Spring Break Travelers Head to Airports During Current Partial Period US government shutdown should prepare for potential delays, with experts warning that security lines already stretch for hours at some airports.
Passengers across the country are reporting longer wait times at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), flight delays and crowded terminals, and security lines at some airports exceed three hours, according to Eric Napoli, legal director of AirHelp travel agency.
Airport security lines in AustinTexas, opened the gate early Friday, with passengers waiting hours to board flights.
“For passengers who have not factored in the possibility of longer lines, many are missing their flights,” Napoli told FOX Business.
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Travelers line up at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport on March 9. (Mark Félix/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The disruptions come as more than 300 TSA agents have left the agency since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown began. Unscheduled absences – or calls – have also climbed to about 6% nationwide, a TSA official previously confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“When essential aviation personnel, particularly TSA officers, work without pay, the result is staffing shortages and operational strain at airports. all over the country” Naples told FOX Business.
Global Entry processing, which had been halted earlier during the shutdown, resumed last Wednesday, a move that Naples said could help ease traffic congestion by keeping some travelers away from standard security lines.
Naples advises travelers to plan ahead to avoid disruptions, including arriving earlier than usual and booking early morning flights, which are less likely to be affected by cascading delays throughout the day.
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Travelers and staff pass through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, March 13. (Annabelle Gordon/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Passengers should also pack essential items in their carry-on baggage in case of baggage delays or overnight disruptions.
Naples urged travelers to understand their rights if flights are canceled or significantly delayed.
“If the airline notifies that passenger that their flight is canceled or that there is a new schedule that significantly delays the flight, the passenger has the right to refuse the new schedule, decide not to take the flight, and obtain a full cash refund,” Napoli said.
For baggage issues on domestic flights, airlines must reimburse reasonable expenses up to $3,800 per passenger under federal regulations, he added.
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People wait in long TSA lines as the partial government shutdown continues for several weeks at airports like Chicago O’Hare in Chicago on March 9, 2026. (Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Travel insurance and some credit cards can also cover delays, missed connections or lost baggage.
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“The best-prepared passenger is one who is well informed about their rights in different flight scenarios and the circumstances under which they can obtain compensation,” Napoli said.
Louis Casiano and Ashley DiMella of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
