The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has largely
phased out “managed inclusion,” which placed nonenrolled travelers into
PreCheck lanes, and now is focused on significantly raising membership levels in
the PreCheck program.
This week, TSA confirmed it no longer uses “behavior
detection officers” and hand swabbing to detect explosives, both quick
screening methods that allowed the TSA to move nonenrolled travelers to
PreCheck lanes. The practice had come under scrutiny earlier this year after a
Department of Homeland Security Inspector General’s report showed that a former
domestic terrorism organization member made it through a PreCheck lane, where security
screening is looser.
Business travelers enrolled in PreCheck also criticized the
service, as travelers not familiar with PreCheck protocols, such as leaving
shoes on and laptops in bags slowed down the line. TSA additionally has reduced
the number of nonenrolled travelers whose elite membership in frequent-flyer
programs got them approved for the PreCheck lane.
While the TSA will continue to use dogs to screen certain
travelers into PreCheck lanes, “overall, the agency is now moving toward
offering TSA PreCheck expedited screening only to trusted and pre-vetted
travelers enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program,” according to a TSA statement
provided to BTN.
At the same time, TSA aims to boost PreCheck enrollment to
more than 25 million travelers from the just over 1 million enrolled now. The
TSA will open more application centers and work with private-sector marketing
to increase awareness of the program. It also is exploring ways to keep PreCheck
wait times reasonable, including adding staff where necessary.