Transportation Security Administration agents are not getting paid due to the partial government shutdown for nearly a month, with lines at airport security growing ever longer.
At major airports across the country, from Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta to Houston’s Hobby, lines to go through TSA grew more than an hour long, and more than three hours over the weekend.
Airport officials encourage travelers to arrive three or four hours before your flight, as well as check your airport’s TSA wait time trackers before heading to the airport.
But what if you miss your flight while standing in the TSA line?
TSA delays will not guarantee refunds.
If you get stuck in the TSA line and miss your flight, don’t expect a refund from your airline.
Airlines are required to refund air tickets when a flight is cancelled, changed or significantly delayed by the airline. According to the Department of Transportation, if a flight is canceled or delayed due to unexpected circumstances such as weather, the airline is not required to refund the ticket.
In some cases, airlines may offer an alternative flight or flight credit, but they must tell you if a refund is available.
TSA lines are considered part of the airport and not the responsibility of the airline, so line delays are not eligible for refunds.
How to Check TSA Wait Time Before Flying
The MyTSA app is usually a good place to check wait times, but during the government shutdown, this app is not being updated.
Instead, it is better to check social media and various websites of the airport you are traveling from.
Travelers departing from Atlanta Airport can check wait times at the five TSA checkpoints on the website. For example, after 8 a.m. on Friday the wait time for the North and Main checkpoints was more than 30 minutes, but by 9:45 a.m. the wait time dropped to just 10 and 15 minutes, respectively.
Is TSA PreCheck available now?
TSA PreCheck is still available through March 13. However, this may change as the government shutdown prolongs.
TSA agents are not being paid, and if this shutdown follows any trends of the past, employees will start walking out of work over missing pay checks. This means there will be a shortage of staff on the lines and many lines will be closed. If airports choose to prioritize their normal TSA lines, TSA PreCheck may be closed at some locations.
Irene Wright is an Atlanta Connect reporter on USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect team. Find her at X @IreneEWright or email her at (email protected).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missed your flight after an unusually long TSA line? Don’t expect a refund
Reporting by Irene Wright, USA TODAY/USA TODAY
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