Enhanced security measures are in force at the nation's airports, including Little Rock National Airport. Many of the responsibilities for airport security, including passenger and baggage screening, are now being handled by the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
All of the measures are in place for the protection of the traveling public.
All surface parking lots and the parking deck are open. There are vehicles that are not permitted in the short-term parking lots directly in front of the ticketing lobby and immediately west of the terminal and the parking deck.
The vehicles not permitted are pickup trucks with closed beds or toolboxes or camper beds, trailers and panel vans. Those vehicles can be parked in the long-term surface lots. In addition, vehicles entering the short-term parking lots and the parking deck are subject to visual inspections. It is advisable to take unneeded packages out of your vehicle before coming to the airport if you intend to park in short-term surface lots or the parking deck. If packages are sealed and cannot be visually inspected, vehicles may be denied entry into the short-term surface lots or the parking deck.
Additional security measures include:
- American, Delta and Southwest have resumed curbside baggage check-in, after implementing enhanced security procedures as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Curbside baggage check-in is only available if you are ticketed by one of the three airlines.
- Only one carry on bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase or laptop is allowed. If a laptop is carried through security screening, it must be taken out of the case, and both case and laptop run through x-ray.
- A no tolerance policy on unattended vehicles left in front of the terminal. If vehicles are left unattended in those areas, they will be immediately towed
- Allowing only ticketed passengers beyond the security screening point. You should contact your airline if you hold an e-ticket to determine the documentation needed to verify that you are ticketed
- Enhanced baggage searches at the ticket counters and gates
- Photo identification checks at the ticket counter, gates and security screening point
With the addition of a third passenger screening station at Little Rock National, wait times at the security-screening checkpoint have been reduced. The third station is being used as an "express lane" and is restricted to passengers with no carry-on luggage (a personal item such as a purse or briefcase is allowed), airline flight crews and employees of the airport and of other tenants. The wait times at security screening are a direct product of passenger loads and flight schedules. Given the enhanced security procedures, it is wise to arrive at the airport early enough to ensure that you can complete the check-in process and make it to your flight on time. Since the wait times at security screening are a direct product of passenger loads and flight schedules, passengers will experience longer lines during peak periods, including early-to-mid-morning and late-afternoon-to-early evening.
At security screening, passengers will be asked to remove outer garments (coats, jackets, sweaters, etc.) and to place them on the x-ray machine belt. In addition, you should be prepared to empty all pockets of all items including cell phones and pagers and place those items in trays provided at security screening. The screening process will be expedited if you do not wear an excessive amount of jewelry or other metal objects.
There are a large number of contraband items not allowed either on your person on in carry-on luggage. The best rule of thumb to follow is if you have doubts about an item, it is best to put it in your checked baggage. Passengers can ask for guidance on whether or not an item is prohibited from airline personnel at the ticket counter.
Passengers are encouraged to report unattended items or any suspicious activity at the airport to the uniformed police officers, National Guard troops or airport staff.
For more information about new security regulations, please visit the Transportation Security Administration's website at www.tsa.dot.gov and go to the "Traveler Tips and Prohibited Items" section. In addition, wait times at passenger screening are now available for Little Rock National and other airports across the nation. When you go to the TSA website, click on Security Checkpoint Wait Times under the Travel Tips section.
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