TSA Lines: Trying to Get Past Airport Security Faster? Get in Line #IHateTheWait

Officials at the Transportation Security Administration thought they had the solution for long lines at airports: “PreCheck” – It has not worked as planned.

It has not worked as planned.

Customers who apply for the program, which requires a fee of $85 and a background check, say they continue to face long waits to obtain the PreCheck clearance. Such delays could grow worse because the number of people signing up for PreCheck has more than tripled in the last few months, climbing to 16,000 a day on average in May, agency officials said.

That surge has led to long delays in processing applications. Dozens of passengers who have recently tried to sign up for PreCheck say they have been given appointments for the in-person interviews needed to complete the process that are weeks or even months away.

TSA Lines: Why They’re So Long, and What You Can Do About It #IHateTheWait

TSA Lines: Why They’re So Long, and What You Can Do About It

With travelers increasingly frustrated, the Transportation Security Administration has finally spoken.

Long lines at airports are nothing new. Yet in recent weeks, understaffing, heightened periods of travel, and stricter security measures have created a perfect storm and brought the issue to a boiling point: Port Authority has threatened to replace the TSA with private contractors, and airlines have spoken out on behalf of the traveler. There’s even a designated hashtag—#IHateTheWait—and viral videos of passengers stuck in long lines, and at airports overnight. Now, the TSA is finally addressing the issueREAD MORE