Good luck. I will be in Vegas in a few weeks. Would you give a SITREP of Vegas TSA? I'm departing late afternoon but any info would be appreciated.

IIRC the wait time data in the app is sourced from app users who report wait times. No way to know how many people actually do that, or how accurate the info might be. That makes the app useless IMO.

I apologize if this questions is answered upthread... it's quite a long thread, and I didn't get a chance to read every response.

I'm flying out of JFK on a domestic flight Thursday night. I got he following email:
"YOU WILL LIKELY ENCOUNTER LONGER WAIT TIMES AT SECURITY CHECKPOINTS.

Due to current Transportation Security Administration (TSA) capacity, you will likely experience longer-than-usual security lines at your departure airport. To ensure you make it to your gate in time, please plan to arrive at least 2 hours before your flight, as wait times could be up to an hour or more. While we know this is not ideal, planning ahead for these possible outcomes should make for a better travel experience.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and we look forward to seeing you onboard soon!"

Obviously, if I "just want to be safe" I should follow the email's advice. However, has anyone flown out of JFK recently and have any opinions on whether the advice is warranted?

From reading AskTSA it would seem that the advice is warranted.

PreCheck A Joke at EWR and CMH
 

Here's a hint TSA: If you want to sell the public on Precheck, you need to consistently provide preferential processing to people who've signed up.

Two weeks ago at CMH there was a single TSA agent checking boarding passes and IDs for both the PreCheck and the non-PreCheck lines. There was a separate slightly shorter PreCheck line, but this single TSA agent had to take one from the PreCheck line, then one from the regular line, then one from the PreCheck line. Then we all funneled into exactly the same scanner line where everyone had to remove their liquids and laptops.

Total benefit of Precheck at CMH: 5 minutes less in line, receive a pink tag that lets you leave on your shoes and light jacket.

Yesterday at EWR everyone goes into exactly the same line to show their boarding passes and ID. No separate PreCheck line. Again, pull out your liquids and laptops.

Total benefit of Precheck at EWR: leave on your shoes and light jacket.


I've read in this forum that TSA cut staff expecting more people to sign up for PreCheck.

If you are based in Newark or Columbus and sign up for PreCheck, the best you can hope for is better-than-third-world experience at the airport from which you return home. If TSA wants more PreCheck adoption, they need to show PreCheck travelers a little love.

This was based on the American terminals at EWR and CMH, where there are other terminals and security lines, you may do better or worse.

Vent concluded, thank you for listening.

It happened again today at DIA. This time, the checkpoint lines stretched out through the baggage claim areas. The TSA said the wait was approx 1 hour. Though instead of blaming airlines on shifting schedules, the local TSA spokesman blamed Congress on staffing shortages. Really? I was there this morning (taking the free A line train around 1030am) and the lines were moderate. I was there yesterday as well and lines were relatively short (less than 20 mins). I truly think the TSA and the leadership are shooting themselves in the foot publicity wise if they think stories like these are going to prompt Congress to help the TSA.

The story is pretty bare bones but here is a link to the local news:

http://www.9news.com/travel/long-lin...rday/151031192

http://www.flyertalk.com/articles/ts...nt-duties.html

TSA mismanages available manpower. TSA can't staff airports but has resources to do security functions at political events where government has no responsibility. TSA isn't trying very hard to increase staffing. Take a look at USAJOBS.GOV and search TSO. Look where the openings are and how many nationally.

TSA is creating the short staffing intentionally. The question is what are you going to do about it?

One has to wonder what the attrition rate is at TSA.

I believe the turnover rate for TSA screeners is very high. A self identified TSA employee said as much in a recent post on the TSA Blog. But if high personnel turnover is a problem then why are so few jobs for screeners announced at USAJOBS.GOV? And if airports are not properly staffed with screeners then why is TSA sending screeners to political events? Shouldn't these people be sent TDY to airports that are short screeners.

The long TSA Security lines have been intentionally manufactured by TSA Administrator Neffenger.

About 100 a week:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26416405-post188.html

Not so sure about that bolded part. Here's what happens: Lines are long. TSA tells passengers that they are understaffed. Passengers who care enough to do something contact Congress-critter. C-c has two choices: Give the TSA more money to shut them up or try and devise a new, but useful, security agency.

Guess which one is the path of least resistance?

Mike

Neffy's talking out of both sides of his mouth and I don't have a clue what his endgame is.

He wants everyone in the US who wants to fly to have been 'properly vetted', ie, signed up for Precheck - except currently he isn't even willing to provide Precheck to those who have already signed up and been 'vetted'.

That tells me he has some other goal in sight, something that has zero to do with easing the congestion or speeding up the screening experience.

I also wonder why he's got his shills aggressively lobbying against airline elite lines - and how hard the airlines will fight to keep those lines in place (or not). Does he want to eliminate the elite lines, hoping the squeals of high-value customers forced to wait in 2-hour lines, even if they pony up for Precheck, are going to accomplish something? If so, what?

When TSA Security Checkpoint lines are excessive yet TSA is dispatching people to do security at political events I have no sympathy for TSA or its people. Neffenger is playing a game and no one but Neffenger knows what the rules are right now. People who travel, even if it is once a year, are being abused by Neffenger's TSA.

If you ask anything of your elected's then ask how TSA can have enough people to do security at non-airport venues but not enough people to do security at airports.

All of this is made even more strange by the fact that Neffy has only ten months and only one budget cycle that he can only tweak at this point.

Dulles
 

I will give Neffy credit to be smart enough to make sure IAD and DCA are well-oiled machines. On a plane now (PM prime time) at Dulles. There were exactly 5 people ahead of me in the strip-search line and 3 minutes to be groped.