Nothing can ruin a trip faster than underestimating the wait time for airport security, but there are ways travelers can stay ahead of it.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport screening can vary wildly from airport to airport or even hour to hour. That has been especially true during the partial government shutdown, which has snagged airport lines and resulted in hours-long waits in some places. However, there are several ways passengers can track these wait times so they’re prepared before heading to the terminal.
On Wednesday, United Airlines introduced the newest way to track wait times through the carrier’s mobile app. This update will be available for both standard security and TSA PreCheck lanes at its hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., the airline shared with Travel + Leisure.
“Our customers rely on our mobile app for all their travel needs, and this new feature lets them know what to expect and better plan their trip,” Jason Birnbaum, United’s chief information officer, said in a statement shared with T+L.
Travelers can also track wait times through individual airport websites, the MyTSA app, and more. However, it’s worth noting wait times can change drastically depending on demand, and predictions may not always be accurate.
These are the best ways to track TSA wait times, and what passengers need to know before their next trip.
United Airlines app
Passengers can find wait times in the “travel” section of the United mobile app. As the newest option, this is being launched as a pilot program with wait times updated throughout the day. Wait times are tabulated using data collected by the airline and are only available at United’s hubs in the United States: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Denver International Airport (DEN), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Delta Air Lines website
Delta Air Lines posts its own security wait times on its website, offering information for the carrier’s own hubs. This includes Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and LAX.
MyTSA app
In addition to providing information on what can and can’t be brought through airport security, the MyTSA app calculates estimated wait times for airports across the country as well as informs passengers if the TSA PreCheck line is open and if there are any Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) delays in effect. Travelers should note, however, the TSA does not break down wait times by terminal so the estimates are more helpful for a smaller airport with only one terminal rather than a larger one like JFK with multiple busy terminals.
The TSA’s app and website may also not be monitored at all times during the partial shutdown.
Individual airport websites
Many airports across the country post their own estimated wait times to their individual websites, allowing travelers to keep up to date before they head out the door. These include major hubs like JFK, LAX, EWR, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and more.
Qsensor
A digital travel service, Qsensor provides wait time data for TSA checkpoints at airports across the world through a mix of aggregation and crowdsourcing. The company offers both current wait times along with historic trends.
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