Extra-long TSA wait times reported at Charlotte airport — and summer’s only begun
Passengers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport were stuck in nearly hour-long lines at security checkpoints Friday, and fliers should brace for more of the same during the jam-packed summer travel season, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration said.
“Passengers did experience longer-than-usual wait times at CLT this morning,” spokeswoman Jessica Mayle told The Charlotte Observer Friday afternoon.
From 7 to 9:30 a.m., fliers waited up to 53 minutes, Mayle said in an email.
The airport website showed waits of at least 45 minutes off and on throughout the day. Other times, the wait was as little as 10 minutes. At CLT, iFly ranks average security wait times relatively well on a normal day, with the approximate wait being an average 13 minutes.
New checkpoints are under construction as part of the ongoing expansion of the airport, and that work has temporarily left the airport with 17 security lanes compared with the usual 20, Mayle said.
Friday morning, an X-ray machine went down, temporarily removing another lane from service, Mayle said. The issue was later resolved, she said.
Bad weather Thursday only compounded the long lines Friday morning, Mayle said.
TSA expects Friday, June 30, to be a similarly busy day, she said.
“Summer travel is here, and we continue to encourage CLT travelers to arrive two hours before their flights,” Mayle said.
Airport travel tips
The TSA says passengers can reduce their waits at airport security by following these tips:
If you’re a TSA PreCheck member, make sure your Known Traveler Number is in your reservation.
Anyone who flies with multiple airlines should update the KTN in each of their airline profiles every time they travel.
If you aren’t yet enrolled in TSA PreCheck, the TSA encourage you to register for a $78, five-year membership. Members may renew online, up to six months before their KTN expires, for another five years for $70.
In May, 89% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited under 5 minutes at the checkpoint. .
Pack an empty bag. If you pack for travel with an initially empty bag, you’re less likely to be stopped at security for having prohibited items, the TSA says.
Also, check TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” list to know what not to pack.
Passengers may travel with a firearm if they properly pack it in a checked bag and declare it with the airline at check-in.
Show up early. And save time by removing items from your pockets and putting them in your carry-on bag instead of the conveyor belt bins.
Bring only one carry-on bag and one personal item through security screening. All items, including wallets, cell phones and light outerwear, must be removed.
If traveling with your kids, watch kid-friendly TSA online travel videos before your trip.
