The Transportation Security Administration said it expects to hire 800 additional security screeners in June to help with backed-up security lines at airports across the United States. Financial cutbacks at the TSA and increased U.S. air travel have made security lines busier, leading some airlines to recommend travelers arrive at least two hours before domestic flights. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI |
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CHICAGO, May 16 (UPI) -- Nearly 500 people missed their flights at one of the busiest airports in the United States on Sunday night, further exemplifying a major challenge facing the Transportation Security Administration -- and the busy summer travel season hasn't even started yet.
About 450 passengers stood in TSA security lines so long Sunday at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport that by the time they reached their gates, their flights were gone. Many spent the night in the terminal sleeping on a cot.
Similar scenes have also played out at other airports across the nation because the federal agency is understaffed, due to cutbacks, and increased air travel.
American Airlines said nearly 800 people missed their flights at O'Hare between May 8 and May 15 due to long security lines.
Some passengers have reported standing in the security line for as many as two hours at O'Hare, and travelers worry the wait times might get even worse when the summer travel season ramps up. Airlines have been asking travelers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before scheduled domestic flights.
But some passengers in Chicago Sunday said even that wasn't enough.
"Got here two and a half hours before my flight and security took two to three [hours] to get through," stranded traveler Kevin Revis told Chicago's ABC 7.
American Airlines said between May 8 and May 15 nearly 800 passengers missed their flights at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (pictured) because of long lines at TSA checkpoints. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
"I'd never seen this before. Completely unexpected," Adnan Ahmed echoed.
To help pick up some of the slack, airports around the nation are pitching in to do whatever they can in non-security roles -- like helping passengers in line, offering small comforts to frustrated flyers, and even providing entertainment.
"[Staffers will be] standing in line, telling people to take shoes off, take electronics out and bag of liquids out," an American Airlines representative said.
The TSA has said it expects to hire 800 additional screeners next month and approve overtime hours for existing employees to help shore up the gap.
Until then, though, there is a way you can cut down your wait time at most airports in the United States -- the TSA's Pre-Check program.
Travelers can enroll in the program online, submit to a background and fingerprint check and pay a one-time fee. Approval takes a couple of weeks, but Pre-Check passengers are able to use a special security line that is usually a fraction of the length of normal checkpoint lines.
