Long TSA Screening Lines May Suck Fun From Summer Travel

DETROIT, MI – If you’re planning to travel by air, be sure add some extra cushion to your itinerary to deal with security screening delays that Detroit Metro Airport officials say may become more common as the Transportation Security Administration deals with a critical shortage of federal screeners.

Airport spokeswoman Erica Donerson told the Detroit Free Press that Detroit Metro hasn’t experienced delays at the level of the one that turned Chicago O’Hare into a cot city Sunday after as many as 450 people missed their flights, but travelers are waiting longer to get through the TSA lines, especially during busy morning flights between 6-9 am.

Domestic passengers should arrive at least 90 minutes before their flights are scheduled to depart. International travelers should arrive two hours early.

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First quarter passenger traffic through Detroit Metro increased 5.3 percent to 7.8 million fiers, according to Wayne County Airport Authority data. Nationally, the airline industry predicts record-breaking summer travel, with 8 percent more fliers.

At the same time, TSA worker ranks have been thinned by 4,000 at a time of increased international tensions over terrorist bombings.

[Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says he and TSA Administrator Pete Neffender have developed “an aggressive plan to deal with it and to provide continued aviation security for the American people,” according to a statement.

The proposals will “not compromise the security of aviation or the American people,” but there are things the administration can do to cut down on wait times at airports.

Johns said the effort to fix the TSA was made easier by Congress' decision to maintain staffing size and not downsize the TSA workforce, saving 1,600 positions.

And now, the agencies have developed a 10-point plan to "keep passengers moving," Johnson said.

The plan includes authorization of overtime pay for TSA officers to meet checkpoint demands, expedited hiring of an additional 768 screeners this year, and the use of more K-9 teams. Passengers will see limits in both the size and number of carry-on luggage as well.

Additional reporting by Dan Taylor of Patch.com’s Virginia staff.

Image credit: File photo via Flickr