The Transportation Security Administration is retiring the Known Crewmember program and replacing it with a new system called Crewmember Access Point, a move that reshapes how airline pilots and flight attendants move through airport security checkpoints. For frequent flyers who travel alongside crew members or hold airline employee benefits, understanding the transition timeline, new procedures, and potential ripple effects on checkpoint wait times is essential. This article examines what Crewmember Access Point changes, how the rollout is structured, and what the shift means for the broader airport security experience in 2026.
Known Crewmember has allowed vetted airline pilots and flight attendants to bypass standard TSA screening lanes at participating airports, using a dedicated lane with streamlined identity verification. Under the new Crewmember Access Point system, the verification process shifts to a centralized digital platform that integrates crew credentials with real-time TSA vetting databases. The physical checkpoint experience may change at some airports, with new dedicated access points replacing the legacy KCM podiums. Crew members must ensure their employing airline has updated their credential records in the new system to avoid being redirected to standard passenger screening lanes during the transition.
TSA is rolling out Crewmember Access Point in phases across U.S. airports throughout 2026. Major hubs including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Chicago O’Hare are among the first wave of airports receiving the upgraded access points, with smaller regional airports following in subsequent phases. During the transition, some airports may operate both KCM and CAP access points simultaneously, creating potential confusion at checkpoints. Crew members should check TSA communications and their airline’s internal notices for specific activation dates at their base airports and layover locations to avoid unexpected delays.
The retirement of KCM could indirectly affect frequent flyers who use TSA PreCheck and standard screening lanes. When KCM lanes go offline at an airport without an immediate CAP replacement, crew members may be directed through PreCheck or standard lanes, increasing passenger volume and wait times. Airports with limited checkpoint infrastructure are particularly vulnerable to this bottleneck effect during crew shift changes in the early morning and late afternoon. Travelers passing through airports undergoing the KCM-to-CAP transition should allow extra time for security and monitor TSA wait-time apps for real-time updates.
Travelers who invested in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry based on the expectation of dedicated expedited lanes may wonder if the crew lane shuffle impacts the value of these programs. TSA PreCheck lanes remain separate from crew access points, and the agency has not indicated any reduction in PreCheck lane capacity as a result of CAP implementation. However, if crew overflow into PreCheck lanes becomes persistent at certain airports, travelers with flexible schedules may want to adjust their arrival times or consider Clear as a complementary expedited screening option to hedge against unpredictable wait times.
Crew members should confirm several items before heading to the airport during the transition: that their airline has updated their profile in the CAP database, that their employing carrier participates in the new system, and that their destination airport has activated CAP lanes. Airlines are responsible for enrolling their crew members, and any gap between KCM deactivation and CAP activation could result in temporarily redirected screening. Crew traveling on personal standby or non-rev tickets should also verify whether CAP access remains available when flying for leisure rather than duty.
This article is based on TSA public announcements, airline internal memos regarding KCM retirement and CAP rollout, and checkpoint configuration data from major U.S. airports. Crewmember access policies are subject to change during the phased implementation period. Confirm current status with TSA and your airline before travel.
Q: Does Crewmember Access Point affect passenger screening lanes? A: Indirectly. During the transition, crew overflow into PreCheck or standard lanes may increase wait times at some airports, though TSA intends to minimize this impact.
Q: Will TSA PreCheck members see longer lines because of this change? A: Possibly at airports where CAP implementation lags behind KCM decommissioning. Check real-time wait times through the MyTSA app on travel days.
Q: Are flight attendants and pilots automatically enrolled in CAP? A: No. Airlines must update crew records in the new system. Crew members should verify their enrollment status through their employer.
Q: Does this change affect Clear or other expedited screening programs? A: No direct impact. Clear and TSA PreCheck operate independently of the crew screening system and remain unchanged.