Tips to catch your flight as TSA lines stretched hours at some US airports

"A shortage of security agents at Houston's Hobby Airport and New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport led to extraordinary security queues that stretched up to three hours on Sunday. The general line in Houston snaked into the parking garage. Airports in San Juan, Atlanta, and Charlotte have similarly told travelers to budget extra time for staffing-related security delays after many TSA agents - deemed "essential" and required to work without pay during the shutdown - didn't show up."

"Harteveldt said it's likely the chaos will spread to other airports the longer security officers work without pay - with the coming missed paychecks raising the likelihood that more fed-up agents will call in sick. The US Travel Association estimated that a record 171 million people will fly in March and April."

A partial government shutdown has caused significant TSA staffing shortages at several major US airports, including Houston Hobby and New Orleans Louis Armstrong International, resulting in security lines extending up to three hours. TSA agents, classified as essential workers, are required to work without pay during the shutdown. Multiple airports including San Juan, Atlanta, and Charlotte have warned travelers to expect delays. As agents approach their first unpaid paycheck, additional callouts are anticipated. While most major US airports currently operate normally with wait times under 30 minutes, travel analysts warn disruptions will likely spread to other airports as the shutdown continues and spring break travel peaks, with an estimated 171 million people expected to fly in March and April.

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