New TSA Changes Could Help Minnesota Holiday Travelers – Here’s How

Don't look now, but the TSA is planning new changes to its security lines in Minnesota that could impact your holiday travel.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is the biggest airport in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It's the home of Delta Air Lines second biggest hub outside of its home base in Atlanta. And, of course, it's also routinely been ranked as the Best Airport in the Country-- an honor it has won several times, including again earlier this year.

MSP is also one of the first airports in the country to roll out a brand-new feature that can definitely make one of the worst and most anxiety-inducing parts of flying easier. It's called MSP Reserve and according to a Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) release, it's a program that saves you time by allowing you to schedule a specific time in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security line instead of just taking your chances and hoping the line isn't too long when you show up at the airport.

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And now, the TSA just announced it was rolling out *another* new feature that could impact your holiday travel plans if you're flying out of MSP-- and this one is another change that could affect you in a *good* way.

MSP will be one of the latest airports where the TSA is installing new state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) checkpoint scanners in its security lines. According to the TSA, these new scanners use a complicated AI algorithm and other sophisticated technology to create advanced images of your bags that will create less hassle as you head through the line.

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The TSA has been installing these units at various airports across the country, and in a release from last year, described the technology like this:

CT units improve the traveler’s experience because passengers using these machines are permitted to leave their laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags. Additionally, passengers screened in security lanes with CT units do not need to remove their travel-sized 3-1-1 liquids.

In addition, the TSA said, these new scanners are much more efficient and will also speed up the time you spend in those security lines, because you'll no longer have to take all those items out of your carry-on bags-- and then rush to put everything back together again after you pass through the screening.

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How great is that?!? I'm all for keeping things safe while flying-- and speeding up the process at the same time. In a story earlier this week, the Minnesota News Network said nine of those new CT scanners should be installed and online at MSP in early December, meaning any flying you have planned for the holidays should be easier!

This is definitely good news, seeing as MSP is the 19th busiest airport in North America and served nearly 35 million passengers in 2023. That's a lot of people making their way to our fair state, right? So keep scrolling to see some of the most common things we native Minnesotans always have to explain to outsiders!

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