Summer Is Almost Here, And So Are Long Lines At The Airport – What Is TSA Doing About It?
The Transportation Security Administration, the federal agency in charge of airport security in the different airports in the United Stated, went under fire these past few weeks after lines at security checkpoints became increasingly long, causing longer wait for passengers and even missed flights.
A report from CNN compiled on-the-ground reports from different airports on social media, where passengers who experienced extraordinarily long lines posted tweets and Instagram photos showing their ordeal. One passenger at La Guardia airport tweeted that she "has never seen a security line this long" at the airport.
Another passenger at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport described the security line that she saw: "This line starts at the sliding departure doors by check in, zigzags through the baggage claim belts, though the lobby and finally to TSA." She only made her flight when she transferred to the international terminal where the security lines were shorter.
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Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said last Friday that they are taking steps to remedy the situation by bringing in more screening officers at the TSA lines and "increasing the use of overtime."
He, however, said that they did not want to sacrifice the security of passengers, and told passengers to "have the appropriate expectations when they arrive at airports."
He added, "Contemplate increased wait times as you travel." Among the additional steps that the TSA will take are assigning more security dogs to help in the screening and working with airline companies to do "nonsecurity work." He emphasized that the government "cannot take shortcuts" when it comes to passengers' security.
The summer traveling season has yet to start, but TSA lines at several airports have gotten worse. Aside from long lines, there was also the case of unscreened luggage at the Phoenix airport. According to a CBS report, a computer glitch prevented the TSA at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport from screening luggage using the machines. This resulted in over 3,000 travelers missing their flights.
A New York Times report cited that the long lines are due to tighter security measures that the TSA is instituting, but due to budget cuts, there were fewer TSA screeners assigned in airports all over the country.
