TSA head applauds expedited airport screening

The head of the Transportation Security Administration wants you to know it's a "new day at TSA," the oft-maligned government agency in charge of airport security.

Close to half of U.S. air passengers now undergo expedited screening known as TSA PreCheck, which permits travelers to leave on their shoes and belt, and keep their laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags. For a fee, of course.

TSA Administrator John Pistole says these numbers indicate how his agency is moving from a "one-size-fits-all" approach to security to one that is "risk-based and intelligence-driven." Those who pay $85 and undergo a background check can qualify for the PreCheck service, which weeds out low-risk passengers from general security lines.

Long checkpoint lines at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's Lindbergh Terminal 1 last spring prompted fervent complaints among winter-worn travelers, who were advised to arrive at the airport 2½ hours ahead of domestic departures.

Now, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) says security line waits take only about 20 minutes or less, and arriving two hours before one's flight will do just fine.

Pistole visited the Twin Cities on Thursday to meet with business and community leaders, as well as TSA employees — part of a Midwestern tour to determine what the agency is doing well and what can be improved.

"We are the federal agency that engages more U.S. citizens every day than any other agency," said Pistole. Nationwide, about 1.8 million people pass through security checkpoints daily, close to 2 million in the summertime.

TSA PreCheck is the answer, Pistole says, although he cautions some shoes will still need to be removed. The PreCheck program, which costs travelers $85 for a five-year period, is not a revenue generator for the $7 billion agency. Rather, the fees pay for an outside firm, Massachusetts-based MorphoTrust USA, to process the applications. To date, about 17,000 people have enrolled at TSA PreCheck centers in the Twin Cities.

A recent survey by the U.S. Travel Association indicated that airline delays and cancellations are the biggest concerns among travelers — not long checkpoint lines. "We actually see security screening improving," said Erik Hansen, the group's senior director of domestic policy.

In that vein, there have been several changes at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport in the past 18 months, said Patrick Hogan, MAC spokesman. TSA is trying to better staff checkpoints at peak times, a second checkpoint has been added in Terminal 2, and there are plans to expand Checkpoint 7 in Terminal 1 (near international arrivals) later this year, he said.

The MAC is considering consolidating screening operations in the Terminal 1 ticketing lobby into two giant checkpoints, but no decision has been made yet. The idea is to expand areas where travelers retrieve their belts, shoes, laptops and carry-on bags — activity that often causes lines to back up, Hogan said.

Pistole applauds efforts to reduce checkpoint lines. Beyond the aggravation they cause, they "could be a potential target for someone to get in line with explosives. Unfortunately, that's the way bad guys think," he said.

As the situation in the Middle East becomes more tenuous with the growth of the terror group ISIL, Pistole said, "We have to make sure our folks remain vigilant and we don't get complacent."

As a result, TSA has increased security measures at a number of airports in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for flights bound for the United States.

It also has ramped up its use of body scanners in airports and initiated special checkpoints for airline pilots and flight attendants — again, another way to facilitate the security process.

Recently, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said TSA could do a better job of screening potentially high-risk travelers who may be on various watch lists (including the No Fly List).

Pistole said the TSA will likely deploy new technology to suss out false passports and drivers' licenses next year.