The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is the second airport in the state to introduce the Transportation Security Administration Precheck program, and airport officials say traveler use has picked up in the few days since it was introduced.
The TSA Precheck program, which was launched in October 2011, expedites its members through the airport security process by allowing them to leave their shoes, belts and jackets on as well as keep their laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags as they go through screening.
“It’s a little soon to tell if many more people are using it. We already had over 3,000 members from the Baton Rouge area,” says Jim Caldwell, the airport’s air service development and public relations manager. “It’s been well received. The members here had requested it.”
Caldwell says about 10,000 of the program’s members live in Louisiana, and the annual membership fee of $85 is good for use at any airport across the country with TSA Precheck. Members must be permanent U.S. residents or citizens to be admitted, as well as go through both an online and in-person enrollment process at the TSA office at 4035 Bluebonnet Blvd.
“When you get to some of the larger airports, that’s where the benefits really kick in. If the large airport has a 20-minute wait you’re going to save almost that time, but it varies,” Caldwell says. “It’s certainly beneficial in Baton Rouge, but we typically have short lines regardless. The biggest benefit is not having to remove the various items like shoes.”
Caldwell encourages people who travel often to explore enrollment. BTR is one of the largest airports in the Gulf Region, but many airports in the U.S. provide the TSA Precheck now.
According to the TSA, members of the program will receive a “known traveler number” and can use it when they fly on 11 air carriers, including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian AIrlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.
—Deanna Narveson
