How to speed through TSA security with a family

I was convinced that someone was going to yell at the airport “I found the source of the ticking! IT’S A PIPE BOMB!” followed by all of us being detained for days…..

Thankfully that did not happen, though I don’t think our parental attempts to change the ending to “Voldemort’s clock” did anything….

This time Carolyn did some research and we actually found a whole TSA website talking about kids and security, featuring some animated folks doing “Stop. Screen. Go”

Part of me was kind of creeped out about some of the indoctrination that the TSA was giving us, but I can’t fault the snazzy marketing!  I will say that it definitely helped.  My kids definitely talked about “Stop. Screen. Go” (over. and over. and over.) as we prepared for the trip.  In fact, “Stop Screen Go” was listed by one of my daughters as her favorite part of vacation…

Screening at Midway Airport

You may already know this, but most airports have a special family screening lane, which is often marked for people with strollers / wheelchairs.  You can ask the main worker, but I have generally not had a problem using that lane when we’re traveling with young kids.

That line is almost always shorter, and moves faster.  At Midway, although there was quite a long line in the regular line, when the 8 of us walked into the family security line, we were just behind one other party traveling with someone in a wheelchair.  We walked right in, all of us went through the X-ray rather than the cancer machine and we were on our way.  Kids under 12 (or is it 12 and under?!?) get to keep their shoes on, but everyone does need to hold their own boarding pass and give it to the screener.

Screening at Reno Airport

The Screening at Reno Airport worked the same way.  There was not a separate family line, but the lines were so short that it didn’t matter.  We went right through and again went through the X-ray machine.

All in all, it was a pleasant experience (or as pleasant as it can be!)

The HintMama has more information about this as well.

What has your experience been with TSA security with a family?