What Airport Security Cameras Are Actually Looking For

There always seems to be a new airline security issue in the news, from unruly passengers causing trouble to rare hijacking attempts. However, anyone who has been on a flight knows that there are a number of security measures that are taken to help stop these incidents before they happen. Even before boarding your flight, there are airport security personnel and rules in place. We have to take out our laptops and small bottles of carry-on liquids (though new CT scanner upgrades at some airports are allowing passengers to leave them in their bags). We walk through machines that look for suspicious items on our person. And there are also cameras all over airports, watching our progress as we rush to our flights. If you have noticed them, you might have wondered what these cameras are actually looking for.

There are good reasons for this particular security measure, and while looking for suspicious activity may be their most obvious purpose, there are other uses as well, such as finding missing kids and improving the flow of foot traffic. While it may be uncomfortable to think about being on camera most of the time, having the devices there can help make your trip through the airport less arduous in addition to keeping you safe. 

Security is always a top concern at airports, and the cameras you see above and around you may notice things like someone suspiciously moving between lines (which might seem like normal behavior for someone who is late for a flight and looking for the shortest queue). They allow staff to check on unattended bags and even go back in time to find the bags' owners. They can see someone entering a restricted area or if there is an unusual concentration of people in one area. If a passenger goes missing, these cameras may also be used to track them.

However, airport cameras are also looking at lines, checking to see if they're too long and if that can be shifted. (It may be easier to see congestion from above rather than from the perspective of a staff member on the ground.) That can help with redistributing staff to deal with any bottlenecks in the security area; they can see if something is blocking an exit or security lane. It also allows airport teams to analyze movements over time and deploy staff members accordingly.

Even in the presence of cameras, there's no need to be overly self-conscious when going through the airport. But if you do want to get through security as quickly as possible, here is the right way to pack your luggage to avoid additional TSA screenings.