FAA Says Unruly Passengers Could Lose TSA PreCheck

Airline passengers who act up during flights could face additional consequences for bad behavior. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has partnered with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to go after those unruly travelers.

Under the partnership, the FAA will share information of passengers facing fines for bad behavior with TSA who may remove the passenger from TSA PreCheck® screening eligibility.

TSA PreCheck is a privilege reserved for low-risk travelers. Once enrolled, you can usually get through security checks at airports within minutes thanks to dedicated TSA PreCheck lines. It costs $85 to apply, and the membership lasts for five years. Renewals are now $70 if done online. You can often get TSA PreCheck for free through several premium credit cards.

“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,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “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.”

“If you act out of line, you will wait in line,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said. “Our partnership aims to promote safe and responsible passenger behavior. One unruly incident is one too many.”

In addition to the FAA providing the TSA with information of passengers who receive proposed fines for unruly behavior, the TSA will share information to help the FAA identify and locate unruly passengers to serve them with penalty notices. The information sharing includes robust provisions to protect passengers’ privacy and personal information.

The FAA has initiated 315 enforcement cases against unruly passengers this year. Infractions range from verbal threats to physical assault on other passengers and crew. There have been a total of 5,664 reports of unruly passengers this year through teh middle of December according to the FAA, and 1,030 investigations have been initiated. In 2019, the FAA initiated fewer than 150 investigations into passenger behavior.