TSA expands security checkpoint lanes for some passengers
'They'll be expanded areas that will give them the benefit of recognizing that they have children with them, and will help make sure that we have the ability to take care of them and their families as they go through this expedited process with their kiddos,' Noem said at a press conference in Nashville.
The 'Families on the Fly' program will also provide parents with a $15 discount on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck enrollment, Noem said.
A pilot program is currently underway in Orlando. Noem said she chose the site because of its proximity to Disney World.
On Thursday, Noem also celebrated the Honor Lane opening, a measure adopted by 11 airports to create a special TSA security lane allotted for military members and their families as 'tokens of gratitude.'
Servicemembers are also provided additional benefits under Noem's 'Serve With Honor, Travel With Ease' initiative.
TSA will also begin offering Gold Star families, a term for those who have lost an immediate family member in the service, cost-free access to the TSA PreCheck program.
The spouses of servicemembers are also eligible for a $25 discount on their application, according to CNN.
The security changes come days after Noem said travelers would be allowed to keep on their shoes when undergoing screening at the airport.
In recent days, Noem also signaled she may soon alter liquid weight restrictions for passengers on planes.
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The Hill
10 hours ago
- The Hill
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A compact eight-compartment pill organizer so you'll have space for all the stuff you take from all the delicious food that sometimes makes you feel bad on your travels. A portable door lock to attach to any regular old door for your hotel, vacation rental, room in a guest house, or, well, just any door. It's super easy to install and won't damage the door. It'll be a comfort for solo travelers, especially. A SPF 50 Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar for a K-beauty sun fix you can safely throw in your bag and then reapply on the go. It has a slightly curved bar for easier application (like in the GIF!) and matte effect, and won't leave a white cast in its wake. And if you're sold on a solid SPF, this Neutrogena SPF 50 sunscreen really sticks to your skin on your tropical (or just plain sweaty) vacation. Oh, and because it's a solid, it's carry-on friendly! (I love to keep this in my purse all the time.) A refillable sunscreen sponge applicator with a rollerball inside that'll make reapplication SO much easier. Even for your family members who always complain later after they avoided reapplication OR "reapplied" but somehow still have an extremely sunburnt stomach. Gentle 2-in-1 travel flossing toothbrushes can fold up to half their size (every inch in your luggage counts!) and really get in there to give your mouth a super-clean feeling. Like, just-back-from-the-dentist cleaning. I always pack these for trips and their tiny flossing bristles make my travel nighttime routine a lot easier and more efficient. A travel brush with a hidden compartment that'll be great for hair elastics, fashion tape, local currency, and all kinds of other little things that don't quite have a place to go in your personal item. ALSO have you tried to use a mini brush to brush your hair? I've broken, like, three of them with my mane. This is also a normal-size brush. A flat RFID-blocking fanny pack will work underneath your clothes or as just a regular waist bag. So it's a little go with the flow — within reason. A set of three Cadence containers that are magnetized and'll stick together in your toiletries bag AND on your metal cruise ship bathroom walls. They're super sturdy, leak-proof, and even work great for a few days' worth of vitamins or holding small jewelry. They've quickly become one of my packing go-tos. A reusable sand eraser to easily dust off all that stuff stuck to you when you're finally being dragged away from the beach to get ready for your dinner reservation. Now you won't have to worry about making your hotel room feel like a sandbox. Some anti-pickpocketing clips can easily attach two zippers and make it extra difficult to quickly zip open your bag. Plus, a Baggallini anti-theft travel day backpack that'll make it harder for anyone who gets some (illegal) ideas while you're marveling at [insert picturesque view]. A TSA-friendly toiletries set you can easily fill, clean, and then refill with your go-to regular products. And the bag is sturdy as HECK. Or if you're not in need of containers, a clear TSA-approved toiletry bag to Lego-fit all your liquid and spreadable bbs in there with ease. A set of towel clips you'll be grateful you packed once the wind kicks up as you're 20 feet away tossing a football with your pals. (And you can use it to hang up your wet swimsuit after.) A *foldable* wide-brim hat for helping you keep the sun off of your face, make your outfits look even cuter, and easily fit in your carry-on without crushing it. A fanny pack with a ton of storage room inside that has a long enough strap to wear crossbody *or* comfortably fit over outerwear so you can use your arms to help you balance while teetering toward a glacier. If you plan on wearing it across your chest, attach your waist buckles together with a zip-tie to prevent it from getting unclipped from your back. A portable crib canopy will create a sleep pod for your little one. And it even has pouches for a monitor and fan! Sleeping in unfamiliar places is tough enough for adults. Let's make it easier on the kids too — which in turn will also make the adults happier. A set of DEET-free handy mosquito-repelling bracelets in case the thought of putting something else on your skin besides SPF (like smelly bug repellent) sounds like a total nightmare. A stick of Gold Bond Friction Defense can stop chafing caused by sweat before it even starts. It's sooo good and better than any other competitor in the thigh-saving category. Toss this in your bag and apply before you go on that long, lovely beach stroll. Collapsible travel hangers will help you better organize all your beautiful ensembles *and* have a legit place to hang up any clothes you launder while you're on your luxurious two-week vacation. A portable blackout curtain to suction onto where your staying's window to give you some deep DEEP darkness you need for sleeping. A 4-in-1 travel adapter that'll work for a wide range of countries because you shouldn't have to google which adapters you need before every international trip. There are better things to do, like talking yourself into packing that one dress you've only worn once but MIGHT wear on this vacation. A weighted sleep mask can help block out the reading light and/or sunlight from your neighbor's open airplane window shade while you catch up on some of that sleep you sacrificed to get the early flight. Oh, and it's weighted! A mini lightweight flat iron to help you get your signature smooth locks, or at least tidy up your blowout you're really banking on lasting for a few days. A set of sunscreen reminder stickers that'll pair well with your body sunscreen so there's someone besides you and your pal who're wading in the waves to remind you that, uh, yes, you do need to reapply! Oh and they last for 12 hours. Once a sticker turns colors, it's time to reapply. Lanolips SPF 30 lip balm can give you a nice, light, pineapple-y treat so you don't end up with fried lips. Your lips needs sunscreen too! But with this, it doesn't taste like you're wearing sunscreen. A rechargeable handheld fan for hot times spent outside central AC — it might just make you think about all those times you said "I wish I had a fan." Well now you will. Just be prepared to buy one for each person on your trip. A pair of retro-style oval sunglasses your nemesis might mistake for the $400+ Miu Miu ones in your IG stories, which is fine. Let 'em think that and put that extra cash toward whatever else you want. A sweat-friendly, wide-brim ponytail cap to help get your hair up and off your neck while also giving you some serious face shade. And unlike other ponytail caps where you have to pull your ponytail through an opening, this one has a snag-free closure that's thick hair–friendly.
