Atlanta resident Patrick Neely breezes through TSA security at the Chattanooga Metropolitian Airport Friday as he travels several southeast cities on his job this past week. Neely is one of a growing number of people who have chosen to pay for expedited screening.Patrick Neely says he flies a lot for his work – upwards of 200,000 miles a year.
So when the chance opened up to enroll in a Transportation Security Administration program that allows him to more quickly pass though security checkpoints at airports, he jumped at it.
“Having that luxury is really nice. Big time,” the Atlanta man said Friday at Chattanooga Airport.
A new office opened in Chattanooga by the TSA to enroll travelers in its pre-check program should draw a lot more users of Lovell Field, said Mark Howell, a regional spokesman for the agency. The program permits fliers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and even have some liquids and gels in a carry-on bag.
Currently, about 38 percent of all fliers who travel through Chattanooga Airport are approved for expedited screening, Howell said.