[KARAH RUCKER]
You've probably heard about self-checkout at grocery stores.
What about self-screening at the airport?
As spring break travel begins, something new is happening at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
The new self-screening lanes are designed to reduce wait times.
An instructional screen in the glass-enclosed “body scan booth” shows passengers how to get themselves and their luggage through, without the need for a TSA officer.
This means there are no pat-downs and you can keep your shoes on.
TSA officials say the new system will also free up resources.
[CHRISTINA PEACH]
We're also looking at ways to redeploy officers to busier parts of checkpoints. We expect this system to inform many of these decisions.
The TSA says passengers should expect wait times of no more than 30 minutes in standard lanes. For pre-check lanes he takes less than 10 minutes.
At this time, the new lanes are only for pre-check customers in Las Vegas.
The new preflight screening process comes as TSA predicts a 6 percent increase in spring break travelers over last year.
The peak is expected between March 7th and March 25th.
In 2023, Harry Reid International Airport is the 10th busiest in the world, according to the Airports Council's international rankings.
Nearly 40 million passengers passed through.
Therefore, there are several contingencies in place if the self-examination does not go as planned.
[CHRISTINA PEACH]
Directly above us is a 13-lane checkpoint where passengers can be processed without disrupting local operations.
[KARAH RUCKER]
At this time, the new lanes are only in Las Vegas.
But the TSA says it has plans to expand screening.
However, no specific location was specified.