Airport security is rarely the highlight of a person’s vacation. Long lines, confusing practices, and changing regulations are the norm. In today’s travel environment, even the TSA PreCheck lines can be slow and long. As frustrating as this is for the general public, it’s easy to imagine how problematic it must be for the pilots and flight attendants who pass through security checkpoints simply to get to their workplace.
How do flight crew get through the airport?
If you’ve ever wondered whether pilots and flight attendants must go through TSA and airport security, the answer is yes, they do, but they don’t follow the same process as the general public.
This doesn’t mean pilots and flight attendants get to breeze through the airport without any kind of security check, but they do get special privileges. These privileges are about to change.
Flight crews currently participate in KCM
For over a decade, the TSA’s Known Crewmember (KCM) program has allowed verified airline crew members to access expedited security lanes. Introduced in 2011, KCM was designed to streamline airport operations by enabling crew members to bypass standard security checks.
Under KCM, uniformed crew members could present their credentials and boarding passes to gain quicker access to secure areas on their way to work.
Despite the expedited lanes, crew members were still subject to random security checks and had to adhere to standard security protocols. One notable exception is the 3-1-1 liquid rule, which limits most passengers to one quart-sized bag of containers of liquids weighing no more than 3.4 ounces each. Flight crews are exempt from this rule and can fly with a wide range of items, from bottles of olive oil to full-sized toiletries, while on duty.
In 2025, changes were made to the KCM program.
KCM will be discontinued
KCM is being replaced with a stricter program
2025 was a big year in aviation. Perhaps the most significant change was the decision to drop the “shoes off” requirement at security checkpoints. Although it didn’t make as many headlines, 2025 also saw the discontinuation of the KCM program due to potential security risks. The program is scheduled to officially terminate in late November.
KCM is being replaced with the Crewmember Access Point (CMAP) program, which will implement more stringent security measures, including biometric verification, to provide enhanced safety and security.
Non-uniformed crew members and TSA
Flight crews pass through security like the general public on their day off
Crew members traveling out of uniform or off-duty are required to use standard passenger lanes and participate in the same screening process as the general public, including the 3-1-1 liquid rule.
In other words, if you see pilots and flight attendants on their day off, they’ll be standing in line with the rest of us.