TSA Wait Times Hit 4 Hours in Houston, Delta Drops Congressional Perks

It has now been five weeks since funding ran out for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and as the stalemate continues, the situation is deteriorating for U.S. travelers.

Perhaps no airport is suffering as much as Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), which is now regularly reporting wait times of more than three hours. On Tuesday, some travelers faced security lines as long as four hours. According to CNN’s TSA wait time tracker, Houston again hit the four-hour mark on Wednesday morning—the longest wait of any airport in the country. TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes have also been intermittently closed at the airport, forcing even more travelers into general screening lines.

Other airports reporting waits over 30 minutes on Wednesday include Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), LaGuardia (LGA), Newark Liberty (EWR), John F. Kennedy (JFK), and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL). LaGuardia is also still managing the closure of one of its two runways following a collision between an Air Canada jet and a Port Authority vehicle earlier in the week.

Some of those airports have terminated real-time wait-time reporting on their websites and apps. For now, passengers are being advised to arrive at least four to five hours early for departures.

The good news on Wednesday morning is that several busy East Coast hubs, including Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Orlando International (MCO), and Charlotte Douglas (CLT), were reporting normal wait times as of 7:15 a.m. EST.

ASTA Supports Federal Workers

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) on Wednesday morning announced that it was contributing $10,000 to support the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA). The FEEA is a nonprofit that gives grants to eligible federal employees impacted by government shutdowns.

“Travel advisors see firsthand the vital role TSA officers and other federal employees play in keeping the travel system running safely and smoothly,” said Zane Kerby, President and CEO of ASTA. “This is an opportunity to step up in a meaningful way to support those who continue to serve the public despite financial uncertainty.”

ASTA is also encouraging everyone who is able to contribute to the fund on the FEEA website. 

Delta Air Lines Drops Congressional Perks

As long as the shutdown continues and travel remains difficult for the general public, Delta Air Lines will no longer escort members of Congress and their staff through airports—a perk it previously offered. Delta told the press it will instead focus its resources on taking care of its customers, crew members, and operations.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported the news on Tuesday. While Delta will keep its “Capitol Desk”—a reservation line exclusively for members of Congress and their staff—open, lawmakers flying Delta must now rely on their individual SkyMiles status for any special treatment until TSA funding is passed.

No Momentum on a Deal

According to POLITICO, a significant gap remains between Democrats and Republicans on a deal to fund either the TSA specifically or the DHS as a whole. As the standoff persists, TSA staffing is reaching a breaking point; DHS reports that more than 450 officers have already resigned during the budget dispute.

Personnel “callouts” are also on the rise, particularly at the country’s busiest hubs. According to DHS data, the national callout rate reached 11.6% on Sunday. However, those numbers spiked to over 40% in Houston (IAH) and surpassed 30% in Atlanta (ATL), Houston Hobby (HOU), New Orleans (MSY), John F. Kennedy (JFK), and Baltimore/Washington (BWI).

Both the House and Senate are technically scheduled to depart for their “April district work period” on Friday, but momentum is building to keep the Senate in Washington D.C. to get a deal done.