Security wait times are expected to soar as we head into the warmer months. Don't let delays keep you grounded at the checkpoint.
Traveling This Spring? Get Ready for Even Longer Security Lines at the Airport—Here’s Why
Published on Mar. 13, 2025
Maybe you’ve been waiting months for a well-deserved break from reality, or perhaps you’re traveling for work. Whatever the case, if you find yourself at the airport this spring, don’t expect to fly through security—buckle up for longer waits. From increased passenger volumes to new ID requirements, several factors are set to slow travelers down at airports across the United States in the coming months.
To help you navigate your way through the throngs (and avoid missing your flight), we spoke with Jeffrey Price, former assistant director of security at Denver International Airport. Read on to find out why airport security lines will be supersized this spring.
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Why will security lines be longer this spring?
A perfect storm of factors is creating turbulence at airport security checkpoints across the country. Below, we have the top reasons you’ll face longer lines when you fly out for that spring break trip.
There are more travelers
While there are some indications that the number of domestic passengers could start softening, demand for air travel remains incredibly high, especially for international flights. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects air travel numbers to increase by more than 5% during the current peak spring break period.
Real ID requirements start
The TSA will begin requiring passengers to present a federally compliant ID, such as a passport or a DMV-issued Real ID driver’s license, non-driver ID or learner permit, for domestic flights starting on May 7, 2025. “Real ID should reduce identity fraud, which is why the government is doing it,” Price says.
Expect a few hiccups at the start, though. “There is definitely going to be a slowdown when Real ID goes into effect, and the implementation is going to come with a learning curve that will back up lines,” he says. That’s particularly true when it comes to infrequent fliers who may not be aware of the new rules.
The TSA may see staffing changes
Price notes that a current internal issue within the TSA—the loss of collective bargaining power—could “result in work slowdowns as a form of protest.” Industry watchers, he says, are closely monitoring whether the loss of bargaining rights might lead to changes in employment status for the nation’s security screeners.
“Virtually anything could happen if 45,000 TSOs [transportation security officers] are told to reapply for their jobs as contractors,” Price says, likening the scenario to “tossing a flare into a fireworks factory.” He explains that in 2001, right after 9/11, “many contractor personnel were happy to be hired by the federal government.” But he points out that “most people have not been happy to leave federal employment, as we’ve recently seen.”
So how early should you get to the airport?
Whether you play it safe or take it to the wire is up to you, but the TSA puts it simply: “Arrive early.” The agency states that “travelers are taking to the skies in record numbers,” so it recommends getting to the airport at least two hours prior to your flight’s scheduled boarding time.
You might need every available minute to handle everything before reaching your gate, including parking (if you drove), navigating the terminal, checking baggage and completing security screening. For international flights, the TSA advises giving yourself even more time—at least three full hours. “Make a day of it,” Price suggests. “Understand that air travel isn’t what it used to be” and can now “be an all-day event.”
Are there “better” times or days of the week to travel when it comes to airport security?
Certain travel windows tend to be busier than others at the airport. According to Price, early morning flights (7 a.m. to 8 a.m.), mid-morning flights (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.) and early afternoon flights (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) are typically the most congested. Fridays through Sundays see a spike in passengers, and Monday mornings and Friday afternoons are especially crowded due to business travelers.
“If you want to fly without a lot of company, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the lower passenger throughput days,” he says.
How can travelers get through security as quickly and smoothly as possible?
Price offers several tips for sailing through security, or at least not becoming that person. First, he recommends knowing and following the rules. Second, avoid trying to bring prohibited items through security.
He also advises against experimenting with things like an accessory that might trip the magnetometer. “If you wonder if your belt will set off the alarm when 200 people are waiting on you, that’s not the time to test it out,” he says. “Take it off, and send it through the X-ray.”
Price also swears by TSA PreCheck: “It’s saved me hundreds of hours and numerous panic attacks! The PreCheck lines may be longer in some cases, but they tend to move faster, you don’t have to remove your shoes, and liquids and laptops can stay in the bag.”
As for Clear, Price is also a fan. “I like having both TSA PreCheck and Clear so I can pick and choose whichever line is shortest,” he notes. “It’s enabled me to make some flights I otherwise would have missed.”
Lastly, be patient with transportation security officers. “TSA has more interaction with U.S. citizens on a daily basis than any other federal agency,” Price says. “If you want to get through security quickly, calm down, help the TSO by following directions and be patient as they do their job.”
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Sources:
- Jeffrey Price, former assistant director of security at Denver International Airport and professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver; email interview, March 2025
- Transportation Security Administration: “Ready for Busy Spring Break Travel Season”
- Transportation Security Administration: “Travel Tips 2025”
