For the most accurate airport wait times, it is best to check the airport website directly. If that is not possible, the MyTSA app can offer a glimpse into what that might look like (though, see the caveats below).
However, if there is a partial government shutdown, like the one happening right now, airport wait times could be anybody's best guess, as TSA folks go without pay.
For example, this message was recently posted on the Newark Liberty International Airport website:
Due to the federal funding lapse, security wait times may be significantly longer than normal. Wait times are subject to rapid change based on passenger volumes and TSA staffing. For these reasons, wait time reporting has been temporarily suspended. Please allow for significantly more time and check with your airline for the current status of your flight.
The MyTSA app, which does come from the Transportation Security Administration, does allow travelers to favorite their airports and check their estimated airport wait times. It also allows travelers to see whether specific PreCheck lanes are open.
The main caveat is the airport wait times it reports are typically based on historical data, so it may not be the best one during the partial shutdown.
(Consider signing up for CLEAR to avoid the long lines and reduce waiting time. CLEAR will take you straight to the front of the TSA line. It is also awesome, signing off as someone who has been a CLEAR and TSA PreCheck member for years. 🖖)
Either way, there are other reasons to keep it installed on your phone (yes, it really does deserve that hardware space). If you don't have the MyTSA app installed, you probably should download it.
If you've ever wondered whether you can bring knives or cheese onboard a plane-knives can be checked, creamy cheeses aren't allowed in carry-on-this is also the app to keep on your phone.
Folks can see which items are permitted onboard in an airplane, in their checked baggage, or neither.
It basically saves a lot of back-of-forth and hearsay, and considering it it comes straight from TSA, you can count on it to be accurate, at least in terms of onboard policies.
