Local airports open family lanes to speed security checks

NORFOLK

Fuzzy, pint-sized backpacks hit the conveyer belt first at a security checkpoint at Norfolk International Airport.

Jennifer Griffeth tossed coats and boots next.

"You have a lot of items, right?" a security agent asked the mother traveling with her three young daughters, ages 4, 3 and 3 months.

She also surrendered toys, a diaper bag, another backpack, a car seat and stroller. Griffeth was among the first to test the new "family lanes" at Norfolk, which were launched Thursday morning in time for the Thanksgiving holiday rush. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport also opened their lanes Thursday.

"This is always the hardest part," said Griffeth as she juggled scooping up the baby and collapsing the stroller.

By the time the family made it through security, at least three Transportation Security Administration officers had helped.

Opening up specialized lanes for families helps reduce their stress and speed up the security check process for other travelers, said Lauren Gache, spokeswoman for the security administration.

"This is a great idea," said Griffeth of Chesapeake. "It relieves a lot of anxiety."

Griffeth flies regularly with her family and has endured impatient glares from travelers behind her.

Airports throughout the country now are designating the special lanes. They also are available to anyone needing special assistance, especially those carrying medically necessary liquids, aerosols and gels in excess of the 3-ounce limit.

The new lanes also help security officers better identify individuals with hostile intent, Gache said.

Behavior detection officers are assigned to each security area. Their job is to identify travelers with signs of stress, fear or deception, she said. Opening up specialized security lanes helps lower the anxiety that travelers carry with them, Gache said. They also help behavior detection officers differentiate between those who fear missing a flight and someone who means to do harm.

The changes are just in time for the three busiest travel days, which are expected to be Sunday, Nov. 30; Monday, Dec. 1; and Wednesday, Nov. 26, respectively.

While planes will be full over the Thanksgiving holiday, overall, a 10 percent decrease in the number of passengers is expected this year, according to the Air Transport Association, the airline industry's trade group. It will be the first decline in Thanksgiving air travel in seven years, the group's officials said.

The association's president, James C. May said that despite a drop in ticket sales, Thanksgiving remains the busiest travel period of the year.

"Make no mistake - the airports will be busy and many flights will be 100 percent full."

Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com