As the partial government shutdown approaches 40 days, and T.S.A. officers continue to work unpaid, the time it takes to get through security has stretched to hours at some airports. Among the worst: George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, where 40 percent of officers have been calling out, resulting in lines that have topped six hours.
How long you will wait if you are flying now depends on the airport, the time of day and how many officers are showing up. There are no guaranteed methods to getting through the lines quickly. But there are some actions that may help you get on your flight.
How early should I get to the airport?
The standard advice to arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight has been stretched during the government shutdown. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is recommending passengers “allow at least four hours or more for domestic and international screenings.”
Sometimes even that hasn’t been enough, with some travelers saying they waited as much as six hours. But wait times vary by airport and by time of day, and there isn’t a reliable central source of information for them. “The MyTSA app currently lacks accurate real-time data,” said Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going.com, a membership service for cheap flights.
Additionally, some airports that normally report real-time wait times, like Kennedy Airport in New York, have been turning off their trackers.
Ms. Nastro recommends visiting airport websites and following your airport’s social media accounts for updates. Fliers can also search for hashtags identifying the airport to get real-time reports from other travelers.
Is there any way to get through security faster?
Maybe.
T.S.A. PreCheck saves time over most regular security screenings (five-year memberships cost $85).
“T.S.A. PreCheck lines have not been impacted nearly as badly, with wait times under 10 minutes in most instances,” said Eric Rosen, the director of travel content at the Points Guy, a website covering travel and loyalty points.
So if you are a member, make sure that your known traveler number is registered with your airline and the PreCheck logo shows up on your boarding pass. If it’s available, opt into Touchless ID, which uses facial recognition technology to identify PreCheck fliers, which can save you even more time. (T.S.A. PreCheck Touchless ID will be available at 65 airports this spring, according to the agency.)
But at some of the busiest airports, PreCheck lines have been closed and members are sent through the general line. You can still sign up for the program online, and a spokeswoman for the agency said applications were still being processed during the shutdown.
Travelers can still join Clear, a nongovernment service that uses biometric identification to get you through the line even faster (membership costs $209 per year and includes T.S.A. PreCheck). Clear lanes, however, are only available at about 60 airports nationwide. And even those have been closed at times at the busiest airports. On Facebook, Clear has reported periodic lane closures, including at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, where the T.S.A. shortage has led to some of the longest lines in the country.
Many premium credit cards offer Clear as a benefit. If yours is not one of them, you can join at the airport and cancel within 14 days if you decide not to continue with the program; just remember to cancel in time. The company is encouraging people who want to join to download the Clear mobile app and complete their enrollment ahead of time; then they can go to the Clear lane upon arrival at the airport.
What if I miss my flight because of a long security line?
At some airports, the T.S.A. lines have been so long that even travelers who arrived hours early have missed their flights. Navigating security is your responsibility, not the airline’s; legally, they are not required to do anything for you.
However, many airlines have been working to rebook passengers who have been trapped by security bottlenecks, usually without charging a change fee or collecting the fare difference.
“If a customer is unable to make their flight due to T.S.A. wait times, we will rebook them on the next available flight with no additional charge,” said a Southwest Airlines spokesman by email.
If you are in line and realize you are not going to make it in time to board, reach out to your airline’s customer service number or social media support to start the rebooking process.
Fliers should stay on the secured side of the airport, seek out the airline help desk and, in case it’s quicker, call the airline’s toll-free number for service. If you have access to an airline lounge, head there to find a customer service agent.
If I make it through, will I be able to hang out in the lounge?
Premium credit cards like those issued by American Express and Capital One make access to their dedicated lounges one of their central perks. Guests may access the lounges up to three hours before departure, with exceptions for connecting flights. Members cannot make reservations, though they can join digital wait lists on the mobile apps of the lounges when the lounges are at capacity.
Most airline-run lounges restrict entry to members flying with the airline that day. Access hours may be restricted. Delta Sky Clubs, for example, limit entry to three hours before a scheduled departure time.
United Airlines applies the three-hour rule to one-time passholders, though the limit is waived during a connection.
The independent Priority Pass offers access to perks in more than 1,800 locations globally, including lounges, spa treatments and sleeping pods (membership plans start at $99 annually, with each visit costing $35).
Members may find their access restricted to three hours before takeoff at some Priority Pass lounges, including the Club SFO at San Francisco International.
Will travel insurance help?
Not in this case. The government shutdown, because it is a “known event,” is not covered by travel insurance.
“Long T.S.A. security lines are generally not a covered reason, as they’re considered both foreseeable and within the traveler’s responsibility to plan for,” a spokeswoman for SquareMouth, an insurance platform, said.
If you have already bought travel insurance and purchased a “cancel for any reason” add-on, you could decide not to fly and get reimbursed. However, it is relatively expensive, must be purchased within a week or two of the time you started paying on the trip and only pays back 50 to 75 percent of your trip investment. Additionally, most policies require you to cancel no less than 48 hours in advance, so it won’t help you with a last-minute decision.
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Elaine Glusac is The Times’s Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.
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