- TSA security checkpoints are experiencing longer lines due to the government shutdown.
- Spring break will make airports extra busy as TSA agents are working without pay.
- Many airports share live security wait times on their apps.
As the partial government shutdown continues, air travelers are facing longer lines at Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints across the nation. This all comes as airports are ramping up due to spring break travelers.
The Department of Homeland Security shut down in mid-February after Congress failed to agree on how to fund the agency. Essential workers, like TSA officers, continue to go to work without pay, and this week they missed their first full paycheck.
There are currently around 60,000 TSA agents working without pay, and since the shutdown started, over 300 TSA officers have left the agency, according to ABC News.
The long lines at airports come as spring break season is about to be in full swing and millions of people will be moving through airports. Here’s a look at what you need to know to make your trip through the airport go more smoothly.
Arrive at the airport early
TSA’s general guidelines recommend travelers arrive at the airport two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.
But since the airports are busy for spring break and TSA lines are longer, it can help to check the wait times at your airport. TSA’s app normally shows real-time wait times, but because of the shutdown, the app is not being updated regularly, according to The Points Guy.
Several airports, like Salt Lake City International, have their own apps that provide live wait times for security.
CNN is also tracking the TSA wait times of a number of airports across the U.S., including Salt Lake City, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
According to Business Insider, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and George Bush International Airport in Houston had the longest wait times for security. Atlanta’s waits reach two hours during the morning rush and later dropped to 80 minutes. In Houston travelers dealt with lines of up to two and a half hours.
Download your airline’s app
To keep track of exactly when your flight will leave — and from which gate — it can be helpful to download your airline’s app.
Most of the major airlines have apps that provide information on gate location, delays and baggage retrieval. Having the app can help you be aware of any potential delays or cancellations for your flights.
Be prepared for TSA
Many seasoned travelers know exactly what they can and cannot take through TSA’s security checks. But for those who don’t go through airports as often, it can be important to check TSA’s guidelines of what not to bring.
When people aren’t trying to bring prohibited items through security, it makes the process go more smoothly for everyone. It is also helpful to know that TSA no longer requires travelers to take off their shoes when going through security.
It can also be helpful to have your ID out and ready for when you reach the front of the line.