Navigating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security lines at the airport can be challenging for families and others waiting in line. Parents with young children typically face more difficulties than regular travelers. They might require extra time to collapse strollers, manage energetic toddlers, or wait for additional checks on bottles and baby food.
In response to the needs of families, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the Families on the Fly initiative on July 18, which will offer special lanes for families at certain airports. The initiative aims to “address the specific challenges families encounter while traveling and reduce stress without compromising security,” stated Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl in apress release announcing the program.
Although it’s thrilling, this concept is not original. Across the globe, numerous airports already offer special screening lanes for families, such as Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, Istanbul Airport (IST), and Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha. Here’s what to anticipate as the DHS implements the Families on the Fly initiative in the United States.
Where can families access specialized screening lanes?
The TSA mentioned that the launch of the Families on the Fly initiative will begin at Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) in North Carolina. At a press event, Noem noted that the Department of Homeland Security selected these airports because they are commonly used by families with young children.
In the upcoming stage of the initiative, families will have access to specialized screening lanes at John Wayne Airport (SNA) located in Orange County, California, and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) situated in Honolulu, Hawai’i. In the future, the Department of Homeland Security intends to expand the program to Charleston International Airport (CHS) in South Carolina, Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) in Florida, Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD), Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico, and Tampa International Airport (TPA) in Florida. Additional airports could join based on the program’s effectiveness.
The current timeline for expanding the Families on the Fly program is still uncertain. “It’s a step-by-step implementation approach, which is expected given the complexities of overhauling security checkpoints,” saysPaul Stewart, a specialist in relocation who assists families with travel logistics, and the owner of the international luggage shipping company My Baggage USA.
What is the reason for this change at this time?
As per Stewart, travelers have grown more annoyed over time when navigating airport security lines. “Travel volumes post-pandemic have skyrocketed, and airports have been having difficulty managing extended wait times and operational delays,” he mentions. The Families on the Fly initiative “seems to be a reaction” to the growing frustration among families and other passengers who desire a faster and less stressful security process, he shares with MathHotels.com.
Stewart states that it is logical for the DHS to concentrate on families in order to make TSA security lanes operate more efficiently. While it’s not their responsibility, families often cause delays at security as parents manage their children, bags, and the extra items that young travelers require. Special screening lanes designated for families could reduce this congestion and enable all passengers to pass through security faster.
Stewart states that the DHS probably decided to launch the program during the busy summer travel period to achieve the greatest effect. Summer is when family travel reaches its peak because children are off school, and he notes that delays caused by families going through security could be at their highest during this time.
Furthermore, the DHS has recently introduced additional modifications to airport security protocols, includingremoving the necessity for travelers to take off their shoes, explains Katy Nastro, a travel expert affiliated with the flight-monitoring subscription service Going. She thinks specialized security lanes are part of a broader initiative by the DHS to enact changes that have been in development for years but have only now been tested and completed.
The TSA has not yet provided specific data, but according to Jesse Neugarten, founder and CEO of, similar initiatives in other countries have led to a 10 to 15 percent decrease in security line wait times during busy periods.Dollar Flight Cluband a father who often travels with his kids. Neugarten has utilized specialized family security lanes in Australia and New Zealand. “We were able to bypass long lines and move through without the typical stress of managing bags and strollers while trying to keep the children calm. It made the whole day more relaxed and the trip more pleasant. It’s a minor adjustment that makes a significant difference when traveling with a family,” he says. Neugarten is excited about the prospect of using dedicated family security lanes in the United States.
Are specialized family security lanes a beneficial concept?
Implementing specialized TSA lanes for screening might simplify the security process for all travelers. “From an operational standpoint, this could be a beneficial approach if executed properly. The family lanes would help reduce stress for parents who would no longer feel rushed or evaluated while handling their children through security,” Stewart explains.
Additionally, specialized family lanes might also benefit travelers without children. Nobody wants to be delayed behind a family that causes the entire security line to slow down. “For the general traveling public, it should theoretically speed up regular lanes by removing the natural bottlenecks that families typically cause,” Stewart said to MathHotels.com.
Many families could benefit from a specialized family security lane that helps ease some of the pressure. “I’ve seen how challenging airport security can be for parents. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to fold a stroller while holding up a long line, managing restless children, and competing for carry-on space,” Stewart says. Special family lanes “take away that social pressure, allowing families to move at their own pace,” he explains. “If these lanes are properly staffed and clearly marked, they’ll be a huge relief for traveling families,” he adds.
Nevertheless, specialized family lanes could also lead to increased complexity. The effectiveness of the Families on the Fly initiative will largely depend on the TSA having enough resources to manage the program, as stated by Stewart. “If airports fail to properly staff these dedicated lanes or leave them empty during low-traffic family travel times, they could end up being more confusing than helpful,” he explains. If these lanes are available inconsistently, families may feel more anxious trying to figure out where to go. Alternatively, if the lanes are not adequately staffed to handle the additional demands from families, the security lines for families could become even more congested.
If that occurs, families might opt against using special lanes. Some parents could decide they don’t want to be delayed by other families who slow down the security process, which can make traveling more challenging. This was my experience when I flew out of New Delhi, India, with my children in January. My family was directed to a special family screening lane that initially appeared to be shorter. However, because the families ahead of us took a long time to get through security, the overall process ended up taking longer than it would have if we had used the regular screening lanes. In the end, the family-only security lane caused us to move more slowly. Now, if I come across a dedicated family screening lane, I choose not to use it.
“The final test will come in real-world application,” Stewart states. This is particularly relevant during other busy travel periods, like Thanksgiving and the holiday season, according to Nastro. It remains to be seen whether the Families on the Fly initiative will prove effective or lead to additional challenges.
