TSA wait times hit 3 hours Monday as partial government shutdown drags on
Editor's Note
Airport security wait times have soared at busy hubs across the country in recent days as the ongoing partial government shutdown surpassed three weeks this weekend.
Transportation Security Administration queues improved somewhat on Monday after a chaotic weekend. But it was hardly a breeze for travelers departing on family vacations amid the spring break rush.
Security lines snaked for a second straight day at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) on Monday, with wait times topping three hours by late morning. Travelers encountered similar situations over the weekend from Atlanta to New Orleans to Charlotte. Short staffing led the TSA to close some lanes and slow down processing in others, fueling hourslong backups and snarled passenger traffic in airport terminals.
In some cases, the delays caused travelers to miss their flights on Sunday — the busiest day for air travel in the U.S. since the tail end of the holiday rush in early January.
Biggest TSA disruption since partial shutdown began
This latest airport security crunch came as the partial government shutdown affecting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (which oversees the TSA) entered its fourth week.
TSA officers are essential federal employees and are expected to continue reporting to work during a shutdown — but without a paycheck. Those officers went more than a month without pay during the much larger government shutdown last fall.
Until this past weekend, we had not seen major airport security disruptions as a result of the current shutdown. But heading into the weekend, aviation leaders warned travelers that they could run into a frustrating situation at checkpoints if the partial federal shutdown dragged on much longer.
"People should be prepared as this drags out for longer lines," Todd Hauptli, CEO of the American Association of Airport Executives, had said at a news conference last week. "You're going to have to pack your patience if you're going to the airport."
That prediction rang true with major delays at some of the nation's busiest hubs, including Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). TPG's Summer Hull captured a photo of snaking lines as she departed IAH on a family trip.
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry: What to know
Despite the latest security slowdown, TSA PreCheck remained operational. This is notable because on Feb. 22, the Trump administration reportedly considered shuttering the fast-tracked lanes — before reversing course.
In fact, PreCheck remains a huge time-saver for passengers with access. At one point on Monday, HOU showed standard security wait times hovered at 180 minutes. The TSA PreCheck average wait? 10 minutes.
Global Entry remains shuttered
However, Global Entry remained shut down at airports across the country on Sunday, weeks after the DHS did move forward with suspending that expedited passport control program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
This means travelers returning home to the U.S. from abroad can expect to wait in the standard customs lanes, unless they can access a separate shortcut option such as Mobile Passport Control.
What to know about the TSA this week
If you're planning to fly in the coming days, here's how to prepare for your trip to the airport.
Get to the airport earlier than usual
For starters, I'd certainly plan to arrive at the airport a good 30 minutes (at a minimum) earlier than you normally would. Get there even earlier if you don't have access to a program that expedites your trip through security like TSA PreCheck or Clear.
"The best advice we can share with travelers is simple: plan ahead, arrive early and stay in communication with your airline," Jim Szczesniak, the Houston Airport System's director of aviation, said in a statement late Sunday.
Check if you can monitor wait times — but not via the TSA's app
Normally, we recommend using the MyTSA app to monitor wait times in real time. Unfortunately, that app is not reliable during a shutdown, when many nonessential services at DHS and the TSA are temporarily shuttered.
Instead, check whether the individual airport you're flying from offers real-time TSA line monitoring.
For instance, I was able to check the wait times at each checkpoint on Monday on a webpage run by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the nation's second-busiest.
A similar service at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Monday showed TSA lines of no more than 30 minutes — far better than what travelers encountered Sunday.
Follow your airport on social media
Also, be sure to follow your airport on social media. The major hubs most affected by the weekend's TSA delays have been posting updates and advice for travelers. These updates are giving flyers a sense of how early to get to the terminal.
Make use of TSA PreCheck Touchless ID
Plus, don't forget: If you have TSA PreCheck access (including via Global Entry), you should be eligible to use the TSA's TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program, which is among the fastest ways to get through airport security on a normal day.
A growing list of airports and airlines now offer the service. You'll need to opt in via your carrier in order to use this service, though.
Bottom line
How long will the TSA delays last, and how many airports will they affect? That all hinges on how long the federal shutdown lasts. The uncertainty is prompting leaders across the aviation and travel sectors to criticize lawmakers in Washington, D.C., who remain stuck in a stalemate.
"As TSA officers are facing a $0 paycheck this week, we are seeing firsthand the significant strains that the current DHS shutdown is causing across the aviation system," Chris Sununu, CEO of the airline trade group Airlines for America (and former governor of New Hampshire), said in a statement Sunday evening.
"The shutdown is having very real consequences, and hardworking federal aviation workers, the airline industry and our passengers are being used as a political football once again," Sununu added. "This is simply unacceptable."
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations