(This story was updated and corrected to say the new TSA program has begun. Airport officials initially provided incorrect information.)
If you’re flying out of JAX with the whole family, there’s great news: new, relaxed TSA security measures are making airport travel a little smoother.
Jacksonville International Airport is now part of the nationwide new “Families on the Fly” campaign — alongside fellow Florida hubs like Orlando and Tampa — designed to ease the stress of security lines for parents and kids alike, so you can focus more on the trip and less on the checkpoint.
Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, announced the TSA’s campaign to help families get through the boarding process more smoothly.
“DHS and TSA are committed to making the airport security experience as smooth and stress-free as possible for traveling families,” said Adam Stahl, a TSA administrator, in a recently released statement. “The Families on the Fly campaign, being rolled out at select airports, aims to mitigate the unique challenges families face when traveling and minimize stress while maintaining the highest level of security.”
The program is similar to the “Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease” campaign the TSA launched July 2 to expedite military travelers at airports near larger military installations.
The moves come as Noem is trimming back other security restraints. On July 9, Noem announced that most passengers would no longer have to remove their shoes at TSA checkpoints. Days later, she hinted at changing the mandated 3.4 ounces of liquid or less currently allowed through airport security.
What is the TSA’s Families on the Fly campaign? What are the perks?
According to the TSA release, “Families on the Fly” benefits for families include:
When does the ‘Families on the Fly’ Campaign start at Jacksonville Airport?
Based on confirmation from TSA media relations spokesperson Daniel D. Velez, the campaign is currently running at the Jacksonville Airport and has been in operation since July 17.
Additionally, the release mentioned that TSA plans to roll the campaign out to its 435 airports across the U.S.
What other airports will be part of the ‘Families on the Fly’ campaign launched by TSA?
Current participating airports include Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Charlotte-Douglas International (CLT) in North Carolina. Additional planned expansions will be coming to John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA) and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.”
What is the TSA’s ‘Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease’ campaign for military members?
The “Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease” campaign helps military members at select airports near larger military installations by offering dedicated screening lanes or front-of-line privileges, designed to minimize wait times and improve convenience for service members.
Other military TSA assistance includes:
You can get more information at tsa.gov/military
Wait, we don’t have to take our shoes off at the airport?
For most people, no. Some travelers may still be asked to remove their shoes if they receive additional screening.
“We’ve gone back and looked at our security processes, looked at the efficacy of everything we do,” Noem said. She said that the shoe removal policy was no longer an especially effective tool for screening passengers and the agency was confident in its more advanced screening technology.
Shoe-removing became a TSA policy in 2006 after a passenger attempted to conceal a bomb in his shoe in December 2001.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Traveling with kids? TSA is making flying out of Jacksonville Airport easier
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea and C. A. Bridges, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
