New TSA policy supports DoD families

Published Dec. 20, 2005
By 2nd Lt. Jason McKernan
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- New policies established by the Transportation Security Administration now allow deploying servicemembers to spend more time with their families before boarding airline flights.

Under the new TSA guidelines, family members may be given a pass by the airline granting them access beyond the security checkpoint to escort deploying servicemembers to their gate while they await commercial flights.

Family members can also get a pass to greet their deployed servicemembers at the gate when they return home.

The airline the servicemember is flying with issues the passes to family members at the ticket counter. Family members will be required to have photo identification and the pass to get past the TSA security checkpoint.

Relatives must follow the same rules and guidelines as airline passengers to access to the sterile concourse areas of the airport.

“It is important for family members to remember they cannot bring prohibited items into the concourse,” said Deirdre O’Sullivan, a TSA spokesperson. “This includes items such as a Leatherman, pocketknife, scissors and mace. The full list of prohibited items is listed on www.tsa.gov.”

The TSA policy is scheduled to continue indefinitely at the nation’s 450 commercial airports.