Express screening

The Transportation Security Administration is expanding a prescreening program that will allow select passengers to move through airport security without the inconveniences most travelers face.

The pre-check program allows frequent fliers with some airlines and participants in one of three trusted traveler programs to submit personal data to be screened for security by the TSA prior to traveling. The program has been tested in the past year at seven airports and will be expanded to 28 more by the end of the year. TSA will also add US Airways, United and Alaska airlines to the list of participants in the frequent-flier eligibility program, which includes American and Delta.

Participants using a dedicated lane at airport security will be given a bar-coded boarding pass to be scanned by TSA officers. Low-risk passengers will be allowed to keep their shoes and jackets on and will not have to open their laptops or remove liquids in bags during screening. No body scanners. No pat-downs.