HOUSTON – Flying out of Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport will be faster for some passengers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced the start of TSA Pre Check at the airport.
At Bush Intercontinental (IAH), select United Airlines frequent flyers and members of U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs are now eligible to participate, and may receive expedited screening benefits when traveling domestically. Travelers must be flying through terminal C to be eligible.
"I just got through in 30 sections instead of waiting 45 minutes," traveler John Heenay said. "It's a lot easier."
TSA Pre is a passenger prescreening initiative. If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening through the TSA Pre Check prescreening process, information is imbedded in the barcode of the passenger's boarding pass. TSA reads the barcode at the designated checkpoint and the passenger may referred to the TSA Pre Check lane. There, passengers may be allowed to leave on their shoes, keep their laptop in its case or keep their liquid/gels in a carry-on bag.
"The addition of TSA Pre Check at IAH allows our Transportation Security Officers to help move our agency to a more effective, counterterrorism organization," said Ann Testa, Federal Security Director for Houston Intercontinental Airport.
To date, more than 1.8 million passengers have experienced TSA Pre Check. TSA Pre Check is now available in 19 airports for Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways frequent flyers.
Eligible passengers include U.S. citizens flying on participating airlines as well as those who are members of CBP Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI and NEXUS. IAH has a CBP Enrollment Center on site. Individuals interested in applying should visit www.globalentry.gov.
For more information about TSA's risk-based security initiative, visit www.tsa.gov.