the campaign also offers a discount for families interested in using TSA PreCheck. The cost for this service will be reduced from $100 per person to $85. Under current regulations, children under 12 are allowed in the TSA PreCheck line if they are traveling with someone who is enrolled in the program. Children aged 13 to 17 must be booked under the same flight registration as their parents or guardians who are enrolled in the program.

The “Families on the Fly” campaign is currently being implemented at several major airports, including Orlando International and Charlotte-Douglas International airports. The initiative is set to expand to additional locations such as John Wayne Orange County Airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Charleston International Airport, Jacksonville International Airport, T.F. Green International Airport in Rhode Island, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico, and Tampa International Airport in the coming months.

This initiative comes shortly after Secretary Noem expressed her intention to review various aspects of TSA operations during a conference hosted by The Hill. She mentioned the possibility of changes to the rules regarding the amount of liquids travelers can carry in their carry-on baggage.

“I’m questioning everything TSA does,” Noem stated. “We have put in place in TSA a multilayered screening process that allows us to change some of how we do security and screening so it's still as safe.”

While she did not provide specific details about potential changes, the current TSA guidelines allow travelers to carry liquids in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item in their carry-on bag. These containers must be placed in a one-quart resealable plastic bag. Larger containers must be placed in checked baggage, although there are exceptions for medications and baby formula.

The introduction of these new initiatives reflects a growing emphasis on improving the travel experience for families while maintaining high standards of security. As these changes continue to roll out across various airports, travelers can look forward to a more streamlined and family-friendly security process.