How To Avoid Long Lines at Airport Security Checkpoints
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DFW AIRPORT (CBS11) - When it comes to air travel, Cambria Masci knows what she's doing.
She says because she signed up for TSA Pre-check, she recently made it through the security checkpoint in just 11 minutes.
But she said, "My son traveled with me without pre-check, 22 minutes, twice the time."
Masci travels often and tries to time her trips to avoid lines.
"So we hit a window where there was less flights so that we wouldn't have a long wait," said Masci.
Government statistics show the lines at security checkpoints at DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field move relatively quickly.
The TSA says 98 percent of travelers at DFW wait less than 20 minutes to get through security.
There are 14 checkpoints throughout the airport.
The TSA says most travelers at Love Field wait 15 minutes or less.
A spokesman for the City of Dallas which owns the airport north of downtown, says when they reach 15,000 reservations at any given time, they institute a program known as "Double the Love."
That's when they bring in more TSA and other employees to keep the lines moving.
But long lines have become a regular feature at other airports across the country.
Because of that, the TSA fired its security chief.
Now the agency is bringing in more canines, having employees work overtime and speeding up hiring new workers to reduce lines and wait times at the other airports.
Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, and LAX especially have been hit very hard.
If you think it's bad now, Rick Seaney of Dallas-based Farecompare.com says just wait.
"This is just a small taste at what this is going to look like because the summer passengers, traffic is going to be heading up at least somewhere between five and ten percent," said Seaney.
To avoid long lines, Seaney suggests avoiding flights on the busy days: Sunday, Monday,and Friday and those between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
He also recommends joining Global Entry and TSA Pre-check, two government programs that will help you get through the checkpoint faster.
Seaney, the TSA and airlines also urge travelers to arrive at the airport at least two hours early for domestic flights, and even earlier for international trips.
The bottom line Seaney says don't miss your flight.
"You do not want to miss your flight or connecting flight or international flight," said Seaney. "It's hard to get another flight the next day."
A spokesman with American Airlines says if you miss your flight, the next available one, may not be the next flight out.
It could be the next day.
Planes are full with few, if any empty seats, especially during the summer.
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