We are promoting TSA Pre✓™, and our members are waiving the cost for some frequent flyers, allowing them to use frequent flyer miles to pay for the cost and giving TSA space in airports to set up Pre-Check walk-up processing stations.
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“TSA [is] blatantly extorting passengers into paid PreCheck program by under staffing TSA and causing ridiculous lines at airports”, Reddit user Zetavu posted on the website. “The only viable way to fix these long lines is for TSA to increase their staffing at checkpoints throughout the country”.
The special “therapy unicorns” with colourful manes come from the nearby Seven Oaks Miniature Therapy Horses programme in OH and they’re available for cuddles. Travelers in cities like Atlanta and Chicago are already reporting hours-long security lines.
On Sunday, more than 400 American Airlines passengers at Chicago’s O’Hare airport missed their flight because of long security lines. The TSA has fewer screeners and has tightened security procedures, which could be slowing down the lines. McCaul says he spoke to TSA administrator Admiral Peter Neffenger, who will be testifying before the committee about the issue next Wednesday.
While it has pledged to add 800 new security staff by June, those travelling around the U.S. need to be prepared for some long waits – and hopefully, a couple of clowns.
It took Erin Fooch two hours to get through security at O’Hare on Friday morning.
“The best way for travelers to ensure a quick trip through the security screening process is to prepare, prepare, prepare”, says the Administration’s press office. They encouraged passengers to share their TSA security line stories on Twitter and Instagram.
“The Department of Transportation’s benchmark of the maximum acceptable wait time is 29 minutes, but we are seeing lines that go 60 or 90 minutes at some major airports”, he wrote via email.
SouthWest is asking its employees to help move the lines along.
“Whatever we can do to free up their resources, we’re going to do it”, Donohue said. The federal agency authorized tripling of overtime.
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“I arrived here about four hours early, expecting the worst, but honestly I was pleasantly surprised”, said Chicago resident Carmen Rodriguez. They’re hoping more TSA dogs will screen people faster, hence speeding up the wait.
