East by Midwest
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Travel Tips
  • Destinations
    • All Destinations
      • AFRICA
      • Egypt
      • South Africa
      • ASIA
      • Southeast Asia
      • AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
      • New Zealand
    • All Destinations
      • EUROPE
      • France
      • Norway
      • NORTH AMERICA
      • United States
        • Disney World
        • Florida
        • Hawaii
        • Iowa
        • Maryland
        • New York
        • North Carolina
        • US National Parks
        • US Road Trips
        • Virginia
        • Washington, DC
        • Wyoming
  • Living

What You Need to Know About New TSA Security Procedures

by East by Midwest May 27, 2020
1.1K
This page contains affiliate links.
Share
Pin
Tweet
Share
Email

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of changes to our world. Some of those changes include new TSA security procedures.

Whether you plan on traveling in the near future or will be waiting until the distant future, everyone should be aware of the new TSA security procedures. No one wants to be surprised at the airport.

This article will walk you through everything you need to know about the new TSA security procedures before you travel.

Related:

  • How to Avoid Getting Sick While Traveling
  • 10 Easy Ways to Stay Healthy on Your Next Flight

Reduce cross-contamination

In general, the new TSA security procedures are designed to reduce touchpoints between TSA personnel and passengers.

Reducing the number of times a TSA agent touches you and your things helps prevent cross-contamination and the spread of disease.

Some of these procedures are designed to reduce the number of times a bag requires inspection. That means fewer times when your bag is pulled from security and examined. Now that’s a silver-lining if there ever was one!

New TSA Security Procedures

Hold on to your boarding pass

One of the first changes you’ll notice at the TSA security checkpoint is related to your boarding pass.

In the past, if you had a paper ticket, you would hand your ticket to the TSA agent to scan the ticket for you. Going forward, you’ll scan the ticket yourself and will then hold up the ticket for the TSA agent to inspect.

If you usually use an electronic ticket, then the process is essentially unchanged from before. As you did in the past, you’ll hold your mobile device to the scanner to scan the ticket yourself.

Put food into plastic bags

If you don’t have TSA Precheck, you’ll be required to place any food items into a plastic bag.

Like with toiletries, the plastic bag with the food must be removed from your carry-on luggage and placed into a bin for security screening.

The reason for this change is that food sometimes triggers an alarm and requires a TSA agent to inspect your bag. If you separate the food from your bag, this reduces the chance that your bag will trigger an alarm that requires further inspection. That’s a win in my book.

This new procedure adds to the list of why TSA Precheck is so valuable. With TSA Precheck, you don’t need to pack your food in a plastic bag and you don’t need to pull it out of your carry-on luggage for security.

New TSA Security Procedures

Prepare for social distancing

No two airports are alike in their security setup. TSA has indicated that these differences will be evident when it comes to social distancing at security checkpoints.

Some airports may have spacers on the floor to encourage social distancing while waiting in line. Some may not. Other airports may create extra space between security lanes. Others may not.

Regardless of these differences, you’ll likely experience some type of social distancing requirement at the airport. When you arrive at the airport, take a moment to look for any markers on the ground or signs that signify social distancing requirements.

Wear a face mask

TSA is encouraging passengers to wear facial protection (such as a mask or a visor) while going through security. Facial protection is currently optional and is not a requirement.

That being said, new procedures often bring confusion and inconsistent enforcement at airports.

In my experience, some things that are officially considered “optional” are sometimes enforced as “required” by TSA agents. And you don’t want to get in a showdown with a TSA agent. Ever.

To avoid potential issues, I strongly recommend that you wear a face mask when going through security. You can even make an interesting fashion statement by wearing one of these fun face masks.

Face Masks - New TSA Security Procedures

Put items in your carry-on before getting to security

There are some people who seemingly carry everything on their person. In the security line, you have to patiently (or impatiently) wait as these individuals take their belt, watch, heavy jewelry, wallet, keys, change, phone, and a partridge in a pear tree and place it in the security bin.

Don’t be that person.

*Before* you get in the security line, put all these items into your carry-on.

When you put things directly into the security bin, you increase the chances of cross-contamination. You also increase your time spent in the security line. Neither of which are great for reducing the spread of disease.

Help everyone out (including yourself) by putting items you can’t wear through the security scanner into your carry-on before you reach the security line.

Be cautious about hand sanitizer

TSA now allows passengers to pack a single container of liquid hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces in their carry-on.

I’m a little hesitant about this one. This feels like another area that won’t be consistently enforced. How will TSA agents know for sure it’s hand sanitizer? If you use a reusable container that doesn’t have a size label, how will TSA agents know it’s 12 or less ounces?

I’ve had too many “compliant” containers confiscated in the past to really trust this one. I’d stick with the usual 3.4 ounces limit for liquids to avoid having your hand sanitizer confiscated.

