ORLANDO, Fla. – With just over a week to go until July 4, the Transportation Security Administration just announced it had its busiest day ever - yet again.
This past Sunday, the TSA screened a record 3 million passengers in airports across the country, according to TSA spokesman Mark Howell.
On any given day, some 80,000 passengers are passing through the MCO checkpoints, more on holidays. That’s up 8% from last year.
Howell said what slows down a security screening line most is when a passenger tries to bring something through that is banned.
“Prohibited items are the number one thing that will slow lines down, especially in the busy parts of the morning,” Howell said.
Howell and TSA officers, including supervisor Elizabeth Rodriguez and explosives expert Dan Miller, displayed the banned items confiscated from the checkpoints at MCO over the past month or so. A display table showed tasers, saw blades, augers, replica weapons, replica grenades, lots of liquids, including maple syrup and mayonnaise, and even a reciprocating saw, commonly known as a sawzall.
“This slows down everything because once that happens, then our officers have to go and take that bag off to the side, screen another bag and the passenger and pull our property search officers away from doing their job,” Miller said. “And then that’s how our wait times lines and lines start getting a lot longer.”
Rodriguez said attempting to bring a gun through the checkpoint, loaded or unloaded, immediately shuts down a line and results in law enforcement involvement.
“If it’s a firearm, then we’re going to shut down the lane, we have to move people over so that process depends on law enforcement and statements and reports,” Rodriguez said. “And everything we need to do could take 30 to 45 minutes to process and reopen the lane.”
In the U.S., you are allowed to fly with a gun and/or ammunition but the firearm must be unloaded in a hard locked case and must be in your checked luggage. And you must declare the gun to your airline when you check in at the counter - don’t bring it to the checkpoint!
The rules for carrying liquids on board have not changed - think 3-1-1. You’re allowed to carry on one sandwich-sized clear plastic bag full of as many small bottles of liquid or gel as will fit - as long as each container is no bigger than 3.4 ounces.
Howell said the TSA adds additional officers and additional lanes at MCO to match the crowd level throughout the day. During the busiest time, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., all screening lanes are open.
“Yes we’re prepping for this busy time,” Howell said. “We’re going to do what we can to make sure that we have the lanes open that we need based on the projections that are coming in. But the one thing we can’t control is what people bring to the airports.”
And don’t forget MCO provides a free service to allow passengers to make a reservation to speed through the screening checkpoint - it’s called MCO Reserve.
At least a day in advance, pick your time and then show up at that time at the Clear lane at the proper checkpoint. After showing your reservation and your ID, a Clear representative should escort you directly to the front of the screening line! MCO Reserve is a partnership with Clear.
The TSA also offers a free service called TSA Cares to passengers who need extra assistance. Contact the TSA at least 72 hours in advance to have a TSA officer meet you at the airport and assist you through the screening process: TSA Cares | Transportation Security Administration
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