The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is cracking down on privileges for those who break the rules on flights. Any misbehavior could result in passengers losing their TSA Pre-Check privileges as punishment for their actions. This is a new step the FAA is taking on its “Zero Tolerance” policy to the violence of any kind on flights.
Hard stance
The FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have partnered up to punish passengers who violate travel rules. Now, travelers can be penalized by having their PreCheck rights revoked, which is only given to low-risk travelers. This ensures that unruly passengers will have long-term consequences for their dangerous actions.
In 2021 alone, the FAA has received over 5,600 complaints about rulebreakers on flights, roughly 4,000 of which were masking violations. Now, the federal body is trying to make the punishments for passengers more wide-ranging.
For those who may not be familiar, PreCheck is a program that allows travelers to use special security lanes at US airports. In addition to fewer passengers, PreCheck lanes allow you to leave your shoes on and leave electronics and liquids in your bag. This speeds up the experience significantly for frequent flyers who are deemed low-risk by the TSA.
In a statement about the partnership, TSA spokesperson David Pekoske said,
“TSA has zero tolerance for the unruly behaviors, especially those involving physical assault occurring aboard aircraft. We have tremendous respect for airport staff, gate agents and flight crews that get people safely to their destinations. This partnership with FAA will help ensure the safety and security of all passengers and hold those who violate federal regulations accountable for their actions.”
Going further
However, the two organizations aren’t only collaborating on denying access to PreCheck to rulebreakers. The TSA will also provide information to the FAA to track down unruly travelers and service punishments. However, the two also noted that passenger privacy remains the top priority.
Given the volume of complaints the FAA has been dealing with since the pandemic began, any support will be useful. Administrator Steve Dickson underscored the same saying,
“If you act out of line, you will wait in line. Our partnership aims to promote safe and responsible passenger behavior. One unruly incident is one too many.”
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High cost
However, don’t think breaking basic rules will be punished with just losing TSA PreCheck. The FAA has issued multi-thousand dollar fines for those who are violent on flights, with the amount increasing based on the actions. In 2021, the FAA charged unruly passengers over a $1 million for breaking the rules.
The highest fines include a $45,000 fine on one passenger on JetBlue who threw luggage and harassed a flight attendant. For now, the FAA will continue to find new ways to ensure violations on flights have severe consequences.
What do you think about the FAA and TSA’s partnership? Let us know in the comments!
