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By Suzanne Blake
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Travelers heading to the airport this weekend may want to check security wait times before leaving home, as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines remain uneven nationwide.
Due to a partial government shutdown and heavy spring travel demand, airports across the U.S. have seen fluctuating wait times in recent days.
Some major hubs are reporting brief delays while others experienced lines stretching past an hour during peak periods. This can change quickly, especially on weekends, making real‑time tracking tools increasingly important for travelers trying to avoid missed flights.
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Weekend Travel Comes With Added Risk of Delays
TSA has warned that staffing shortages tied to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding lapse continue to affect screening operations, even though most airports are still moving passengers through security at near‑average speeds during off‑peak hours.
However, wait times can spike suddenly, particularly during weekend mornings and late afternoons, when passenger volume is highest. Earlier this week, some airports—including Houston's William P. Hobby Airport and New Orleans' Louis Armstrong—reported waits of up to two to three hours during peak travel windows.
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What Wait Times Look Like Right Now
Live tracking services and airport‑reported data suggest that many large U.S. airports are averaging 15 to 30 minutes at standard TSA checkpoints, with TSA PreCheck lanes typically under 10 minutes when dedicated lanes are open.
At New York‑area airports—including JFK, LaGuardia and Newark—typical security waits are still in the moderate range, generally around 20-30 minutes for standard screening and significantly less for PreCheck during nonpeak hours, though travelers are still advised to plan extra time on weekends.
How To Check TSA Wait Times Before You Go
While TSA does not maintain a single nationwide dashboard, travelers have several reliable options for checking security lines ahead of weekend trips.
The most widely used tool is the MyTSA mobile app, which allows travelers to search by airport code or city and view estimated wait times based on real‑time traveler input. Users can also select a future day and time to see projected wait times, which is an especially useful feature for weekend planning.
In addition to the TSA app, many major airports publish live checkpoint data on their official websites, often breaking wait times down by terminal or checkpoint.
Is TSA PreCheck Still Faster on Weekends?
TSA PreCheck continues to offer faster screening for most travelers, even during busy weekend periods, but staffing shortages have caused some airports to temporarily close dedicated PreCheck lanes at certain times.
When this happens, PreCheck travelers are typically routed through standard lanes but still receive expedited screening procedures.
According to TSA, the vast majority of PreCheck passengers still wait less than 10 minutes nationwide when dedicated lanes are available.
What Travelers Should Do This Weekend
Despite real‑time tracking tools, TSA continues to recommend arriving at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international departures, including for those enrolled in TSA PreCheck.
This can be especially important on weekends, when unexpected staffing shortages or flight surges can quickly lead to longer lines.
Atlanta (ATL) TSA Wait Time
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport in 2025, is known for heavy passenger traffic, particularly during early mornings and late afternoons. It services over 108 million passengers each year.
Atlanta publishes minute-by-minute TSA wait times on its official website, allowing travelers to view current conditions at each checkpoint across domestic and international terminals. The airport breaks down wait times into ranges, making it easier to identify the fastest checkpoint options before entering security.
Because of the airport's volume, wait times can fluctuate quickly, and officials strongly recommend arriving early, even when posted wait times appear manageable.
Baltimore–Washington (BWI) TSA Wait Time
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport handles roughly 27 million travelers annually.
The airport publishes estimated TSA wait times by checkpoint.
Boston (BOS) TSA Wait Time
Boston Logan International Airport handles over 40 million travelers annually.
BOS provides estimated TSA wait times by checkpoint, available through airport‑supported tools and the MyTSA app.
Charlotte (CLT) TSA Wait Time
Charlotte Douglas International Airport serves more than 50 million passengers per year, largely as a domestic connecting hub.
CLT publishes checkpoint‑level TSA wait times on its official website, updated throughout the day.
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) TSA Wait Time
Chicago O'Hare International Airport serves as a major hub for both domestic and international flights, with TSA checkpoints spread across multiple terminals.
O'Hare wait times are available through airport information sites and TSA reporting tools, which show average screening times that can rise significantly during peak morning and evening travel windows.
Because O'Hare handles a high volume of connecting passengers, security congestion can build quickly. Airport officials recommend building extra buffer time into travel plans, especially during winter weather events that can disrupt flight schedules and staffing.
Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) TSA Wait Time
Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport operates multiple security checkpoints across its five terminals, and the airport publishes live TSA wait times directly on its official website. Travelers can view estimated wait times by checkpoint and terminal before choosing where to enter security, which can be particularly useful at DFW because of its size and layout.
DFW also provides information about TSA PreCheck and other expedited screening options, helping travelers identify which checkpoints offer faster processing on the day of travel.
Denver (DEN) TSA Wait Time
Denver International Airport handles more than 82 million passengers annually, with heavy traffic tied to its role as a major domestic hub.
Denver has a wait time dashboard on its website that estimates how long it will take people to get through regular security, as well as TSA PreCheck. Denver airport also allows people to reserve a spot in a security line through DEN Reserve, which can be booked on the airport's website.
Detroit (DTW) TSA Wait Time
Detroit Metropolitan Airport handles roughly 34 million travelers annually.
DTW provides estimated security wait times on its website and the MyTSA app.
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) TSA Wait Time
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport serves over 35 million passengers a year.
FLL doesn't provide TSA wait times, but passengers can track wait times with the MyTSA mobile app.
