Some potential travelers are reluctant to fly even after finding cheap fares, whether in the form of cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages. They may soon overcome their reluctance if they fly from one of the four major U.S. airports that will participate in a new pilot risk based security screening program.
A select group of passengers will find it easier to pass through security checkpoints at these airports so long as they voluntarily provide more personal information to the government.
The PreCheck program is a move away screening all passengers in a similar manner and towards a risk based, intelligence driven model.
The intent of the new program is to learn more about travelers who will voluntarily provide information and then combine that with other layers of security so that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents can then focus more resources on higher risk and unknown passengers.
Passengers who travel regularly through Dallas Fort Worth International, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Miami International airports may be eligible for the PreCheck program. To participate, they will also have to be enrolled in American Airlines or Delta Air Lines frequent flier programs or one of the three government trusted travel programs, including Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI.
Initially the pilot program is estimated by TSA to involve between 5,000 to 8,000 travelers daily. If successful, it is expected to expand.
This new screening system holds great potential to strengthen security while significantly enhancing the travel experience whenever possible for passengers, according to the TSA.
Which security steps program participants might avoid has not been disclosed. TSA notes that random and unpredictable security steps will continue to be used at the four airports testing this new security approach. www.cheapfares.com