Here Are the Best Apps for Tracking TSA Airport Wait Times.
Few things are more stressful during a flight than an airport security line that turns out to be much longer than expected. In recent weeks, due to the partial federal government shutdown, which left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees without pay, passengers at major airports faced waits of up to four hours to clear security. (As of April 2 , these backlogs had largely eased .)
During normal times , it’s easier to determine how much time before your flight you actually need to arrive , but if you want to find the optimal balance between wasting time at the airport and missing your flight, you should keep an eye on current security wait times, which are available in various apps and on websites. Keep in mind, of course, that times can change quickly.
The MyTSA app uses real-time wait time information.
The TSA has its own app for iOS and Android that provides estimated wait times in airport security lines. MyTSA uses real-time information (where available) along with historical data, so you can see current estimated wait times, as well as standard wait times by day of the week and hour of the day. The app also displays open PreCheck lanes and FAA-reported delays. You can add your busiest airports to your main dashboard. Please note that MyTSA may not update as frequently during airport shutdowns, so consider having a backup plan and following current airport arrival time recommendations.
The United app now displays wait times for flights to the company’s US hubs.
United Airlines recently added security wait time information to its iOS and Android apps , but only for its US hubs:
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Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
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Denver International Airport (DEN)
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George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
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Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
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Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
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San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
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Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
The app displays wait times at both standard security checkpoints and PreCheck. United states that these estimates are updated throughout the day based on data collected by the airline. The app is available to anyone, as United’s hubs experience significant traffic from other airlines, but it won’t be useful for those traveling through other airports.
You can check TSA security wait times on Delta’s website.
The Delta app doesn’t have a built-in security wait time display, but Delta customers can view current wait times at Delta hubs on the airline’s website . The following airports are supported:
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
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Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
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John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
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LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
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Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
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Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
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Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
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Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
The table shows current wait times at specific checkpoints at each airport, including standard and PreCheck lanes—the data appears to be taken from individual airport websites. For Salt Lake City Airport, Delta also provided approximate hourly wait times, which show that peak hours typically occur between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Some airport websites indicate waiting times.
Some large airports display current or estimated wait times on their websites, so you can enter the name of your airport and add “security wait times” to get information about specific checkpoints and lanes. Smaller airports typically don’t have this real-time data, so it’s best to use the MyTSA app.
These third-party TSA tracking services can help determine wait times.
There are numerous websites that combine historical data, information published by airports and federal agencies, and user-generated estimates to provide estimated wait times at TSA screening. User-generated data can be particularly useful during the government shutdown, when the TSA does not provide real-time wait time data. These resources include Qsensor (which shows wait times at smaller domestic and international airports), TSA Wait Times , AirlineAirport , and USA Today’s TSA tracker .