Airport pre-screening to expand

U.S. officials Wednesday announced the expansion of an airline passenger pre-screening initiative. The announcement by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administration Administrator John S. Pistole said the expansion to additional airports throughout the country follows its success at seven pilot airports. The TSA Pre-check program now is operating with American Airlines at airports in Dallas, Miami, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Los Angeles, and with Delta Air Lines at airports in Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis. US Airways, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines will begin operations in the coming months. U.S. citizens who fly on a participating airline and are interested in participating in the pilot can apply via Global Entry at http://www.globalentry.gov/. If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening following the TSA Pre-check vetting process, the information will be embedded in the bar code of the passenger's boarding pass. Officials said TSA will read the bar code at the security checkpoint and then may refer the passenger to a TSA Pre-check lane, where he or she will undergo expedited screening. The expedited pre-screening could include no longer removing the following items: shoes; bag from carry-on; laptop from bag; light outerwear/jacket and belt.