Air travel is facing disruption due to long lines at airport security checkpoints.
Sunday and Monday saw hourslong waits at several airports, as Transportation and Security Administration officers missed their first full paycheck since the partial shutdown began.
At Houston’s Hobby Airport, travelers were warned to expect security lines stretching up to three hours. Delays were also reported at New Orleans, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, and Miami International.
A political dispute over federal funding for the Department of Homeland Security has led to TSA officers working without pay.
Airport operations had largely avoided major disruption until Sunday, when some staff did not show up to work.
While disruption seems to have moderated on Tuesday, travelers are being advised to arrive early and allow extra time to clear security, as wait times can shift depending on staffing levels and peak travel periods.
Here’s how you can stay prepared
One simple way to monitor conditions is to check the website of the airport you’re flying from.
Many airports, including major hubs like Atlanta, Houston, JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver, post live wait times on their websites.
These can also provide more specific insights. For example, DFW’s website shows the wait times at each checkpoint.
On Tuesday morning, all these airports had average wait times of under 30 minutes.
Most US airports also frequently update their own websites with travel advisories for passengers. For instance, on Tuesday morning, Houston Airports, which manages both Houston Hobby and George Bush International, has a notice telling travellers to arrive early.
You can also use the MyTSA mobile app. It provides estimated wait times in 15-minute intervals based on average checkpoint data.
It should be noted that the app says it sometimes uses historical data if the live data cannot be retrieved. The TSA also says it is not “actively” managing its sites during the partial shutdown, and so the app may not always be updated.
Alternatively, flight-tracking websites like Flightradar24 and FlightAware can also give insights into airport conditions.
FlightAware has a “Misery Map” which shows flight delays at airports around the country, which could be affected by the security lines.
Flightradar24 also shows the average delay for departing flights if you select an airport.
TSA PreCheck lanes remain open nationwide, though the agency has warned they could be suspended at individual airports if staffing shortages worsen.
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