TSA HONOR LANE: FAST-TRACK SECURITY FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

Airports become a pressure cooker during the holidays, especially for military families juggling kids, travel orders, block leave, PCS timelines, or a spouse coming home at 0200 after months away. TSA’s Honor Lane was created to ease that pressure, offering dedicated expedited screening for the military community at select airports.

Launched in July 2025 as part of the agency’s “Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease” initiative, the program is still expanding. Not every airport has it yet, but where it exists, it’s making holiday travel easier, faster, and far more manageable for service members, Veterans, and their families.

What the Honor Lane Actually Is

The Honor Lane is a designated security lane that allows eligible military travelers and their dependents to go through a faster, streamlined screening process. It is separate from TSA PreCheck, and you do not need to be enrolled in PreCheck to use it.

This lane is specifically intended to:

• Reduce wait times
• Reduce stress for families traveling with kids
• Provide a more respectful, family-forward screening experience
• Ease transit for those in uniform, on orders, or traveling with service-related needs
• Help Veterans and Gold Star families navigate the airport more easily

The Honor Lane follows all standard TSA screening rules. It does not exempt travelers from removing items or screening procedures, but it reduces congestion and speeds the overall process significantly.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility is clearly defined and includes:

• Active-duty members from all branches
• National Guard and Reserve members, as well as Veterans with a qualifying U.S. government-issued ID
• Military spouses and dependents with a Department of Defense ID card
• Gold Star family members

If your ID reflects an eligible military connection, you qualify.

This inclusivity makes the Honor Lane especially valuable for families traveling together during the holidays.

Where the Honor Lane Is Operating

TSA has confirmed that Honor Lane or expedited military security access is active at 11 airports as part of the first rollout phase. While TSA has not released a complete, updated nationwide list, the following airports have confirmed participation:

• Atlanta (ATL)
• San Antonio (SAT)
• San Diego (SAN)
• Colorado Springs (COS)
• Nashville (BNA)
• Seattle (SEA)
• Austin (AUS)
• Anchorage (ANC)
• El Paso (ELP)
• Fayetteville (FAY)
• Charlotte Douglas (CLT) – confirmed expedited access for military

These airports were chosen because they serve high concentrations of military travelers, major commands, recruit training installations, and bases with heavy leave and PCS travel.

The program is expanding, but availability remains airport-specific. Families should confirm with their departure airport before travel.

Why the Honor Lane Matters More During the Holidays

Holiday travel isn’t just busy, it’s unpredictable. Lines stretch long before sunrise. Flights stack up, delays seem endless, and missed connections become more frequent.

For military families, those challenges can hit harder:

• Kids are tired.
• Leave windows are tight.
• PCS dates are fixed.
• Deployments don’t move for travel delays.
• Veterans traveling for medical care often need extra time and support.

The Honor Lane won’t solve every problem, but it removes one major hurdle: long, stressful, slow-moving screening lines.

When the difference between a smooth day and a meltdown at the gate is just 20 minutes, the Honor Lane matters, and it’s more than worth the sign-up.

Holiday Travel Guide: How to Use the Honor Lane

Because this is a new program, many families will be using it for the first time this holiday season. Here is exactly what to do:

1. Bring the correct ID: Your military ID, dependent ID, veteran ID card, or Gold Star documentation is required for access.

2. Look for the Honor Lane signage: Some airports place it next to PreCheck, others at a separate checkpoint. If you don’t see it, ask a TSA officer directly.

3. Let the eligible traveler lead: TSA verifies eligibility at the lane entrance. Keep IDs readily accessible.

4. Arrive early (really early): Even with a dedicated lane, holidays slow everything down. Treat Honor Lane as a significant advantage, not a guarantee.

5. If your airport doesn’t have Honor Lane, default to PreCheck or standard lines: Never assume it’s available, always verify in advance.

6. If you have PreCheck, use it: Active-duty members and DoD civilians can use their DoD ID number as their Known Traveler Number. Military spouses receive a discount on PreCheck enrollment.

7. Plan your family flow: For parents traveling alone with young kids, the Honor Lane provides a smoother, more understanding environment for strollers, snacks, breast milk, medical bags, or sensory needs.

The Most Important Rule: Verify Before You Go: While the Honor Lane is expanding, TSA has not yet released a centralized, real-time directory. That means travelers must confirm availability with their specific departure airport.

This one step can save hours of frustration and ensure you get the benefit you deserve.

Traveling With Honor

Holiday travel is already a challenge for the military community. TSA’s Honor Lane is one of the first major, practical improvements built specifically with your family in mind. It honors service, supports those who carry the load at home, and helps make travel a little more manageable during the most chaotic time of year.

If you’re flying in the coming weeks, do these three things:

• Confirm if your airport offers the Honor Lane
• Bring the right ID
• Plan to use this benefit with confidence

Your time matters. Your service matters. This program was built to make your journey smoother.

Suggested reads:

• TSA Launches Major Travel Relief for Military Spouses and Gold Star Families
• Two Military Bases to House Immigrant Detainees: What Service Members Need to Know
• 6 Strategies to Reduce Stress & Protect Your Mental Health While PCSing