TSA has way to cutairport waiting times

First two hours, now three hours — this is how far in advance authorities are recommending people show up to catch a domestic flight, at least at some major U.S. airports with increasingly massive security lines. The Transportation Security Administration is struggling to keep up with a spike in airline travel that could result in line-waiting misery during peak summer vacation months.

This is a totally unacceptable waste of time that violates the essential bargain between the TSA and air passengers. The TSA can do better — and it must.

Americans are willing to tolerate time-consuming security protocols in return for increased safety. But demanding too much of air travelers or providing too little security in return undermines public support for the process.

Last year, a TSA inspector general sting found that undercover investigators were able to sneak weapons — both fake and real — past airport security nearly every time they tried. Enhanced security measures since then, combined with a rise in airline travel due to the improving economy and low oil prices, have resulted in long waits at major airports..

There is one step the TSA could take that would not require remodeling airports or rushing to hire: Enroll more people in the PreCheck program.

PreCheck is supposed to be a win-win for travelers and the TSA. Passengers who pass a background check are eligible to use expedited screening lanes. TSA wants to enroll 25 million people in PreCheck.

It has not gotten anywhere close to that, and one big reason is sticker shock: Passengers must pay $85 every five years to process their background checks. Impending reforms might bring the price to a more reasonable level. But Congress should look into doing so directly, by helping to finance PreCheck enrollment.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 7:44 PM with the headline "TSA has way to cutairport waiting times."