Airport lines checking shoes, belts, laptops, and liquids may be a thing of the past for some travelers passing through Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.
A nearly two-year-old program, TSA Precheck, is coming to the airport this year and offers U.S. citizens in frequent-traveler programs a no-cost option to bypass most security checks.
Also, U.S. citizens who are members of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler program and Canadian citizens who are members of CBP's NEXUS program qualify to participate.
Airport spokesman Shane Carter says it should save those passengers a lot of hassle and time.
“They’re going to be leaving on their shoes, and their jacket, and their belt. They do not have to take their laptop out of its case and their liquids in their carry on bags will stay in their carry on bags. With those passengers that will save quite a bit of time because they’re not having to unload all of their belongings and putting them into bins and so forth,” says Carter.
As for passengers who aren’t members of frequent flyer programs Carter said, “For the other passengers that are not a part of Precheck it will save them time as well, as business travelers will not be in the same line that they’re in. So, both areas should move more efficiently.”
He said those not automatically eligible for the program have the option of an alternative sign-up process but it requires travel to either Washington D.C. or Indianapolis to register and costs nearly $100.
Carter says the program has no set start date but is likely to begin this year.
