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Hapless TSA Symbolizes a Can’t-Do America

tsaitk

By The Editors • 05/17/16 7:30pm

Last week, the Port Authority of N.Y. and N.J. complained to the TSA that security lines at the region’s three main airports were unacceptable—hitting 55 minutes recently—and getting worse. Between March 15 and April 15 of this year, the average wait time was 21 minutes, up from 11.5 minutes a year earlier—an 82 percent increase. During that same month-long period a year ago, travelers at Kennedy, La Guardia and Newark had to endure security-line waits of more than 20 minutes only 10 times. This year, it was a shocking 253 times.

Such delays are becoming commonplace. The Drudge Report, the country’s foremost authority on what’s angering America, has been detailing the spiraling crisis. Yesterday in Chicago, both airports began recommending that passengers arrive three hours early to allow for lengthening security lines. New York fared slightly better than Chicago, where delays exceeded two hours and thousands of people missed their flights.

In response, the TSA blamed passengers for bringing too many carry-on items. Seriously.

A day after this surreal exchange, we thought it might be prudent to actually sign up for the TSA’s PreCheck program. (We occasionally get diverted to the PreCheck line, though we’re not sure whether it is because we are already members of Global Entry—issued by the same federal agency—or because we shelled out a few bucks for more legroom and early boarding.)

https://observer.com/2016/05/hapless-tsa-symbolizes-a-cant-do-america/

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Complaints Over Airport Security Delays Surged 10-Fold in March

Airport Security

Frustrated travelers are turning to the complaint box in growing numbers as long lines and delays getting through airport security result in missed flights.

Complaints filed on such topics as courtesy and processing time surged in March to the highest levels in the past year, according to the Department of Transportation’s monthly Air Travel Consumer Report released Monday.

Reports filed over the time it took U.S. Transportation Security Administration to screen passengers grew more than 10-fold, to 513 this past March from 48 in March 2015. Concern about lack of courtesy by TSA screeners increased more than three-fold, to 1,012 in March from 294 a year ago.

Other categories of complaints on the screening process and travelers’ personal property were also at the highest levels recorded in the past year, according to DOT. A spokesman for the TSA didn’t immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment on Monday’s report.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-16/complaints-over-airport-security-delays-surged-10-fold-in-march