Saturday marks 20 years since 1st TSA checkpoint opened
Saturday marks 20 years since the Transportation Security Administration began screening U.S. passengers, kicking off a new and unprecedented era of security at airports nationwide.
The agency, created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, marked the anniversary with a ceremony Friday at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Maryland, the first airport to have its security checkpoints federalized on April 30, 2002. The ceremony included federal workers who were among the agency's first to screen passengers; 100 of the TSA's original agents still work at BWI today.
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Congress created the TSA in the months after 9/11, with President George W. Bush signing the law creating the agency on Nov. 19, 2001. Among other provisions, the law mandated passenger screening at airports by federal officials instead of private companies, along with a requirement that all baggage be examined prior to flights.
Less than six months later, the TSA stood up its first checkpoint at BWI, which served as a sort of pilot location for the agency as it tested policies and procedures before expanding to now 430 locations across the U.S.
Related: Answering questions about PreCheck, Global Entry
In the 20 years since that spring 2002 day when federal agents began screening passengers, the agency’s checkpoints have become so synonymous with a trip to the airport, it’s almost hard to imagine air travel without them.
Plenty of travelers like myself cannot remember a time when a trip to the airport did not involve a pre-flight pass through a TSA checkpoint. I likewise find it even harder to imagine being allowed past airport security to, say, watch planes take off and land or greet an arriving family member at their gate — both of which, my father assures me, we did in the 1990s.
Taking such a laissez faire trip onto the airport concourse ceased to be an option after 9/11, though, as federal officials stepped up security. More than four years after beginning its operation, the TSA tightened its grip even further in 2006, after attempted attacks sparked the agency to require the removal of shoes and further regulate the carrying on of liquids, gels and aerosol substances.
Related: Flying on a Friday or Sunday? Get to the airport earlier
Today, the TSA plays such a major role in every U.S. airport, I probably don’t even have to utter the entire phrase for you to identify the TSA’s associated command when I say “shoes,” “laptops” or “liquids.“
TPG’s staff has spent countless hours over the years pulling together our best advice on avoiding long TSA lines, making your trip through the checkpoint as pain-free as possible, and closely monitoring changes that could affect your future airport visits.
The agency’s existence has also inspired an entire set of programs, like TSA PreCheck and Clear, which offer wait-shortening benefits for paying members.
With more than 64,000 employees today, the TSA continues to roll out advancements – like an expansion of its CT-scan technology for carry-on baggage.
“We have made significant safety and security improvements,” TSA administrator David Pekoske said during Friday’s ceremony at BWI. “We are indeed leading the world in security globally.”
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TPG featured card
Rewards
3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees