“One cringe-worthy thing I’ve noticed is that some of these people who get in TSA PreCheck lines are clearly not experienced travelers”, said Josh Arnold, a frequent Twin Cities-based flier who paid the $85 fee for PreCheck.
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Tens of thousands of American Airlines’ passengers have missed flights due to the long waits, Isom said in a letter to employees.
The TSA is trying to hire hundreds of officers at airports across the country.
Of the almost 1,000 trained dogs now deployed nationally by the TSA, only about 320 are screening passengers, baggage and cargo at airports, mass-transit and maritime stations. The TSA is relocating screeners and canine teams to the 20 busiest airports, such as Chicago’s O’Hare.
Atlanta’s airport website has suggested passengers get to the airport two to three hours before their flight departs to ensure they get through the checkpoint.
More people are flying, thanks to a mix of a strong economy, more flights and lower fares.
“The passengers at O’Hare and Midway will decide if the wait times are reasonable, not bureaucrats”, he said.
The trade organization that represents US airlines is asking Congress to return $13 billion in TSA fees that it diverted in 2013 to pay down the budget deficit.
Neffenger called the money a “good down payment” but said more resources were needed to address a shortage of screeners.
“What’s going on at the airports in Chicago is absolutely unacceptable”, he said.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said, “It is unfair to the traveling public”.
Under TSA’s Screening Partnership Program, 22 of about 450 commercial US airports, including San Francisco International Airport, use private screeners, who must follow TSA procedures.
Pre-Check is a much quicker and more efficient system.
“I want Chicago to be a pilot city”, he said. “We thought, ‘Oh, TSA will figure it out by June, no problem.’ If not, it will be quite the travel adventure”.
Neffenger said travelers could see long security lines throughout the summer, as airlines expect a record number of air travel this year.
“I think this summer is going to be a challenge”, said Neffenger, speaking at a news conference at O’Hare International Airport along with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and members of the IL congressional delegation.
Another part of the problem is the loss of Managed Inclusion, which the TSA implemented to help reduce long security lines.
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But bringing on more private contractors isn’t a feasible short-term fix. In this plea, Secretary Johnson outlined specific issues that TSA was having that have led to the long lines.
