(Image source: ABC)
BY JING LIU
ANCHOR LAUREN GORES
You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.
If you are a qualified frequent flier, a new program from the Transportation Security Administration may allow you to keep your shoes, belts or jackets on when passing through security check at airports.
“It's called pre-check, Chris. It's not the going to be for everybody. If you have a Delta frequent flier, America frequent flier, or three other government trusted agencies that are going to do a pilot program called pre-check and you can do it in Miami, Detroit, Dallas, and Atlanta. Basically you give the TSA some more of your personal information, then you can get in a shorter and different line.”
The TSA explains its goal with this program -- saying the aim is “effective security.”
"By learning more about travelers through information they voluntarily provide, and combining that information with our other layers of security, we can focus more resources on higher-risk and unknown passengers.”
But does this mean people staying in the usual lines are bigger threats? A TSA official tells the Miami Herald -- not necessarily.
“We just have more information on [the qualified frequent fliers]. The more people we move from the ‘unknown’ category to the ‘known’ category, the better.”
Now the TSA is inviting travelers to join in the pilot program.
But according to Fox News, the involvement in the program won’t guarantee a faster security check process.
“You don't know until you get to the airport. It's embedded in the bar code on your boarding pass. When you turn it in, that's when you find out whether you get to go to the expedited line. The TSA says there are no guarantees even if you're a safe traveler, that you're going to be able to go through this line each and every time. It remains a mystery until you check in at the security gate.”
TSA officials say if successful, they will expand the program across the country and to other airlines.
Transcript by Newsy
