TSA may introduce reservations plan for airport security checkpoints

Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley told USA Today that his agency is considering a new procedure for travelers who want to avoid long waits at security checkpoints: advance reservations. Hawley told the newspaper that by creating a separate line for passenger with reservations, the main security lines would move faster. Under the plan being considered by TSA, passenger who wanted to book a specific time for a security check would probably have to arrive 20 to 30 minutes earlier than usual, and would have to pay a fee for the privilege. In exchange, they would pass through the checkpoint relatively quickly compared to unreserved travelers. Hawley said TSA is conducting preliminary talks with private sector firms on the concept, since the reservations function, if it moves ahead, would probably be farmed out to a company that specializes in such things.