Check the Security Lines Before You Get to the Airport With This Travel App
There is nothing worse than getting to the airport with free time only to bump into a winding security line long enough to make you miss your flight. You can always come very early, but then you risk slipping through security and wasting hours of your life at the terminal spending money on overpriced snacks.
If you are faced with any of these situations, you probably would like to have some way of tracking the security line at your airport before you even get there. This is now possible thanks to an update to the TripIt travel itinerary app.
The new feature offers real-time information on airport security lines. It also includes a map of the airport, so you can check if there is a shorter line nearby, or make sure there is a bathroom nearby if there is no way to avoid the long wait. TripIt will also send you a notice three hours before departure with an update on the current situation on the line, so you can leave the airport immediately if there is a complete mess at the airport that day.
The big catch is that this feature is pretty limited at the moment. It is currently available at just four airports: Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Denver International Airport (DEN), Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The company says it plans to add more, but there is no clear timetable for when this will happen.
Another downside is that it is limited to TripIt Pro , the paid tier, which will set you back $ 45 per year. So it’s really meant for frequent travel and not a family vacation once a year. However, the company does offer a 30-day free trial in case you want to try it next time you fly.