For travelers hoping to board a plane this week, inclement weather and long security lines at airports could cause headaches.
With the partial government shutdown impacting the Transportation Security Administration’s funding, TSA officers are out of work at high rates after missing their first full paycheck.
“It’s devastating to their finances,” Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the AFGE TSA Council 100 and a Dallas-based TSA worker, told USA TODAY. “My family had to get rid of our vacation plans, and everyone struggled. There are a lot of people who don’t have money for food, gas and child care; it’s a sad situation.”
Jones acknowledged that TSA agents are off the job and said many people have had to find other ways to earn income as the shutdown continues.
“There’s no end in sight to this; they don’t know how long this will go on,” he said.
For travelers, long lines can be frustrating and stressful.
Are long security lines at airports real?
Yes, but they may vary.
At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, the line to get in was out the door on March 16, while at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, the wait time was reportedly less than 5 minutes.
The AUS posted footage on Twitter showing the normal security line for its Checkpoint 1 at 4:30 a.m. local time on March 16, stretching out of the building, well across the sidewalk and into the walkway. The video shows passengers with backpacks and rolling suitcases, alternating between moving and standing still under a dark sky as they make their way to the indoor screening area. According to later posts, by 5:30 a.m., the line had shortened slightly and had moved inside by 5:41, although the airport noted “there are still some lines being seen outside for general screening with CLEAR.”
Since TSA agent call-outs are not planned, wait times at airports can be unpredictable.
Eric Hansen, senior vice president of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association, told USA TODAY that the threat of long security lines could also deter travel.
“The callouts are not organized, which is why travelers are really facing the threat of long lines and the unpredictability of not knowing whether it’s going to be a 15-minute wait time or a three-hour wait time,” he said, noting that travelers have to be prepared for the worst when headed to the airport, even if they ultimately don’t have to wait in long lines.
USTA is calling on members of Congress to pass legislation to end the shutdown and restore easy travel.
Many passengers have written on social media about how unusual and confusing the situation can be.
One user on BlueSky wrote, “I’ve never seen anything like the TSA lines at LaGuardia. Crazy.” “Pretty sure the line goes back to Midtown.”
“We are outcome specific, we want to make sure (TSA officers) are paid, that they come to work and get the pay checks they deserve to keep Americans safe while in flight,” Hansen said. “We are telling (members of Congress) that this is unacceptable, that they are keeping America waiting, slowing America down.”
What if I miss my flight due to long lines at TSA?
You are not entitled to a refund if you miss your flight due to long security lines, so make sure you leave extra time at the airport if you’re traveling during the shutdown.
American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on whether there were any significant changes in the situation for passengers who missed their flights. United Airlines said it had no data to share.
When will TSA lines return to normal?
It depends.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (TSA is part of DHS) told USA TODAY in a statement that security vetting delays are likely to increase as the shutdown progresses.
“American travelers across the country are facing hours-long lines at airports, a situation that will only get worse if the shutdown continues,” the statement said. “More than 300 TSA officers have walked off the job since the DHS shutdown began and callouts are at nearly double the normal rate.”
The spokesperson said DHS expects the number of resignations and call-outs to increase if the shutdown continues longer. While TSA agents missed their first full pay check on March 13, most received only partial payments last pay period.
“When you get partial pay, when you expect $2,000 and you get $500, and then you expect $2,000 and you get zero, now you’re at a $3,500 difference,” Jones said. “I don’t have anyone I can call and ask for $3,500.”
For travelers, the best thing to do for now is to leave extra time at the airport and check your airport’s website and social media for the latest information about wait times, as TSA pages are not being updated during the shutdown.
Also, remember to be respectful when visiting TSA officers.
“If you’re stuck in a long line and you’re in a situation that you’ll miss your flight, just know, or if your lines are long and you make your flight, just know that it’s not the TSA officer’s fault. The people who are on duty are making sure to follow the policies and procedures to make sure you get to your destination safely,” Jones said. “Just because the line is long, we will not deviate from those policies and procedures; the risks are too high in the situation we find ourselves in.”
Zach Vischer is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York, and you can contact him at (email protected).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Some TSA lines are minutes, others hours. What’s going on?
Reporting by Zach Vischer, USA TODAY/USA TODAY
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