Houston Bush (IAH) TSA Wait Time
George Bush Intercontinental Airport serves about 45 million passengers per year.
IAH publishes TSA wait‑time estimates by terminal, with airport alerts issued during staffing shortages or weather disruptions.
Las Vegas (LAS) TSA Wait Time
Harry Reid International Airport sees nearly 60 million travelers annually.
LAS provides estimated TSA wait times by terminal, with particularly close monitoring during convention and holiday weekends.
Los Angeles (LAX) TSA Wait Time
Los Angeles International Airport processes about 74 million passengers annually, with traffic spread across nine terminals.
LAX publishes terminal‑level TSA wait times on its official website, showing separate estimates for general screening and TSA PreCheck lanes. The data is refreshed throughout the day and is among the most detailed of any U.S. airport.
Miami (MIA) TSA Wait Time
Miami International Airport handles more than 50 million passengers a year, with a high share of international traffic.
MIA publishes estimated TSA screening times on its airport website and advises travelers to check MyTSA during international departure surges.
Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP) TSA Wait Time
The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport serves about 38 million passengers each year.
The airport publishes TSA wait‑time estimates by checkpoint and directs travelers to TSA tools for real‑time updates.
Newark (EWR) TSA Wait Time
Newark Liberty International Airport serves about 46 million passengers a year.
EWR provides terminal‑specific TSA wait‑time estimates, available through airport‑supported platforms and MyTSA. Newark airport also provides wait times for customs screenings for international passengers.
New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) TSA Wait Time
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York is one of the busiest international gateways in the United States, and wait times can vary widely depending on terminal, airline and time of day. The airport's website provides real-time updates on security wait times.
JFK does not operate as a single terminal, and TSA wait times differ significantly across its terminals. Third-party tools and airport information sites publish estimates showing that security lines tend to be longest during early-morning and late-afternoon departure waves, especially at terminals handling international traffic.
Travelers are encouraged to check terminal-specific information through JFK's official airport website and airline guidance before arriving, particularly during peak travel seasons.
Orlando (MCO) TSA Wait Time
Orlando International Airport serves millions of leisure travelers each year, particularly during school breaks and holiday periods, because of the area's theme parks. MCO provides current TSA wait times through third-party reporting tools and security information pages, which show estimated screening times by hour and terminal.
The airport also offers MCO Reserve, a free program that allows eligible travelers without TSA PreCheck to reserve a time slot for standard security screening. While availability is limited and subject to daily capacity, the program is designed to help reduce uncertainty for families and vacation travelers flying during peak times.
Philadelphia (PHL) TSA Wait Time
Philadelphia International Airport serves about 33 million passengers per year.
PHL publishes checkpoint‑level TSA wait times for both standard screenings and TSA PreCheck passengers.
San Diego (SAN) TSA Wait Time
San Diego International Airport handles about 25 million travelers annually.
SAN publishes estimated TSA screening times on its website and advises travelers to verify conditions using TSA tools during peak hours.
Tampa (TPA) TSA Wait Time
Tampa International Airport serves about 25 million passengers per year. The airport doesn't provide real-time security updates, but people can track through the MyTSA mobile app. While Tampa is experiencing a lot more traffic because of spring break, the airport said it's not experiencing "significant delays or backups."
The airport recommends passengers allow about 20 minutes to clear security during nonpeak times and 45 minutes during peak times.
Washington Dulles (IAD) TSA Wait Time
Dulles International Airport handles roughly 25 million travelers annually.
IAD publishes estimated TSA wait times by terminal and checkpoint, but it's not in real time. Travelers can input when they plan to arrive and see an estimated security wait time for that time period.
Washington Reagan National (DCA) TSA Wait Time
Reagan National Airport serves about 24 million passengers per year.
DCA provides checkpoint‑specific TSA wait times, breaking out the difference from general security checkpoints and TSA PreCheck security lines.
TSA PreCheck: How To Apply
TSA PreCheck is a trusted traveler program that allows approved passengers to use faster security lanes at participating U.S. airports, often resulting in significantly shorter wait times.
To apply, travelers must begin the process online at TSA's official website by completing a short pre‑enrollment form. Applicants then visit an approved enrollment center to complete the in‑person portion of the process, which includes identity verification, fingerprinting and payment of the application fee.
According to TSA, the online portion of the application typically takes about five minutes, while the in‑person appointment usually takes around 10 minutes.
TSA PreCheck membership is valid for five years, and approved applicants receive a Known Traveler Number, which must be added to airline reservations to access PreCheck lanes.
TSA Global Entry: How To Apply
Global Entry is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and provides expedited clearance for travelers returning to the United States from international trips. Membership also includes TSA PreCheck benefits.
To apply, travelers must create a Trusted Traveler Programs account through the Department of Homeland Security and submit a Global Entry application online. A $120 nonrefundable fee is required at the time of application.
After submitting the application, CBP conducts a background review. If conditionally approved, applicants are instructed to schedule an in‑person interview at a Global Entry enrollment center. During the interview, travelers must present a valid passport and additional identification.
CBP says roughly 80 percent of Global Entry applications receive conditional approval within two weeks, though some applications may take several months depending on background checks and interview availability.
Once approved, Global Entry membership is valid for five years and allows travelers to use automated kiosks at participating U.S. airports when reentering the country, significantly lowering customs wait times.
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