Waits at airport due to sequester

[shopn24seven]

Anyine notiving super huge waits, ferrying to Orlando? This link makes it seem it may be 3-4 to go thru security, plus air traffic waits, too.I leave next we from DFW...

http://m.washingtonexaminer.com/3-h...-under-sequester/article/2522078#.UTGBxEN5vxc

 

[goofy4tink]

Nothing is supposed to happen until April. I wouldn't worry much about travel until then.
I also don't really think it's going to be as bad as some make it sound. I mean, seriously...they are talking about each person taking one unpaid day off a week...not laying off people by the hundreds.
After April? Leave a little bit extra time to get through security. Those that like to arrive at the airport an hour or less prior to boarding? You may find that isn't going to work for you.

 

[shopn24seven]

I should be ok then, next Saturday.

Thanks for reassuring me!!!!!

 

[mastermind307]

I think it will effect things more than some people expect. My DH works for FAA and knows how air traffic can be effected, it's not just getting through security. He has gotten several e-mails about information about the furlough. I won't go into detail, but there are a lot of behind the scenes people and jobs that make flying possible so when they aren't working, flights will be effected.

OP you will be fine flying next Saturday, but when the furloughs start in April, nobody knows what will happen.

 

[CPT Tripss]

If our elected officials would buckle down and work together, this thread could die the death it deserves!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You can always check the wait times

http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_home.aspx

 

[PA Disneymania]

If my flight from Montrose, CO on Saturday was any indication, we will need to be at the airport 5 hours before the flight. We stood in line to check in for 1 1/2 hours and security lines were more than an hour line. We were moved ahead because the flight was ready to leave and was only half filled since everyone was still in line. An agent said that TSA was down one scanner and 4 agents due to the cuts. I am sure that no Congressman or woman would need to stand in those lines as they would travel first class on our dime. Sorry I am ranting after a fabulous trip.

 

[DebbieB]

Normal today at PIT.

 

[shopn24seven]

Thanks, Master Mind.

 

[jpeppers]

Nothing is supposed to happen until April. I wouldn't worry much about travel until then.
I also don't really think it's going to be as bad as some make it sound. I mean, seriously...they are talking about each person taking one unpaid day off a week...not laying off people by the hundreds.
After April? Leave a little bit extra time to get through security. Those that like to arrive at the airport an hour or less prior to boarding? You may find that isn't going to work for you.

Think about what you just said! Each person (everyone) taking one unpaid day off a week and you think that will have little effect. That is basically saying that the job they do is unimportant and not necessary. I can't imagine someone taking me out of my job for even a day a year and thinking things will function the same. I also couldn't imagine how anyone could function losing 20% of there pay which is what you are saying. Hopefully congress will work it out, if not we are going to have people who are way more inconvenienced than waiting in security lines.

 

[sam_gordon]

Think about what you just said! Each person (everyone) taking one unpaid day off a week and you think that will have little effect. That is basically saying that the job they do is unimportant and not necessary. I can't imagine someone taking me out of my job for even a day a year and thinking things will function the same. I also couldn't imagine how anyone could function losing 20% of there pay which is what you are saying. Hopefully congress will work it out, if not we are going to have people who are way more inconvenienced than waiting in security lines.

So you can't take vacation? After all, that's "taking you out of your job"?

 

[tjmw2727]

No problem in Baltimore last Tuesday - in fact it was the quickest trip through security there I have ever experienced. No problem in Detroit yesterday either.

I fly again on March 27th, April 4th and April 7th so I am watching closely as well.

 

[goofy4tink]

If my flight from Montrose, CO on Saturday was any indication, we will need to be at the airport 5 hours before the flight. We stood in line to check in for 1 1/2 hours and security lines were more than an hour line. We were moved ahead because the flight was ready to leave and was only half filled since everyone was still in line. An agent said that TSA was down one scanner and 4 agents due to the cuts. I am sure that no Congressman or woman would need to stand in those lines as they would travel first class on our dime. Sorry I am ranting after a fabulous trip.

Not sure why this would be the case....no one should be taking their 'one day off' yet. I have to wonder if there are people out there that are now using this as an excuse since nothing has gone into effect yet. I mean, seriously?? The day after?? I doubt it.

Think about what you just said! Each person (everyone) taking one unpaid day off a week and you think that will have little effect. That is basically saying that the job they do is unimportant and not necessary. I can't imagine someone taking me out of my job for even a day a year and thinking things will function the same. I also couldn't imagine how anyone could function losing 20% of there pay which is what you are saying. Hopefully congress will work it out, if not we are going to have people who are way more inconvenienced than waiting in security lines.

Not saying anyone's job isn't important. But in reality?? At any given time, there are going to be employees out on vacation or sick. I doubt that there are other employees that are standing by, just waiting to be called in to cover for those absent people. So, no, I know exactly what I said.
Yes, things will be slower. But perhaps, now we will see fewer TSA people just standing around, chatting with each other. I can't tell you how many times I've watched TSA people doing nothing while passengers wait in long lines to get through security.

I wish that it was possible for those in Congress to take a pay cut. That is probably the only way they will 'get it'.

 

[gwynne]

If my flight from Montrose, CO on Saturday was any indication, we will need to be at the airport 5 hours before the flight. We stood in line to check in for 1 1/2 hours and security lines were more than an hour line. We were moved ahead because the flight was ready to leave and was only half filled since everyone was still in line. An agent said that TSA was down one scanner and 4 agents due to the cuts. I am sure that no Congressman or woman would need to stand in those lines as they would travel first class on our dime. Sorry I am ranting after a fabulous trip.

