5 questions about extremely long airport security lines
NEW YORK (AP) — Already faced with lines that snake through terminals out to the curb, fliers are bracing for long waits at security in the busy months of July and August.
[...] the Transportation Security Administration and Congress cut the number screeners by 10 percent on expectations that an expedited screening program called PreCheck would speed up the lines.
The TSA had been randomly placing passengers into the faster PreCheck lanes but that stopped in the fall after government auditors found lapses in security.
The TSA suggests passengers arrive at least two hours before domestic flights but some in the airline industry are now saying that might not be enough.
Congress agreed to shift forward $34 million in TSA funding, allowing the agency to pay overtime to its existing staff and hire an extra 768 screeners by June 15.
The TSA is relocating 28 of its 142 canine teams to the 20 busiest airports.
Before reaching the X-ray machine, empty your pockets and place your keys, cell phone, change and any metallic jewelry into your carry-on bag.