The State of Airport Security in a TSA PreCheck-Packed World

When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) launched its PreCheck program in October of 2011, many frequent travelers breathed a sigh of relief. Since The TSA's inception in November of 2001, the agency has been slowly restricting items allowed through the airport checkpoint – first it was liquids over 100mL, then it was shoes, then it was multiple batteries and any host of oddly-specific-yet-surely-credible-threats. PreCheck was supposed to be a respite from that action, a way of rewarding frequent travelers for their numerous trips through the airport checkpoint and speeding up security for passengers across the board. Those who were accepted into the program and paid an $85 fee -- or who were grandfathered in from a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program -- were allowed a faster, more efficient security experience. Membership in the PreCheck program brings a host of benefits including the ability to keep electronics and liquids stowed while going through s