If you elect to bring 12 ounces of hand sanitizer with you, you’ll have to remove it from your carry-on and place it in the security bin for scanning. TSA doesn’t mention whether this applies to TSA Precheck passengers. Which adds yet another area of confusion and another reason to just stick to the regular 3.4 ounces for hand sanitizer.

Hand Sanitizer - New TSA Security Procedures

Double-check for prohibited items

If you’re like me, you occasionally forget about the full water bottle in your backpack. Or fail to consider that the full-size tube of toothpaste in your carry-on doesn’t meet security requirements.

When you’re putting your watch, wallet, etc. in your carry-on bag, do a quick double-check of your carry-on to make sure it doesn’t have any prohibited items.

To avoid requiring TSA agents to physically examine bags, TSA is warning passengers that passengers may have to exit security, dispose of any prohibited items, and then go back through security again. This sounds like a complete nightmare to me. I’ll be double-checking my carry-on for prohibited items before going through security from now on.

Know airport and airline-specific requirements

Before you head to the airport, look online to see if there are any airport or airline-specific requirements in addition to the requirements above.

Air travel and security checkpoints can already be stressful. Surprise requirements can add even more stress.

Reduce stress and unexpected surprises by researching what to expect at specific airports and with specific airlines before you travel.

New TSA Security Procedures

Keep updated on changing TSA requirements

Since these are unprecedented times (does anyone miss “precedented” times?), it’s likely we’ll see even more new TSA security procedures in the future.

Check TSA’s website and look for press releases like this one to help you stay updated on changing requirements.

Shop my travel essentials:

Best Travel Backpacks: Knomo Mayfair Beauchamp

Personal item

Carry-On Luggage

Carry-on luggage

Luggage tag

Luggage tag

Water bottle

Water bottle

Romper

Romper

Scarf

Scarf

Day pack

Day pack

Sunscreen

Sunscreen

GoPro

GoPro

Sorel Boots

Walking boots

Sunglasses

Sunglasses

Hat

Hat

Comments or Questions?

Have a comment or a question? I’d love to hear from you! Visit me on Instagram @eastbymidwest and leave a comment or DM, or send me an email at pam@eastbymidwest.com.

What You Need to Know About New TSA Security Procedures
What You Need to Know About New TSA Security Procedures
Share
Pin
Tweet
Share
Email

Related Posts

12 Disney World Mistakes That I Made and How You Can Avoid Them

Ultimate Disney World Packing List for Adults + What Not to Pack

Ultimate Travel Packing List+How to Pack for Long-Term Travel in a Carry-On

Egypt Travel Tips: 15 Things You Need to Know Before You Visit Egypt

3 Hotels With Unbelievable Views You Have to See in Your Life

15 Surprising Things to Pack: What This Long-Term Traveler Always Packs

What Is in Your Travel Pack? 15 Key Items You Want to Pack

Lost or Delayed Luggage: What to Do and How to Get Compensated

17 Disastrous Travel Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

10 Unusual Travel Essentials You Need to Pack

Let’s Connect

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Linkedin Youtube Email Tiktok

New Inspiration

  • Best Things to Do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: One-Day Itinerary for Adults

  • 12 Disney World Mistakes That I Made and How You Can Avoid Them

  • Best Things to Do at EPCOT: One-Day Itinerary for Adults

  • Best Things to Do at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Realistic 1-Day Itinerary for Adults

  • Disney’s Grand Floridian: Best Place to Stay at Disney World?

Trending Articles

  • 32 Things Every Traveler Should Pack in Their Carry-On

  • Big Island of Hawaii: What You Need to Know Before You Go

  • Hawaiian Volcanoes: Must-Read Guide to Big Island Volcanoes

  • Ultimate Oahu Road Trip: 7 Must See Spots

  • How to Organize Your Face Mask Collection Today

Disclosures, Disclaimers, & Privacy Policy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Tiktok

© East by Midwest | All Rights Reserved

East by Midwest
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Travel Tips
  • Destinations
    • All Destinations
      • AFRICA
      • Egypt
      • South Africa
      • ASIA
      • Southeast Asia
      • AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
      • New Zealand
    • All Destinations
      • EUROPE
      • France
      • Norway
      • NORTH AMERICA
      • United States
        • Disney World
        • Florida
        • Hawaii
        • Iowa
        • Maryland
        • New York
        • North Carolina
        • US National Parks
        • US Road Trips
        • Virginia
        • Washington, DC
        • Wyoming
  • Living
East by Midwest
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Travel Tips
  • Destinations
    • All Destinations
      • AFRICA
      • Egypt
      • South Africa
      • ASIA
      • Southeast Asia
      • AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
      • New Zealand
    • All Destinations
      • EUROPE
      • France
      • Norway
      • NORTH AMERICA
      • United States
        • Disney World
        • Florida
        • Hawaii
        • Iowa
        • Maryland
        • New York
        • North Carolina
        • US National Parks
        • US Road Trips
        • Virginia
        • Washington, DC
        • Wyoming
  • Living
© East by Midwest | All Rights Reserved