The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is taking a big step toward speeding up wait times for airport travelers.
The agency, along with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), plan to start testing a prototype self-service screening system in mid-March at the Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport.
Before using the new technology, travelers will be shown a video with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the screening "at their own pace," TSA said.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
"Once passengers have completed the required screening process and are cleared for travel, automated exit doors open so travelers can gather their belongings and head to their flights," TSA said. There will be minimal assistance from Transportation Security Officers but they will be available for assistance as needed, the agency added.
TSA said the self-service technology, originally tested in a laboratory setting at a TSA systems integration facility, will be "just as rigorous" as the current passenger-screening process using its PreCheck lanes.
But, there's a catch.
According to the TSA, the prototype testing will only be available to TSA PreCheck users.
PreCheck is aimed at expediting the check-in process by making risk assessments about travelers prior to their arrival at an airport checkpoint. It offers travelers shorter wait times for a fee and has emerged as a popular method of moving people through airports faster.
It's not clear whether the new screening technology will eventually expand to travelers who are not enrolled in TSA PreCheck.
The TSA did not immediately respond to Kiplinger's request for comment.
New technology for a new time
The new technology may come as good news to air travelers, especially as prices for domestic travel continue to fall and more people are flying both regularly and during holiday vacations. In the December 2023 holiday season, 7.5 million air travelers flew during the period between Christmas and New Year's.
At the same time, the airline industry faces some challenges and suffered a major blow on January 5 when a a plug door on a Boeing plane detached during an Alaska Airlines flight.
According to a recent Associated Press (AP) report, U.S. adults may have some doubts about aircraft maintenance after that incident, but they think air travel is safe in general. The report, based on a poll of 1,152 adults by the AP and the nonprofit NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, was conducted after the Boeing incident.
"The public has misgivings about airplane maintenance and structural faults, but they are more confident in pilots and air traffic controllers," according to the report.
As for the TSA's self-service technology, the agency said it will review the results of the Las Vegas airport and consider applying parts of the prototype at other airport security checkpoints.
“The number of airline passengers continues to increase year-over-year, creating a need for innovative screening solutions that enhance transportation security and make traveling more efficient,” said Dimitri Kusnezov, the DHS under secretary for S&T. “At S&T, we are pushing the envelope with new technologies and concepts toward designing the airport of the future. Self-paced screening is one step toward building that future.”
The self-service screening system is a result of S&T's Screening at Speed Program, which works on next generation technology systems. To learn more about this research, visit the organization's website.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Stock Market Today: Dow Logs Longest Losing Streak Since AprilThe November Producer Price Index showed that inflation remains a tough beast to tame.
-
Why Uber Stock Is Volatile After GM's Cruise AnnouncementUber stock is swinging this week following news that General Motors is restructuring its Cruise unit. Here's what you need to know.
-
I Won’t Be Handing Out Gift Cards This Christmas. Here’s WhyGift cards are usually considered a safe bet at Christmas, but in these strained times, how can you be sure your gift won't go to waste?
-
Quicken Launches New Tool to Protect Your Financial Documents: Is it Worth It?If you're looking for a secure place to store your financial documents, Quicken's LifeHub offers you an easy and affordable way to do so.
-
CPI Report Casts Doubt on Rate Cuts in 2025: What the Experts Are Saying About InflationCPI November Consumer Price Index data sealed the deal for a December rate cut, but the outlook for next year is less certain.
-
Quiz: Test Your Financial LiteracyTry your hand at these three questions designed to gauge your knowledge of the ABCs of personal finance. In a survey, only 43% of Americans answered correctly.
-
How to Get the Maximum Social Security Check in 2025
The maximum Social Security check is $5,108 in 2025, up from $4,873 in 2024. Even if you don't qualify for the maximum monthly benefit, you can still increase your payments.
-
The Best Ways to Use Your Year-End Bonus (and the Worst)'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' shouldn't be anyone's go-to for financial advice, but it does remind us how not to spend a holiday bonus.
-
Never Talk About Money? For Women, That Can Spell DisasterHow can you plan for retirement when your husband holds the purse strings and talking about money is taboo? Help is at hand for this common problem for women.
-
How to Guard Against Identity Theft in 2025Scammers are getting better at impersonating legitimate businesses.
