You’ve probably already heard horror stories about unusually long TSA security lines at airports, which may only get worse as the summer travel crush begins.
The TSA claims they’ve fixed (most of) the problems by adding more employees in the busiest cities. But just in case, here are some strategies to make sure you don’t miss your flight (or lose your cool).
Obviously, get to the airport super early. Two hours before boarding for domestic flights, three to four hours for international. Note that for some airports — such as cruise-heavy Miami — two hours might not be enough to get through security. If you hate waiting in terminals, this might be the time to splurge on an airline lounge day pass. American, for example, charges $50 for a one-day pass.
The best tip is perhaps one you’ve already heard. Sign up for TSA PreCheck ($85 for five years) or Global Entry. I prefer Global Entry because it includes PreCheck; it’s also valid for five years for a $100 fee. Some premium credit cards, such as the Amex Platinum Card, reimburse the fee, and premium members of Orbitz’s rewards program get PreCheck for free.
The only problem with PreCheck is availability — in many airports, the special lines are only open for a few hours a day. Still, not only are PreCheck lines much shorter than regular TSA lines, you don’t have to take out your laptop and liquids, and you can leave your shoes and light jacket on.
Another clever hack is to buy priority access. That lets you travel lines such as JetBlue’s Even More Speed — which gives you expedited security checks. United has a similar program called Premier Access, which starts at $15 per flight. Delta calls it Sky Priority and it’s available at select airports. If you really want to make your flight in time and you fly Delta, their VIP Select Service is offered at LAX, JFK, San Francisco, LaGuardia, and Atlanta. For $250 on top of any Delta fare, you’re escorted to the front of the TSA line, score Sky Club lounge access and even get a transfer between flights via a private car service on the tarmac. Call their VIP phone line (855-235-9847) to book. American has a similar program, but it’s only available to business and first class passengers.
Time-savers might also consider flying from less busy airports. If you live on Long Island, for instance, try Islip rather than JFK. Long Beach usually has shorter lines than LAX, and so on. Try to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday when airports are less busy. Some times of the day (such as midday) are slower than during the morning and evening rush, so lines should be shorter.
George Hobica is the founder of Airfarewatchdog. For more tips and low fares, follow him on Twitter @airfarewatchdog.