By the end of the year, Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport will be one of 100 in the United States where travelers can walk through security checkpoints wearing their shoes and belts, the Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday.
Mitchell is benefiting from an expansion of the TSA's expedited screening program, PreCheck, which already exists in 40 airports including Chicago O'Hare International Airport and is coming to 60 more, affecting millions of passengers in 42 states.
A luxury in a post-9-11 era, PreCheck allows travelers with clearance to use security lanes that allow them to keep their shoes, belts and light jackets on. They can leave their laptops and bags containing liquids and gels in their carry-on bags.
The agency also is increasing the number of PreCheck lanes at airports that already have the program, the TSA said.
Along with Mitchell, Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Midway International Airport in Chicago and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are getting on board the program.
"As TSA continues to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to transportation security, we are looking for more opportunities to provide the most effective security in the most efficient way possible," TSA Administrator John S. Pistole said in a release.
To be eligible for PreCheck, travelers have to be American citizens in frequent flier programs with certain airlines that then invite them to apply for approval. Participating airlines are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.
JetBlue and Southwest aren't yet offering PreCheck but are making arrangements to join.
Americans who are members of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler program and Canadians who belong to CBP's NEXUS program also are eligible.
Barcodes on boarding passes when scanned will show whether a passenger is preapproved.
The TSA will launch an online application program that takes fingerprints later this year to enroll more U.S. citizens, according to Reuters. The cost is $85 for five years, and PreCheck can be revoked or suspended if passengers commit crimes or have security problems.
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