Nearly a month into a partial government shutdown that leaves Transportation Security Administration agents unpaid, the lines at airport security are getting longer and longer.
At major airports across the country, from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta to Houston’s Hobby, lines to go through TSA grew to over an hour long, and topped three hours over the weekend.
Airport officials have encouraged travelers to arrive three or even four hours before your flight, as well as checking your airport’s TSA wait time trackers before heading to the airport.
But what happens if you miss your flight while standing in a TSA line?
TSA delays won’t warrant refunds
If you end up stuck in a TSA line and miss your flight, don’t expect a refund from your airline.
Airlines are required to refund a plane ticket when a flight is cancelled, changed or experiencing a significant delay on the part of the airline. If a flight is cancelled or delayed for unforeseen circumstances like weather, the airline is not required to refund the ticket, according to the Department of Transportation.
In some cases, airlines might offer an alternate flight or flight credits, but they are required to let you know if a refund is available.
TSA lines are considered part of the airport and not the responsibility of the airline, so delays in line do not qualify for a refund.
How to check TSA wait times ahead of flight
The MyTSA app is usually a good place to check for wait times, but during the government shutdown, this app is not being updated.
Instead, it’s better to check the social media and various websites of the airport you are traveling through.
Passengers going through the Atlanta airport can check the wait times at the five TSA checkpoints on the website. For example, the wait times were over 30 minutes just after 8 a.m. on Friday for the North and Main checkpoints, but the wait went down to just 10 and 15 minutes by 9:45 a.m.
Is TSA PreCheck available right now?
TSA PreCheck is still available as of March 13. However, this could change as the government shutdown drags on.
TSA agents are not being paid, and if this shutdown follows any trends from the past, the employees will start to call out of work when they continue to miss paychecks. This means that the lines will be understaffed, and many lines will be closed. If airports choose to prioritize their general TSA lines, TSA PreCheck may be closed at some locations.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miss your flight after abnormally long TSA line? Don’t expect a refund
Reporting by Irene Wright, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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