ROMULUS, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – We’re just a week away from the start of Memorial Day weekend, which marks the start of the summer travel season for the Transportation Security Administration, and they’re preparing for record numbers of passengers.
Some travelers can expect a surprise from their loved ones at Detroit Metro Airport, where people without boarding passes can now pass through TSA checkpoints.
Andres Gutierrez/CBS Detroit
When you pick someone up at DTW, you usually meet them at the baggage claim or curbside, but that wasn’t the case before September 11, when almost anyone could walk up to the gate and see the planes up close. Keith McCree remembers those days.
“They printed out the boarding pass to get you to the gate, the boarding pass for the whole family, so they could sit with you while you waited. And if the plane was delayed, they would be there. And if the plane got canceled, they could actually take you home, so that was a benefit,” McCree said.
In 2019, the Wayne County Airport Authority found a way to restore some of that lost convenience and comfort.
“And what people had to do was provide their name, date of birth and a lot of personal information 24 hours before their visit,” said Randy Wimbley, spokesman for the Wayne County Airport Authority.
But the COVID-19 pandemic halted the program and then came the Destination Pass kiosks.
All visitors have to do is scan their driver’s license or passport and they will immediately receive a pass that they can use to pass through the TSA checkpoint.
“I think it’s very sufficient; I think it’s very convenient, and I don’t see anything wrong with it. I like it,” said Sierra Brown, a traveler.
Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
“It really allows people to re-experience everything DTW has to offer: over 100 stores and restaurants, and local breweries like Atwater and Jolly Pumpkin. We have Chick-fil-A and all your franchises that everyone is familiar with More concessions are coming in with our concessionaire program,” Wimbley said.
The passes are gaining popularity; as of October 2023, newsstands have printed approximately 27,000 copies.
“More people are using the program with the kiosks, and they’re not having any issues with parking or anything. And so that’s not a deterrent at all,” Wimbley said.
The Destination Pass kiosks at Evans and McNamara terminals and the Westin Hotel next to McNamara are open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
