TSA Offers Advice On Avoiding Long Lines At The Airport
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- With the busy summer travel season approaching, the Transportation Security Administration is reminding the public what not to bring to the airport.
At Miami International Airport Wednesday, the TSA showed how prohibited items can lead to longer waits through security.
Most of us have been there before. You watch your bag go through the screener and hope you don't hear those dreaded words.
"Please stand to the side, I have to inspect your bag."
Experienced travelers already know how to make wait times shorter.
"Packing the way they want you to pack," said one.
More often that not, it's common household items that cause delays.
"We are going to have an over-sized liquid, in this case, a big bottle of shampoo," said TSA spokesman Mark Howell, grabbing the prohibited item from someone's suitcase.
The TSA showed us how prohibited items can turn a ripple of a wait into a tidal wave through security with worry-free bags. Ten people move through in two minutes but when those same people have liquids or other questionable items, it can turn into a nearly 11-minute wait.
"We're seeing a record volume coming in. More than we've ever seen. So we're trying to get out there and kind of show what some of the causes of wait times are," said Howell.
Around the country, long security lines are frustrating passengers. American Airlines claims in one week nearly 6,800 flyers missed flights because of tie-ups.
TSA says no one waited more than 75 minutes.
"It goes by fast. Maybe, like, less than 20 minutes," mentioned a traveler on line.
That's also what other passengers told CBS4's Joan Murray going through a long security line during a peak hour at Miami International Airport. Long wait times there and at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International are generally not an issue.
"It moves quickly. At least it does in Miami. New Orleans, it didn't. New Jersey..." said another traveler.
The TSA suggests passengers follow the tried and true rule -- arrive early.