Can You Wear a Hat Through TSA PreCheck? Has always been a question asked by many travelers especially those traveling by air for the first time. Well, thee answer is:
You can wear a hat through TSA precheck but may be subjected to remove the hat if need be. After the 9/11 attack in the US, TSA was launched with rules that prohibit passengers from wearing hats at the airport. But the rules have changed and now allow passengers to leave hats on during the TSA precheck.
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency under the US Department of Homeland Security that was created after the 9/11 attacks that claimed the lives of many people. They are in charge of security at the ports, railway stations, pipelines, and so on.
They screen people thoroughly to avoid anyone keeping explosives or prohibited items on them. They have a metal detector or screening machine that goes off when it detects any unwanted item.
Many times, travelers are delayed because of those that don’t follow the rules of the airport. This set of people will still get stopped especially if they have luggage that has any of these prohibited items. They will have to start removing their stuff which can be very annoying.
This is why you should know what to wear and what not to wear during a TSA security check. You would be asked to remove your belt, shoes, wallet, or anything that can set off the alarm.
TSA pre-check was introduced in October 2011. It allows registered members to be screened before the day of the flight. Important personalities in the country have enjoyed this before, but on the 4th of December 2013, it was opened to the general public. It is now available in more than 200 airports.
Going on the airplane – especially if it’s your first time – you would want to dress well so you might want to put on your hat. Putting on a hat is not an issue but the question is, can you wear a hat through TSA precheck?
It is important you know this if you are a first-timer so you won’t feel the screener doesn’t appreciate your hat. You are not allowed to wear a hat through TSA security to avoid delay when metals are detected. They don’t have anything against you. They are just trying to prevent the 9/11 incident from replaying itself again.
But, you can wear your hat on a pre-check lane. This is because a background check has been done on you. Also, you are seen as a low-risk traveler. You won’t be stopped at all unless the security officers feel that you are hiding something. Then you will have to go somewhere private for them to feel your body parts.
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Can You Wear a Hat Through TSA Security?
The security officers won’t allow you to wear your hat during your screening. It’s against the rules of the agency. The screening is just to be careful that no prohibited items or explosives are kept in their hats.
A hat can house items. Hard drugs can be kept in the sweatband of a hat or the design around the brim of the hat. This would be detected by the screening machine.
Also, some hats have metal designs. When the metal detector detects this, it will cause lots of checking. And this will make people stay on the lane.
Can You Wear a Hat Through TSA PreCheck?
TSA introduced the pre-check to save people from wasting time in the queue during screening. A pre-check form can be gotten online or you can get one at their enrollment centers. You will have to pay $85. Even after this, physical screening is still needed to be conducted.
A background check will be done on you. Your thumbprint and picture would be taken to identify you. Your record would be checked to know if you have ever broken the law. Your gadgets like your laptop will be checked. It is believed that low-risk travelers are the ones that undergo pre-check. You will be given a Known Traveller Number which lasts for five years. With this number, you can move swiftly during screening because you won’t be stopped. You won’t spend long minutes at all.
During the pre-check, you can wear your hat because you’ve been screened. Even laptops are not removed after getting that number.
Reasons Why You Should not Wear a Hat During TSA Precheck
Here are reasons why you should not wear a hat during TSA precheck:
For Security Reasons
The 9/11 incident destroyed the world trade center and so many lives were lost during the attack. The security men were obvious to the fact that people could smuggle explosives into the center. Where could they have kept them? Explosives can be kept anywhere. So, hats are avoided. Even though you have your Known Traveller Number, you still have to remove your hat during the security check to prevent you from being stopped.
For Traffic Reasons
There’s nothing as annoying as been stopped in the lane. This would cause delay and travelers on the lane would be impatient. Metal detected on the hats can make the security officers stop you for a thorough check. To avoid this, just remove the hat and follow their rules.
Exceptions to Hat Through TSA Precheck
For Medical Reasons
Some medical conditions wouldn’t allow you to waste time at a spot. Waiting on the security lanes to be screened is definitely out of it. So, you can enroll for the expedited screening. On the day you are to take your flight, you will stay on this lane, and you would be allowed to have your hat on. But when the metal detector goes off, you have no choice but to remove your hat when asked to, though it won’t take much time.
For Religious Reasons
Some religions allow for head covering like the Sikhs. Telling them to remove their headcovers is more like telling a woman to unclothe. So a turban was not always removed because of its importance in some religions. It felt like partiality to people who get through the security removing their hats and headpieces.
A new law that was effected in October 2008 accepted the idea of the religious group covering their heads. This law then cuts across to the public. They can go through screening with their hats on. But if there’s a need to remove their headcover, they have to but they will have to go somewhere private.
Other Reasons
Some people might feel uncomfortable removing their hats. Maybe they have bald heads or something else. These people will apply for pre-check enrollment to get the Known Traveller Number.
This is one reason to be able to walk through security without being asked to remove the hat. They won’t even spend ten minutes during screening. Although, they will still be asked to remove them if the officers feel that it’s possible to hide prohibited items in them.
Final Thoughts
Traveling by air is a good experience, but you might be put off by the heavy searching and screening at the airport. To avoid this, go for a pre-check enrollment. Not all airports have the precheck lane but you can maximize it when the airways you are about to board their planes have the lane that offers this service so that you won’t have to be delayed during screening. You can even go through the screening with your hats because you’ve been cleared beforehand. Your Known Traveler Number will keep you safe for five years and when it expires, you can get a new one.
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