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As we head into the peak travel season, one of the most dreaded parts of your trip—the security checkpoint—could cause even more agita this year. Airports are expecting record crowds, but they’re already straining at the seams: Airlines for America predicts that 210 million travelers will fly this summer (a six-year high), yet staffing at checkpoints and Customs and Immigration hasn't gone up appreciably.
If you think you’re allowing enough time to get through the drill and to the gate on time, think again. Just the other week, a perfect storm of road traffic, airport construction and huge security lines at Newark Airport caused my family to practically miss a flight to Lisbon— despite the fact we’d added two hours to the time the trip would normally take as a precaution.
And sure, you can’t do much about the gridlock on the road, but you can strategize how you navigate through the backlog at security.
Consider enrolling in TSA PreCheck—but only if it makes sense for you.
Last summer, TSA launched its PreCheck express lane program for low-risk passengers; now that it’s in 118 airports with 11 airlines participating, members are signing up at a rate of 3,000 a day, says TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. The application process requires fingerprinting and an interview, but once you pass muster (and pay an $85 fee), you’re in for five years, meaning you get through security in five minutes or less, without having to remove shoes or jackets. But there are some caveats: You may not always get to use the fast lanes (TSA still sends some participants back to the slow lanes to keep the process 'random'), and lately the agency has been experimenting with letting non-members cut in, much to the annoyance of road warriors. And keep in mind that the membership is for individuals only; family members can’t tag along, although kids 12 and under can go through with a parent with Precheck status.
Last summer, TSA launched its PreCheck express lane program for low-risk passengers; now that it’s in 118 airports with 11 airlines participating, members are signing up at a rate of 3,000 a day, says TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. The application process requires fingerprinting and an interview, but once you pass muster (and pay an $85 fee), you’re in for five years, meaning you get through security in five minutes or less, without having to remove shoes or jackets. But there are some caveats: You may not always get to use the fast lanes (TSA still sends some participants back to the slow lanes to keep the process 'random'), and lately the agency has been experimenting with letting non-members cut in, much to the annoyance of road warriors. And keep in mind that the membership is for individuals only; family members can’t tag along, although kids 12 and under can go through with a parent with Precheck status.
If you travel overseas regularly, sign up for Global Entry instead; it costs $100, but that additional $15 gives you all the benefits of PreCheck plus expedited treatment at Customs and Immigration.
Get TSA’s mobile app
This app gives airport by airport updates on flight delays, along with estimates on checkpoint waits, with a crowdsourcing feature that lets users post their own wait times for the benefit of others. But that feature can be hit or miss: Travelers stuck on a long line tend to be more focused on just getting through, so the contributions are spotty. Still, it can be useful to scroll through and see the recent history for your airport: At Newark, for example, the waits in recent days ranged from “zero” minutes to more than a half hour. The app also has other useful info, including "Can I Bring?," an interactive list of allowed or verboten items. But some features need an update; on-time performance stats for airports, for example, use data from 2011.
This app gives airport by airport updates on flight delays, along with estimates on checkpoint waits, with a crowdsourcing feature that lets users post their own wait times for the benefit of others. But that feature can be hit or miss: Travelers stuck on a long line tend to be more focused on just getting through, so the contributions are spotty. Still, it can be useful to scroll through and see the recent history for your airport: At Newark, for example, the waits in recent days ranged from “zero” minutes to more than a half hour. The app also has other useful info, including "Can I Bring?," an interactive list of allowed or verboten items. But some features need an update; on-time performance stats for airports, for example, use data from 2011.
There are several good mobile apps from outside sources, too, including What’s Busy, offering comprehensive information on wait times for most major airports in the U.S. based on historical data.
Check your airport’s website for checkpoint locations and wait times
Familiarize yourself with the layout at your airline’s terminal: At some concourses, you have a choice of which checkpoint to use to get to your gate, and wait times can vary significantly. Some airports, including Washington Dulles and Houston, have taken it a step further and are posting real-time wait times to steer fliers to less crowded checkpoints.
Familiarize yourself with the layout at your airline’s terminal: At some concourses, you have a choice of which checkpoint to use to get to your gate, and wait times can vary significantly. Some airports, including Washington Dulles and Houston, have taken it a step further and are posting real-time wait times to steer fliers to less crowded checkpoints.
Alert the airline if you may miss your flight
If you’re on the end of a long security line and your flight is boarding, don’t wait—contact an airline representative immediately. Carriers used to station agents near checkpoints to help panicked passengers, usually by moving them to the front of the line, but you can’t count on that any more. Call the airline in advance for an estimate of when to arrive at the airport; if you followed their advice and still might miss your flight due to security, contact them by phone or via its Twitter feed, which may help. Or throw yourself on the mercy of a TSA agent, if you can find a sympathetic one; I’ve tried that with some success, but be prepared to make your case for why it’s essential you make your flight. (And don’t get angry—then you’ll be even worse off.)
If you’re on the end of a long security line and your flight is boarding, don’t wait—contact an airline representative immediately. Carriers used to station agents near checkpoints to help panicked passengers, usually by moving them to the front of the line, but you can’t count on that any more. Call the airline in advance for an estimate of when to arrive at the airport; if you followed their advice and still might miss your flight due to security, contact them by phone or via its Twitter feed, which may help. Or throw yourself on the mercy of a TSA agent, if you can find a sympathetic one; I’ve tried that with some success, but be prepared to make your case for why it’s essential you make your flight. (And don’t get angry—then you’ll be even worse off.)
Contributed by Barbara Peterson, www.cntraveler.com
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