Tips And Tricks For Air Travel Security

Why do I have to take my shoes off?

A few years ago, we had this person that everyone knows as the Shoe Bomber - Richard Reid. He was flying from Europe to the United States, with an explosive device in his shoe. We know that there are bombs that people can place in their shoes out there. We need to do what we need to do to be able to find them so passengers don't bring them into the security area of the airport and we keep our traveling public safe and secure. That is why you need to take off your shoes at airport security.

What is the "registered traveler" program?

As part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, Congress required the TSA to investigate a registered traveler program to alleviate inconvenience at the airport for frequent travelers. We had a pilot program in five airports and determined that the best way to move forward would be through a public/private partnership between the airports and the contractor. We now have the registered traveler program in a few airports, and the airports own the program. We facilitate it, but they go into a contract with the separate company and implement the registered traveler program. It's basically designed to alleviate any kind of a wait for passengers that pay a fee.

What are the benefits of the registered traveler program?

The benefits differ from airport to airport, really depending on what that airport can provide. If an airport has the room to give its own lane for a registered traveler, then that airport could put its own lane. If another airport can only give you head of the lane privileges, that's what they'll give you. Some airports have considered giving free parking to the passengers who are members of the registered traveler program. So it can be really anything. Our concern, as an agency, is to ensure that the TSA is able to continue to provide a level of security, so every passenger, registered traveler or not, will go through some level of screening at the airport.