Parents dreading long security lines have a new ally this summer. The Transportation Security Administration's Families on the Fly campaign, announced on July 21, 2025, promises faster, less stressful screening for families with children while keeping rigorous safety standards in place. Piloted at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT), the program combines family-only lanes, discounted TSA PreCheck, and expanded military benefits, with rollouts to more airports already scheduled.
Key Points
- Dedicated family screening lanes now open at MCO and CLT
- Discounted TSA PreCheck fees for families coming soon
- Exclusive PreCheck lanes for military personnel and their families
- Additional airports-including SNA, HNL, CHS, JAX, PVD, SJU, and TPA-joining this year
- Why it matters: Families can clear security faster without sacrificing safety
Snapshot
Families on the Fly sets aside clearly marked security lanes for parents, guardians, and children, reducing the chaos of juggling strollers, electronics, and carry-ons in mixed crowds. Travelers who enroll in TSA PreCheck, or who already have it, bypass the shoe-off routine and keep laptops packed, cutting average wait times to well under 10 minutes. Military families receive similar perks automatically by entering a Department of Defense ID as their Known Traveler Number. The initiative builds on TSA's broader effort to modernize the checkpoint experience across 435 airports nationwide.
Background
TSA introduced PreCheck in 2013 to expedite low-risk travelers, yet families often found the fee structure and enrollment process prohibitive. Previous tweaks-allowing children under 12 to accompany a parent and offering free access to active-duty service members-only partly solved the bottleneck. A record 271 million passengers cleared U.S. checkpoints last summer, overwhelming conventional lanes at peak times. By carving out space and resources specifically for parents, Families on the Fly addresses a long-standing pain point identified in passenger-feedback surveys and industry studies.
Latest Developments
Early Rollouts
Orlando International and Charlotte-Douglas went live this week with bright signage directing families to new, wider lanes equipped with extra bins and stroller-friendly tables. TSA officers trained in child-specific protocols guide parents through the process, reducing secondary bag checks that often slow lines.
Upcoming Airports
Next up are Southern California's John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA) and Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), both set to activate lanes before Labor Day. A second wave will follow in early fall at Charleston International (CHS), Jacksonville International (JAX), Rhode Island T. F. Green (PVD), Luis Muñoz Marín International in San Juan (SJU), and Tampa International (TPA). TSA officials say more locations will be announced once local staffing and infrastructure assessments conclude.
Discounted PreCheck for Families
Within the next few months, TSA expects to unveil a reduced PreCheck enrollment fee covering up to two adults and unlimited children in the same household. The agency is finalizing price points with its enrollment partners and will publish details on tsa.gov once approved.
Military and Veteran Perks
The new campaign dovetails with TSA's Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease initiative, which already grants free PreCheck to service members and Department of Defense civilian employees. Dedicated lanes at airports near major bases-such as Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Norfolk International (ORF)-now extend to spouses and dependents on the same itinerary. Veterans and travelers with disabilities can still request personalized assistance through the existing TSA Cares program.
Analysis
For families, security queues rank among the most stressful parts of any trip, especially during the busy summer season when passenger volumes can exceed 2.9 million per day. By separating parents from solo travelers and business flyers, TSA reduces line friction, shortens wait times, and minimizes the risk of forgotten items. Airlines and airports also benefit: faster throughput helps keep departure gates on schedule and frees concessions revenue from travelers who spend less time stuck in queues. The planned PreCheck discount could remove a cost barrier for larger households, potentially boosting enrollment at a time when TSA is targeting 40 million active members by 2026. Military families, who often relocate or deploy on short notice, gain predictable security expectations no matter the airport. If early results mirror Orlando's initial 18 percent drop in family lane wait times, expect rapid expansion to the country's busiest hubs before the 2025 holiday rush.
Final Thoughts
Families juggling diapers, tablets, and boarding passes can finally look forward to a smoother path through Airport Security. With wider lanes, kid-friendly officers, and wallet-friendly PreCheck fees on the horizon, TSA Families on the Fly may become an essential planning tool for parents charting their next vacation.