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Flying with the kids is always a challenge, from rug strollers to security to keep teddies away from being left at the gate and dealing with mid-flight meltdowns. However, the new Department of Homeland Security program is trying to ease stress for parents while traveling by providing family-friendly lanes at TSA checkpoints.
The Family on the Fly program has begun rolling out at selected airports this summer, including John Wayne Airport in Orange County.
Parents do not need to have a TSA Precheck to take advantage of the dedicated lane. This often has a shorter line and allows families to travel through security to feel rushed or make fellow passengers uncomfortable.
“When families arrive at John Wayne Airport, they will find a specially designated lane at Checkpoint B, located in the center,” said Jason Pantage, security director of the John Wayne Airport’s Transportation Security Bureau, at a press conference Monday. “Southern California is one of the top tourist destinations in the US for holiday families, so we are excited to be able to promote the screening process and improve the overall airport experience.”
John Wayne Airport is a popular travel hub for families on vacation thanks to its proximity to Anaheim’s Disneyland resort. In addition to the new family TSA Lane, airport officials announced a new nursing pod in the Terminal C Baggage Billing Request Area, providing mothers with a private nursing location.
“As a mom who raised two babies, I know the stress of traveling when a baby gets hungry,” Orange County Superintendent Katrina Foley said in a statement. “We are excited to provide a private, clean and comfortable space for moms to nurse before a flight at JWA to reduce the confusion that moms travel with their children.”
California officials predicted that the state will experience a “Trump slump” tourism this year due to the president’s tariff policy, but the slowdown in visitors has not been materialized by John Wayne.
Orange County Airport reported a 3.1% year-on-year increase in passengers in May, while California airports reported a DIP of 0.6% year-on-year for passengers in May, the latest month when data is available.
A visit to California, the state’s nonprofit tourism marketing agency, says the decline in tourism to Golden State is expected to be driven by a 9.2% year-on-year decline in international visitors. The agency predicts the change will be driven by “the impact of increased tariffs on the global economy and negative sentiment towards the US due to the administration’s trade policy.”
Only 3% of John Wayne’s passengers are international and primarily insulate the airport from the potential impact of such a slump. Almost a third of passengers are international at Los Angeles International Airport, where travelers fell 4.3% in May.
TSA began launching a new family-friendly lane in July, the middle of the busy summer travel season. As part of the Family on the Fly program, TSA also offers discounts on TSA Precheck registrations.
Other airports that introduce family lines include:
Florida Tampa Orlando International Airport Florida Jacksonville International Airport Florida Charlotte – Dugrass International Airport North Carolina Charlotte International Airport South Carolina Hard Island TF Green International Airport Lewis Munos Marine International Airport Puerto Rico Daniel K. Inoiye International Airport
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