Images of endless security lines at U.S. airports and tales of missed flights are pushing anxious travelers to show up much earlier than needed. Nonetheless, some airports, particularly where the wait times are manageable, are advising passengers to stop arriving too early.
In Columbus, Ohio, officials at John Glenn International Airport stated that the influx of early arrivals, stemming from apprehension about funding issues in Congress leading to crowded security checkpoints, is causing new delays by creating bottlenecks during peak hours. Arriving too early can actually create longer lines right when we open, the airport posted on social media. They advise travelers to arrive just 90 minutes before their flight.
Confusion prevails for passengers, especially since it’s difficult to predict when security lines might become congested at various airports.
Many airports are currently experiencing extended wait times over two hours as the government shutdown impacts Transportation Security Administration staffing. Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport has emerged as the most congested with delays extending to four hours.
While some airports maintain manageable wait times, many others continue experiencing significant delays due to inadequate staffing amidst the federal budget stalemate. Therefore, airlines recommend that passengers check TSA wait times prior to departure.
This behavior reflects parallels to the “panic buying” seen at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. According to Philadelphia therapist Shari Botwin, fears surrounding lack of control at airports drive this anxious behavior. She notes, there's so much media attention regarding airport chaos, leading people to doubt reassurances that arriving later is acceptable.
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Contributed by Ed White, Associated Press.
