Travel Made Easier: TSA Rolls Out Family-Friendly Initiatives
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is ushering in a new era of traveler convenience, particularly for families, with its innovative “Families on the Fly” campaign. This initiative, designed to streamline the airport security process, comes on the heels of another significant change: the agency has ditched its long-standing shoe removal policy for most travelers.
A Smoother Journey for All Ages
Recognizing the unique challenges of traveling with children, the “Families on the Fly” program offers several key benefits:
- Dedicated “Family Lanes”: At select airports, families will now find special security lanes designed to provide a more relaxed and efficient screening experience. These lanes are intended to offer more space and time for families to navigate the security process with strollers, bags, and young children, reducing stress and wait times.
- TSA PreCheck Discounts: To make expedited screening more accessible, the program includes a $15 discount on TSA PreCheck enrollment fees for families. This lowers the per-person cost to $85, making the benefits of keeping shoes on, leaving laptops in bags, and moving through security more quickly, more affordable.
- Dedicated TSA PreCheck Lanes for Service Members: Honoring those who serve, the initiative also includes dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes for military personnel and their families, ensuring a smoother journey for them. Military personnel and civilian Department of Defense (DOD) staff are eligible for free TSA PreCheck by using their DOD ID number as their Known Traveler Number. Children 12 and under can accompany an enrolled parent in TSA PreCheck lanes, and minors aged 13-17 can do so if on the same reservation.
The “Families on the Fly” campaign has begun its rollout at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT). The Department of Homeland Security has indicated plans to expand the program to additional airports in the coming months.
Current airports slated to include the “Families on the Fly” program are:
- John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA)
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
- Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Jacksonville International (JAX)
- Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Further expansions are expected to include major hubs like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and Denver International Airport (DEN) by early 2026.
Less than two weeks before the “Families on the Fly” announcement, the TSA confirmed a significant shift in its policy: most travelers can now keep their shoes on when going through airport security checkpoints. This change, which takes effect immediately at many U.S. airports, marks the end of a nearly two-decade-long requirement implemented after the “shoe bomber” incident in 2001.
This policy update is a direct result of advancements in security technology and a layered approach to threat detection, which the TSA states now allow for efficient screening without the need for shoe removal. While this change aims to reduce wait times and improve the overall passenger experience, other standard security measures remain in place. Travelers will still need to remove belts and jewelry, take liquids or electronics from their bags, and empty their pockets before going through screening machines.
These new initiatives reflect the TSA’s ongoing commitment to balancing robust security with enhanced hospitality, making the airport experience more streamlined and less stressful for all travelers.
