There is hardly anything worse than getting to the airport in your normal early fashion and finding a massive line of hurried travelers working their way through the TSA security checkpoints.

We’ve been members of the Global Entry program for quite some time, and it is real sweet to completely bypass the long lines in one of the 40 participating airports.

And now, these benefits are going to extend to international travel. Yabba Dabba Doooo!

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that beginning May 7, 2013, in addition to domestic travel, TSA Pre?™ participants will be eligible for expedited screening on select international travel itineraries. Eligible passengers traveling on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways will be allowed to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case, and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on.

How sweet it is to bypass the long TSA security lines!

Passengers flying internationally from the 40 participating TSA Pre?™ airports may be eligible to receive expedited screening. In addition, passengers with connecting domestic flights who arrive in the United States on an international flight may use the TSA Pre?™ lanes when going through the screening process at participating airports after being cleared by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“By expanding TSA Pre?™ beyond domestic air travel, we are further demonstrating our commitment to identifying innovative ways to securely move travelers more quickly through our airports,” said TSA Administrator John S. Pistole. “Through TSA Pre?™, TSA can quickly process passengers who we know more about. This allows us to focus more of our time on those passengers about whom we know less.”

Eligible passengers include U.S. citizens who are members of certain airline frequent flier programs or are members of CBP Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI and NEXUS. Additionally, Canadian citizens who are NEXUS members are also eligible for TSA Pre?™. Individuals interested in joining a CBP trusted traveler program can learn more by visiting www.cbp.gov.

TSA Pre?™ is part of TSA’s intelligence-driven, risk-based initiative to move away from a one-size-fits-all model, enabling TSA to focus efforts on travelers considered higher risk and about whom the agency knows less. To date, more than 9 million passengers have experienced TSA Pre?™ since it launched in 2011. Other TSA expedited screening initiatives include modified screening procedures for travelers 12 and under and 75 and older, as well as Wounded Warriors and severely injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

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