TSA expands security checkpoint lanes for families with children and military members
TSA will add a dedicated family lane at security checkpoints under a program called 'Families on the Fly,' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced at a press conference at Nashville International Airport. The project began with a pilot program in Orlando because of its close proximity to Disney World, she said, and it will be rolled out first in areas where families often travel with children.
'There will 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.
Families will also get a $15 discount if they enroll in TSA's Trusted Traveler program, PreCheck.
The special lane for uniformed military members, called the Honor Lane, is currently available at 11 different airports, and will expand nationwide.
Noem also highlighted initiatives announced earlier this month including providing Gold Star families, the immediate family members of a service member who died while serving in the military during a time of conflict, access to the PreCheck free of charge.
'We want everybody to know that we're extremely grateful for their service to our country and recognize the sacrifice that their families have made,' she said Thursday.
Military spouses will also be offered $25 PreCheck enrollment discounts and mobile units will be sent to military bases to sign people up.
Current members of the military and civilian Defense Department staff already have access to PreCheck benefits by including their DOD ID number as their 'known traveler number' when making a reservation.
The announcements come after Noem announced last week that TSA would no longer require passengers to take off shoes at airport security checkpoints and she hinted on Wednesday that changes in what liquids passengers are able to carry on planes could come next.
'Remember every single thing that happens at a checkpoint today is being evaluated,' Noem said.
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Travel + Leisure
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As a 5-foot Fashion Writer, These Are the 12 Wedding Guest Dresses That Don't Require a Trip to the Tailor
Wedding season is about to be in full swing, and my calendar is packed with summer and fall outdoor soirees, some close to home and of which require traveling. After taking a peek into my closet, I've concluded that I need to add a few new options to my wedding guest dress collection—ideally without breaking the bank. Since I'm 5 feet tall (and on a time crunch), my search is narrowed down to petite-friendly dresses that won't require a trip to the tailor. Luckily, I have a list of reliable spots, such as Amazon, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Banana Republic, that never fail to have stylish petite options. I found wrinkle-resistant midi dresses that won't take up much space in my luggage, along with elegant, cocktail attire maxi dresses. Keep reading for 12 petite-friendly wedding guest dresses I'm eyeing right now, starting at $46. $350 $150 at Banana Republic Banana Republic is one of my go-to spots for petite wedding guest dresses, and this willow green halter neck dress immediately caught my eye. It features flattering corset-style pleats that create a drop waist design to help extend the torso area—AKA the perfect design for petites. One reviewer confirmed this, writing, 'Being a petite woman, it's difficult to find beautiful, long dresses that accentuate and don't swallow my frame,' adding, 'This one does just that and does so effortlessly!" Oh, and it's machine washable! What more could you ask for? Well, maybe the fact that right now it's $200 off, bringing the price tag to $150. In addition to shopping for dresses to attend the actual wedding, I'm also searching for flirty yet modest options to wear to the welcome party. 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Travel + Leisure
an hour ago
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I'm Always Scrolling Amazon—These Are the 51 Best Under-$50 Travel Deals I Found for August, Up to 86% Off
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Think lightweight lounge sets like the airport-ready Anrabess two-piece for just $9 each item or another pick from the same brand, this sleeveless jumpsuit that's marked down 50 percent and is an easy one-and-done outfit. Plus, shop travel-friendly staples like maxi skirts and pull-on pants you'll want to live in from plane to dinner. Prices start at just $7, so you definitely want to take advantage of these deals before they're gone. Anrabess Women's Ribbed Long-sleeve T-shirt, $7 (originally $20) Saodimallsu Women's Oversized Cardigan, $17 (originally $29) Elleven Linen Maxi Skirt, $32 (originally $42) Nenona Women's Two-piece Shorts Set, $34 (originally $48) Anrabess Women's Jumpsuit, $20 (originally $40) Automet Women's Lace Blouse, $8 (originally $20) Anrabess Women's Boxer Shorts, $10 (originally $17) Copyleaf Women's Wide-leg Pants, $15 (originally $25) Anrabess Women's Two-piece Lounge Set, $18 (originally $35) Prettygarden Women's Two-piece Matching Set, $33 (originally $49) Anrabess Women's Maxi Skirt, $20 (originally $37) From sleek kicks like the Project Cloud Women's Sneakers to wear on long sightseeing days with a maxi skirt and T-shirt to packable sandals like the Fitory Women's Slide Sandals to wear with a bathing suit and cover-up for beach escapes, these on-sale shoes strike the sweet spot between comfort and style. 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Grab the Airopr Double Sleeping Bag for half off and roomy enough for two, while the Energizer LED Headlamp for just $9, is great for hikes, power outages, and more. And for sticky summer days on the go, the Gewanolla Portable Waist Fan, now 40 percent off, will be your secret weapon to survive summer heatwaves—all without breaking your travel budget. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
America's Love Affair With Crowded, Crummy Airport Lounges
It was only when my partner and I arrived at Orlando Airport in May that I realized my crucial error: I had forgotten to prebook the one lounge to which I had access. The Club MCO lounge was full, so we joined the queue to enter our names in the much-longer digital queue. After 20 minutes of standing around, we gained entrance to what looked like a breakfast buffet at a budget hotel: beige walls, tired carpets and a small selection of food that looked far less appetizing than the options at Bahama Breeze, the wonderfully tacky, Caribbean-themed restaurant in the terminal. Sipping on a weak gin and tonic, and picking at a sad cup of gummy bears, I had to ask myself: Why exactly was I so desperate to be here? There have never been more airport lounges. Yet there also have never seemed to be more lounges that are not worth the hassle. Many are forlorn. Many others are overcrowded; sometimes the lines for the lounges are the longest in the airport. Yet we all still fight to get in. Many of us will choose to fork over too much in credit card fees or commit to flying on one airline to gain entry to these spaces, because we still believe they offer a taste of luxury amid the stress of travel. In our iPhone age, we have been sold on the idea that travel is no longer just about the act itself, but about being seen to be traveling — and being seen to do so in style. Just don't tell those sitting at Bahama Breeze that they're probably having a better time. A month after my sojourn at Orlando Airport, I would question my lounge loyalty again, this time after receiving an email alerting me that the annual fee for my Chase Sapphire Reserve card — a premium credit card favored by my fellow millennials, which comes with access to lounges around the world — was jumping from $550 to an eye-popping $795. This new fee was accompanied by a confusing raft of other changes designed to justify the bump: a $500 resort credit, $300 to spend at a list of restaurants, membership to Apple Music, etc. But even as I dived into this complicated mental math and debated whether I was ready to leave Spotify, my eye fell to the photo embedded in the email of the new, convolutedly named Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club at the Philadelphia International Airport. Although I had flown through the City of Brotherly Love only once in my lifetime, I still found it alluring. The space resembled a sexy bar in a ritzy hotel lobby, complete with plush furnishings and mood lighting that appeared flattering enough to make even the most weary traveler look like James Bond sipping a martini. While Chase has built a handful of fancy clubs (with plans for more), most of those my card gives me access to are decidedly less glamorous. In some of them, with their cubed cheese and powdered eggs, I've felt less like Bond and more like Melissa McCarthy's frumpy cat lady in the 2015 action comedy 'Spy.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
