Where Are the Best and Worst Lines For Airport Security
Based on recent data, see how quickly some airports are moving travelers through security
You arrive at the airport and discover that the line of people waiting to clear security is very, very long. With your flight boarding in less than an hour, you start to panic and regret not arriving sooner.
If that scenario sounds familiar, you're not alone. Even at smaller airports, security lines at peak times can seem to go farther than the eye can see. Knowing what to expect can help you plan your arrival at the airport and avoid missing your flight.
Not all wait times are created equally
A recent analysis of data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) found that wait times vary considerably.
Experts at Bounce ranked America's airports based on TSA and passport control wait time. The analysis found that Florida's Palm Beach (PBI) airport was in the best position, with all passengers clearing security within 8 minutes during the analyzed period. Other top five performers were in Santa Ana, CA (SNA), Phoenix, AZ (PHX), San Antonio, TX (SAT) and in San Francisco, CA (SFO), at 97%.
On the not-so-positive side of the rankings was New York, NY (JFK), where the average wait time was around 40 minutes. Other airports in the bottom five were in Orlando, FL (ORL), Chicago, IL (ORD), Los Angeles, CA (LAX), and Austin, TX (AUS).
Getting through security fast
TSA PreCheck members typically clear airport security through separate lanes. Benefits include leaving your shoes, belts, and jackets on, plus leaving your laptops and liquids in your carry-on bag. You also usually bypass the slower, millimeter wave scanner and walk through a standard metal detector.
A five-year TSA PreCheck membership ranges in price from free to $78, depending on airline status and credit card benefits. TSA PreCheck is included with Global Entry memberships.
According to the TSA, "About 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes" in line.
Getting through security even faster
For the fastest movement possible through the entire security process, stack a CLEAR Plus Membership on top of your TSA PreCheck membership. CLEAR Plus Membership grants members a "quicker identify verification process before physical security." Pricing for a family CLEAR Plus Membership is $199 a year plus $119 per person, depending on airline status and credit card benefits.
Additionally, CLEAR Plus Memberships can use the CLEAR Plus Membership app's home-to-gate feature, which "integrates traffic data, security screening, terminal walking times, and more" to suggest when to leave for the airport.