For those who are traveling through airports during the COVID-19 health crisis, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has important information and things you should know before passing through the screening process.
First, if your driver's license or state-issued ID expired on or after March 1, 2020, and you are unable to renew at your state driver’s license agency, you may still use it as acceptable identification at the checkpoint. TSA will accept expired driver’s licenses or state-issued ID a year after expiration or 60 days after the duration of the emergency, whichever is longer.
The TSA has temporarily modified its rule limiting liquids to allow travelers to bring one liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces per passenger in carry-on bags until further notice. Passengers can expect that these containers larger than the standard allowance of 3.4 ounces of liquids permitted through a checkpoint will need to be screened separately, which will add some time to their checkpoint screening experience.
On that note, keep in mind that disinfecting SPRAYS are NOT permitted in either carry-on or checked bags because they are flammable. Disinfecting WIPES ARE permitted in carry-on and checked bags.
Passengers may wear face masks but the masks may need to be adjusted to visually confirm a traveler’s identity during the travel document checking process.
At the screening area, passengers are advised to place personal items from their pockets such as keys, wallets and phones in their carry-on bags instead of checkpoint bins.
TSA requires that frontline personnel wear nitrile gloves when conducting screening duties and are required to use swabs when testing for explosive material. Travelers may request for new gloves to be used during the screening process. TSA has directed officers to use a fresh swab for each passenger when testing for explosive material.
TSA has issued guidance to frontline employees to conduct routine cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and security screening equipment at the TSA security checkpoint. In addition, the Airport’s custodial team is cleaning the checkpoint areas every evening. Employees are encouraged to wash their hands after cleaning and after removing their gloves.
TSA is also taking additional efforts to clean bins, but most importantly, travelers are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and wash their hands before and after completing the security screening process.
TSA will continue to follow guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will continue to work with government and industry partners to contain the spread of the virus.
Travelers should follow the guidance issued by the CDC and practice good hygiene, such as washing their hands.
For more TSA COVID-19 information, visit https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus
For updated TSA checkpoint hours at PHL, visit https://www.phl.org/flights/security-information/checkpoint-hours
