Advertisement
Canada markets open in 5 hours 46 minutes
  • S&P/TSX

    21,837.18
    -12.02 (-0.06%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,149.42
    +32.33 (+0.63%)
     
  • DOW

    38,790.43
    +75.63 (+0.20%)
     
  • CAD/USD

    0.7373
    -0.0016 (-0.22%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.70
    -0.02 (-0.02%)
     
  • Bitcoin CAD

    87,269.98
    -5,214.78 (-5.64%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,159.60
    -4.70 (-0.22%)
     
  • RUSSELL 2000

    2,024.74
    -14.58 (-0.72%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.3400
    0.0000 (0.00%)
     
  • NASDAQ futures

    18,194.50
    -37.00 (-0.20%)
     
  • VOLATILITY

    14.50
    +0.17 (+1.19%)
     
  • FTSE

    7,722.55
    -4.87 (-0.06%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,003.60
    +263.20 (+0.66%)
     
  • CAD/EUR

    0.6785
    -0.0007 (-0.10%)
     

Long security checks at U.S. airports affecting Canadian flights

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents check-in passengers at JFK airport in the Queens borough of New York City, U.S., May 27, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (REUTERS)

Canadians traveling within the United States this summer can expect long line-ups and wait times beyond 90 minutes when passing through security at most U.S. airports.

Going through security has always been a massive headache for most travellers, but this latest spate of delays has been largely self-inflicted. In 2014, U.S. Congress voted to reduce the number of TSA screeners by cutting $26.3 million in the agency’s personnel budget. The 2016 budget, the same as it was in 2015, is the lowest TSA budget in five years.

Government officials anticipated that the TSA’s PreCheck advance screening program would justify the need for fewer screeners, but not enough passengers have enrolled to make a dent in the long lines. Instead the number of TSA screeners has fallen by 10 per cent, while air travel in the U.S. has increased by 12 per cent.

“TSA’s primary focus is the current threat environment, as the American transportation system remains a high value target for terrorists,” said TSA national spokesperson Michael England. “Our strong economy means air carriers are enjoying record travel volume, which is resulting in heavier than normal volumes of travelers at our nation’s airports – some with double digit increases over last summer.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Processing through security is getting so bad that WestJet is considering hiring extra staff to assist passengers at key airports, such as JFK in New York and Boston’s Logan International Airport.

“These extra staff, depending on the airport, will be walking security lines to remind guests about screening processes and to provide bins to start the process,” said WestJet spokesperson Lauren Stewart.

Additionally, WestJet will advise its guests of the longer TSA lines over the phone at the time of booking and will conduct a social media campaign and post an advisory on the company’s website advising passengers to arrive at the airport a minimum of two hours before their scheduled departure. Air Canada advises passengers to leave themselves at least the same window through regular e-mail check-in reminders and an advisory on its website.

“We have also been reminding customers enrolled in Trusted Traveller programs, like Nexus, SENTRI and Global Entry, that they should be using these,” said Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick.

The TSA agrees. They recommend travellers enrol in their PreCheck program or any of the other Trusted Traveller programs mentioned above.

“Like all carriers operating in or to the U.S. we have seen some impact [of longer security lines] but it is hard to quantify and varies from station to station,” Fitzpatrick added.

The problem doesn’t just vary between airports, but airlines as well. Those fortunate enough to fly to one of the few U.S. destinations offered by Porter Airlines out of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will likely not experience these longer than average security processing times.

“We are aware of general issues some locations in the U.S. are having. However, the airports and/or terminals that Porter uses are not reporting delays to the extent seen in some situations,” Porter representatives relayed in an email. “In general, we have not received feedback about lines affecting the ability of passengers to get on their flights. If these circumstances significantly change, we are prepared to consider how best to mitigate them along with other stakeholders.”

There are 22 airports in the U.S. that use private contractors to manage their security screening responsibilities through the TSA’s Screening Partnership Program. As a result, it should be business as usual at these transportation hubs, but if you are unlucky enough to be one of the thousands braving what seems like an eternity waiting to pass through security, who is actually responsible for your misfortune?

Not enough PreCheck passengers

When Congress cut the TSA’s budget in 2014, the agency thought their PreCheck Program would mean they wouldn’t need the more than 5,000 security screeners that have been laid-off since 2011.

Like a diet version of Nexus, SENTRI and Global Entry, PreCheck allowed passengers who paid an $85 USD fee, allowed themselves to be fingerprinted and their personal information to be given to security personnel the privilege of moving through checkpoints faster by keeping their shoes on, not having to remove liquids and not having to turn their laptop on. The TSA estimated that 25 million air passengers would sign up, but so far fewer than 3 million are currently registered with the program. Over 7 million are registered for all Trusted Traveller programs combined.

Adding to the misery, in the early days of the PreCheck program, screeners allowed regular passengers into the PreCheck line in order to justify the creation of the extra lane. This created what Inspector General John Roth called an “unacceptable risk to aviation security” in a report released in November 2015. The practice has since been halted and passengers using PreCheck lines who didn’t qualify have been put back in the regular line, which has only further ballooned the wait times for regular passengers.

What the U.S. government’s doing to help

To help alleviate the problem, the TSA is expediting the hiring of 768 new security officers who are expected to be on the job by mid-June. This was thanks to congressional approval to reallocate USD$34 million in the Department of Homeland Security budget to hiring new screeners. The TSA has also asked Congress to freeze planned budget cuts in 2016, resulting in the keeping of more than 1,600 screeners. Congress agreed. The TSA has also requested the ability to hire 300 more screeners in 2017.

“TSA is addressing the growing volume of travelers, with measures including more canine use, overtime, and accelerated hiring,“ said England. “We are appreciative that our airline partners are working with us by asking travelers to arrive at the airport as much as two hours early for domestic flights, which will help to alleviate some of the expected summer congestion. Traveler security is TSA’s first priority and we remain intensely focused on our important mission.”

The TSA also attributes longer wait times to more people with carry-on bags, thanks to airlines charging fees on checked bags. The agency is reminding passengers that an uncluttered carry-on bag will increase their efficiency in getting through security.

In addition, the TSA is asking airline personnel to help with non-security tasks, like distributing bins for belongings in the lines. However, while Canadian airlines like WestJet are openly considering providing that kind of assistance, the company draws the line at waving baggage fees.

U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) wrote to executives of 12 major U.S. airlines asking them to wave checked baggage fees this summer in hopes of encouraging passengers to bring fewer carry-ons and keep the lines moving.

“This is not something we would consider at this time,” said WestJet in response to the fee-waving idea.

“Fees for checked bags allow us to avoid many of the fare increases adopted by our competitors and underscores our user-pay, unbundled approach that allows our guests the opportunity to purchase only those products or services they want. WestJet maintains strict carry-on baggage allowances where each guest in a confirmed seat is allowed one free piece of carry-on baggage and one personal item, total.”