Something Different (OPINION)

Have you seen that Asa Hutchinson commercial, with the Republican gubernatorial candidate lamenting all the negativity in politics these days?

“So, I thought you’d be ready for something a little different,” the candidate says, before outlining all the positives tied to a Hutchinson victory in November.

In that vein, yes … how about some good news? Here’s something that’s sure to make business travelers at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport happy: Some will soon be able to cut their security check-in time in half.

A new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-Check service, already offered at most large airports, is now being offered at XNA.

For $85 for five years, travelers can go through security in a Pre-Check lane with their shoes and belts on and laptops inside their cases, among other perks.

The lines tend to move much faster than standard check-in lanes because the pre-screened passengers allowed to use them are considered to be low risk.

XNA is now the 120th (out of more than 450) commercial airport where passengers can experience the expedited screening, and more airports will be added.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents can pre-enroll online at TSA.gov and make an appointment to finish the process at an application center.

XNA, however, does not have a dedicated enrollment center, and there is no temporary location. Airport director Kelly Johnson said the airport will set up some type of mobile enrollment opportunity until a permanent location can be established at the airport.  

Until then, frequent XNA patrons may opt to complete the process at an enrollment center at other airports around the country.

There’s plenty of other information on the program at the TSA website, but there’s the gist — an option to bypass full-body scans, pat-downs and overall slow going at TSA airport checkpoints, all for less than $100.

Sounds like positive news to me. Even better news? Being less than a month away from the end of the political commercial season.