We’d all love to skip the queue at airport security, but according to one pilot, even crew members don’t always get the privilege.
In a TikTok video, American Airlines pilot Captain Steve revealed the ‘frustrating reason’ why you might see crew members in the security line.
One of his 237,000 followers asked Steve whether pilots and aircrew have to go through security like the rest of us, to which he answered: ‘Yes and no.’
‘Here domestically in the United States, there’s a thing called Known Crewmember,’ he explained.
‘It’s a portal that I can go through where they look at my ID, I’ve got a scan and a code, and they check me out on the computer.’
This isn’t the case in every airport around the world, but in the US, staff members don’t technically have to pass security thanks to the Known Crewmember system (KCM) which allows airline employees to bypass the typical checkpoints – such as physical screening.
According to Captain Steve, the separate KCM lane is to ‘trust the pilots and the aircrew’ and simultaneously ‘speed up the process for the passengers.’
But the aviator claims it doesn’t always work out, adding: ‘About a third of the time I get flagged or randomed, and I have to go through security with everybody else.’
To ensure its integrity, the KCM system uses an automated randomiser to select crew members for additional screening (in the regular security line).
This process serves as a built-in check and balance to maintain security standards, but Steve claims that this can delay things for passengers.
‘How many times were you in line putting yourself up on the belt and a crew of ten people butted in front of you and started putting their stuff up?’ he said.
‘It’s very frustrating and it slows down the whole process unnecessarily.’
The KCM programme for aircrew was implemented in the US in September 2011 under a joint initiative by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Airlines for America, and the Air Line Pilots Association International.
At the KCM point, participants in uniform must present two forms of identification for the TSA officer to confirm their identity – a valid government-issued photo ID and a valid unexpired Aircraft Operator ID or the National Air Transport Association ID.
Those not in uniform need three forms of ID – the above alongside an additional unexpired government-issued photo ID or valid Federal Aviation Administration Airman’s certificate for pilots. And flight attendants must also bring a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency.
However, there are criticisms of the system regarding abuse of reduced security. Last year, four flight attendants were arrested and accused of smuggling $8million (£6.4million) in drug money out of the KCM lane at JFK Airport in New York.
Although the US has the Known Crewmember Programme, not every airport or country offers the same process. In the UK for example, everyone – including pilots, flight attendants, airport staff and even security staff – have to go through security screening.
That said, in many countries (including the UK) aircrew and staff often have access to a separate line.
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