Starting Tuesday, O'Hare Will Offer Security Pre-Screening

By Amy Cavanaugh in News on Mar 18, 2012 3:00PM

Frequent fliers through O'Hare may want to think about participating in Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program, which allows fliers to go through a special security line while keeping on belts and shoes, and leaving laptops in cases.

The program, which started last year at nine airports and is being added to 28 more this year, costs a one-time fee of $100 for a background check. After passing the check, passengers will get a special bar code on their boarding passes that will allow them to avoid the circle of hell that is airport security.

While the program gets going, it will only be available at O'Hare on American Airlines, but will likely expand later this year to include United Airlines and others.

Another new security change is that starting tomorrow at O'Hare, passengers who are over 75 won't have to take off shoes or outerwear while going through security, which is already the policy for kids under 12.