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No, it’s not your imagination — TSA lines really are getting longer.
With the partial government shutdown causing staffing shortages at airports across the country and disrupting the usual flow of air travel, frustrated passengers-to-be have been forced to endure wait times up to three hours simply to check in for their flights.
“Between the government shutdown’s staffing shortages and busy spring break travel, we’re seeing a ‘perfect storm’ at many airports,” Benji Stawski, an NYC travel writer and personal finance expert, told The Post. “Fewer screeners mean fewer open lanes, translating directly to hours-long lines. It’s no longer enough to show up just two hours before your flight.”
The shutdown has been caused by a holdup between the GOP and Democrats, the latter of which are aiming to tie funding for the Department of Homeland Security — which covers TSA — to additional oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“It’s insane,” Texas traveler Chip B. recently told The Post, after having been stranded in the pre-check line at LaGuardia’s jam-packed Terminal B for 45 minutes. “If this is about getting short-handed with TSA agents, c’mon, let’s get them hired.”
Or, as a Connecticut traveler named Chris put it, US lawmakers need to “get their sh–t together.”
Being that travel plans can’t be put on hold forever, The Post has rounded up some tips from top travel experts on some last-minute hacks to make braving the lengthy airport security lines bearable, with only a small amount of prep required.
Make expedited security a priority
When it comes to skirting the TSA chaos, Stawski said that TSA PreCheck and CLEAR — a paid security membership that utilizes iris, fingerprint scans and facial imaging for identity verification — are “must-haves.”
Touchless, another biometric security screening program, is also an option.
“Unlike Global Entry, which requires a more involved application, both TSA PreCheck and CLEAR are incredibly easy to get quickly,” said Stawski. “PreCheck lets you keep your shoes on and laptops bagged, while CLEAR uses biometrics so you can completely skip the ID-checking line — exactly where the biggest travel jams are happening.”
Stawski also said that many premium travel credit cards will “fully reimburse” application fees.
David Slotnick, a contributing aviation editor for The Points Guy, cautioned that due to the up-in-the-air nature of airport staffing at this time, travelers should be prepared to potentially encounter temporary unavailability.
“While they’re good to have, they’re no replacement for leaving in plenty of time for the airport,” Slotnick told The Post.
Try terminal hopping
Not exactly the Hokey Pokey, but close.
Stawski advised travelers to stop thinking about airport security as “one single line” — noting that the terminal setup varies wildly by airport.
“I saw this firsthand flying out of Boston Logan’s terminal B this past weekend,” Stawski recalled. “There was virtually no line, but I heard it was a completely different story at another terminal.”
A trick to avoid the chaos altogether? See if your airport has airside-connected terminals — meaning it’s possible to walk past them post-security.
“If they do (have airside-connected terminals), it can be much faster to clear a quieter terminal’s security and just walk 10 minutes to your gate,” said Stawski, adding that travelers can check the airport website or use independent tracking tools for live wait times before leaving home.
Use AirTags to track luggage
Nothing’s worse than packing exactly what you need for a trip using your favorite luggage, only to have it vanish into the ether while traveling.
While Slotnick noted that checking bags can be “especially tricky” during the partial shutdown, AirTags can help you track your belongings down in the case of a mishap.
“Generally your bag shouldn’t be loaded onto a plane if you’re not on it, but in the event that you check a bag and it makes it to your destination after you miss your flight while you’re stuck in the security line, call airline customer service or go to the help desk at the airport. Once you get to your destination, most airlines have a representative near baggage claim who you can talk to.”
Slotnick added that while many airlines let passengers track checked baggage in their apps, he never checks a bag without slipping an Apple AirTag in “so I can track it myself.”
When all else fails, just leave early
Sometimes the simplest advice is the hardest to follow.
“Leave early — very early,” Slotnick said, advising passengers to arrive at the airport two to three hours earlier than usual. “If lines move quickly, you’ll have more time to kill at the airport, but that’s better than missing your flight.”
Slotnick recommended treating oneself to a sit-down meal at a terminal restaurant, grabbing a coffee and a magazine or getting a drink at the bar to make the experience a less stressful one.
“Monitor the situation,” said Slotnick. “Keep checking the latest info, because things change quickly, especially as flight schedules bring in banks of inbound or departing flights. But again, even if it looks like the lines are moving quickly, just leave extra time.”
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