HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport will soon be welcoming a new TSA initiative that is aiming to change how families move through airport security.
The “Families on the Fly” campaign was announced Friday, July 18, by the United States Department of Homeland Security. It brings dedicated screening lanes to select airports for families with children.
Rochelle Ashe, a Hawaiʻi resident who recently traveled with her young daughter, said the program could make a big difference.
“It would just be nice for us to all go through at the same time,” Ashe said. “Usually it’s me or Eugene pairing off with who’s going to take [our daughter] through the other version of, like, security.”
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“DHS and TSA are committed to making the airport security experience as smooth and stress-free as possible for traveling families,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl. “The Families on the Fly campaign, being rolled out at select airports, aims to mitigate the unique challenges families face when traveling and minimize stress while maintaining the highest level of security.”
Streamlining the process for families
The Department of Homeland Security’s “Families on the Fly” said the benefits for families include:
- Dedicated family lanes at select airports nationwide.
- Discounted TSA PreCheck® fees for families coming soon.
- Dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes for service members and their families.
The DHS campaign includes dedicated family lanes and plans for discounted TSA PreCheck® fees. It also extends existing PreCheck benefits to military families.
The first airports to feature the new lanes are Orlando International (MCO) and Charlotte-Douglas International (CLT). Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu is one of the next airports slated to join the program.
Ashe said even small upgrades to the screening process could make a major difference.
“When traveling with children, you have to worry about packing car seats, strollers, diaper bags, in addition to our luggage,” Ashe said. “I can’t imagine that the people behind me were too happy with me having to put all this through security.”
Relief for families, benefits for solo travelers
Ashe also pointed out how separating family travelers from others could help reduce wait times for everyone.
“The people who don’t have families, maybe they’re traveling by themselves, it’ll be easier for them to get through their line,” she said.
Her sister, who has a three-month-old, a two-year-old and a four-year-old, recently traveled with her family. “That is quite a daunting task,” Ashe said. “Getting them through with the strollers and all the paraphernalia that comes with having children under five.”
While Ashe said she wants to see how efficient the new system is, she also noted that TSA PreCheck is worth the fee, especially since they will be offering discounts for families.
“The Families on the Fly campaign, being rolled out at select airports, aims to mitigate the unique challenges families face when traveling and minimize stress while maintaining the highest level of security,” added Stahl.
Ashe hopes the new lanes bring real change but is watching closely. “I would like to see how the family line works just, like, on its own,” she said. “And then a PreCheck would enhance that.”