Do you have to go through TSA again for connecting flights? No, you do not. As long as you don't exit the security area, you are okay. Upon arrival from an international destination, you will need to recollect your luggage, go through customs and immigration, and then re-check your bags after you have been cleared.

Whether you need to go through TSA security for a connecting flight in 2026 depends entirely on the nature of your arrival and the layout of the airport. For domestic-to-domestic connections within the United States, you typically stay "airside" (behind the security barrier) and do not need to clear TSA again, provided your bags are checked through and you don't exit the terminal. However, if you are arriving on an international flight, you must clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon landing, collect your checked luggage, and then re-clear TSA security before heading to your domestic connection. This is because international arrivals are funneled into a non-secure area. Additionally, some airports have disconnected terminals (like LAX or JFK) where moving from one to another might require exiting the secure zone and re-entering through a TSA checkpoint. As of February 2026, remember that REAL ID enforcement is in full effect, so ensure your state ID has the star marking or carry your passport to avoid the new non-compliance fees when re-clearing security during these transitions.