That must have been a very annoying experience.
AFAIK, TSA is currently under a hiring freeze. It certainly is very possible effects are being felt, now. If the furloughs start, it will probably gradually get worse. Combining furloughs with not replacing workers who leave for various reasons and I certainly can see the possibility of long lines. Hopefully some airports will get by relatively ok, and others might be a real challenge to the traveling public. JMO-if the furloughs go through, it will be hard to tell, day to day, how early you actually need to show up. This is such a frustrating situation.

 

[PlutoPony]

Not saying anyone's job isn't important. But in reality?? At any given time, there are going to be employees out on vacation or sick. I doubt that there are other employees that are standing by, just waiting to be called in to cover for those absent people. So, no, I know exactly what I said.

But in "normal" times, OT can and is often used to cover vacations and other absences. Don't think that option is available this time except for essential services (and airport TSA doesn't current qualify as I understand it - could be wrong though). That's why people around here think this time around the general public may feel the effects of a leaner government....

Of course if you give TSA OT or call them essential employees and exempt them, this all goes away for that particular agency.....

 

[ManyMinnie]

If my flight from Montrose, CO on Saturday was any indication, we will need to be at the airport 5 hours before the flight. We stood in line to check in for 1 1/2 hours and security lines were more than an hour line. We were moved ahead because the flight was ready to leave and was only half filled since everyone was still in line. An agent said that TSA was down one scanner and 4 agents due to the cuts. I am sure that no Congressman or woman would need to stand in those lines as they would travel first class on our dime. Sorry I am ranting after a fabulous trip.

None of the cuts have gone into effect yet, so someone was lying to you.

 

[Greysword]

Well, here it comes! PA Disneymania was right on, and it seems Napolitano is taking the pain to the Nth degree:

Napolitano: Airports feel impact from spending cuts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on Monday cautioned airline passengers to get to the airport extra early because U.S. spending cuts have already led to long lines at some security checkpoints, and said the coming furloughs will only make the situation worse.

Napolitano said mandatory spending cuts ordered on Friday by President Barack Obama have led to the elimination of overtime for Transportation Security Administration officers and customs agents. She said furlough notices would begin going out to employees on Monday, and Customs and Border Protection said it would send them out later this week.

You know, I have a couple of thoughts.

First, it is funny how fast the government can move when they really want to, yet extremely slow at other times.

Second, the security check points are running super slow without overtime? So in essence, this is the speed the line should be going? Did it really take this much overtime to get us through the lines in 20-45 minutes, or is this a game being played to cause the US flying public pain?

Third, according to their budget (page 36), the TSA has requested about $5.1B for FY13 from the Federal general fund (actual budget is $7.6B with $2.5B coming from our airline fees (page 54)), which means they need to cut about $1B to meet the 20% sequester over the course of year. Fully loaded labor costs are listed as ($3.1B) for just the screeners, which is about $67,000 per person (reasonable) based on the Congress' cap of 46,000 full time screeners. However, I bet they could outsource the screening for less.

Fourth, in their defense, the TSA should request a raise in the 9-11 Security Fee to compensate, which would likely pass under the circumstances, and place the burden in dollars vice time.

That said, I can not believe that we will experience massive slow downs if the established shifts can not process people in an effective manner during their eight hour work day, which is a management issue. I'm curious to see what the overtime costs are, in this case, since they recently unionized (if I recall correctly). Probably a bit of waste in there.

Finally, I don't think this had to move so quickly, but I'm personally glad it did, as it shows weaknesses in the current system of screening as well as the real costs of doing business at the TSA. Not hating, just intrigued that such a significant impact is made simply by cutting overtime (within any organization)...

 

[Jestocost]

Well, here it comes! PA Disneymania was right on, and it seems Napolitano is taking the pain to the Nth degree:



You know, I have a couple of thoughts.

First, it is funny how fast the government can move when they really want to, yet extremely slow at other times.

Second, the security check points are running super slow without overtime? So in essence, this is the speed the line should be going? Did it really take this much overtime to get us through the lines in 20-45 minutes, or is this a game being played to cause the US flying public pain?

Third, according to their budget (page 36), the TSA has requested about $5.1B for FY13 from the Federal general fund (actual budget is $7.6B with $2.5B coming from our airline fees (page 54)), which means they need to cut about $1B to meet the 20% sequester over the course of year. Fully loaded labor costs are listed as ($3.1B) for just the screeners, which is about $67,000 per person (reasonable) based on the Congress' cap of 46,000 full time screeners. However, I bet they could outsource the screening for less.

Fourth, in their defense, the TSA should request a raise in the 9-11 Security Fee to compensate, which would likely pass under the circumstances, and place the burden in dollars vice time.

That said, I can not believe that we will experience massive slow downs if the established shifts can not process people in an effective manner during their eight hour work day, which is a management issue. I'm curious to see what the overtime costs are, in this case, since they recently unionized (if I recall correctly). Probably a bit of waste in there.

Finally, I don't think this had to move so quickly, but I'm personally glad it did, as it shows weaknesses in the current system of screening as well as the real costs of doing business at the TSA. Not hating, just intrigued that such a significant impact is made simply by cutting overtime (within any organization)...

I understand that security screening may be taking longer but at this point I don't see why any of these cuts should be impacting check-in times as the OP suggests.

 

[wdwrich]

I wish that it was possible for those in Congress to take a pay cut.

And I'd add the President to that list.

 

[Greysword]

I understand that security screening may be taking longer but at this point I don't see why any of these cuts should be impacting check-in times as the OP suggests.

If security is longer, then you'll need to check-in sooner to meet your plane on time?

Not sure where this was going.