New TSA rules might mean faster moving security lines, but the changes also mean certain small knives will be allowed on airplanes.
"They ought to be looking for bad people, not bad things."
According to the Transportation Security Administration, novelty baseball bats, golf clubs, pool cues, hockey sticks, and even small knives will be welcome in carry-on luggage come April 25.
"I believe the length of the blade is 2.36 inches. It can't be wider than a half an inch, can't have a molded grip," said Kelly Johnson, Director at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.
Some might be alarmed with blades making it past security, but Johnson wants flyers to know the changes will not jeopardize safety.
"What TSA is more interested in is the explosives they're trying to catch... The liquid based explosives, plastic sheet explosives."
Frequent flyer John Patrick Bolin is not too worried about seeing pocketknives on the plane.
"I've never really had a lot of concerns about my safety. I think they do a great job in the airport."
"These small tools really don't make that big a difference. You can snap off the stem of your glasses and you've got a weapon, you can take off your shoe and you've got a weapon, so this really is very logical," said Johnson.
The shift will also allow folks to fly through security.
"The time even that it takes TSA to dispose of all those things they collect really is enormous."
"I've actually had a few things that I've had to decide whether I was going to throw away, go back to the car... That seemd kind of inconsequential, so maybe it will add a little convenience for us," said Patrick.
Flying at least four days a week, Bolin hopes to see tensions ease with fewer surrendered souvenirs.
"Sometimes there's a little heated exchange there so this just takes away, I think, some of the elements that can cause that and really allows them to focus on the important stuff."
Johnson said as TSA improves technology, including imaging and testing equipment, she does anticipate addtional changes in the future.
Click here for detailed guidelines on the new TSA policies.
