This Time Of Day Is The Worst For Long Lines At TSA PreCheck, According To A TSA Spokesperson

If you're hoping to get through TSA quickly by traveling at quieter times, you may be surprised about when those times are. Think LAX will be deserted when your UberX drops you off at Terminal 1 at 4 a.m. to catch the 6:20 a.m. flight to Sacramento? Think again. "Airports have rush hours, similar to highways," a TSA spokesperson told Explore in an exclusive interview. And that rush hour begins shockingly early. "Most airports are busiest early in the morning, between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m., and in the afternoon between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m."

While 4 a.m. sounds soul-crushingly early for anything but REM sleep, this makes sense if you think about all the commuters who use airports. Many of these are veteran business travelers trying to squeeze a short round-trip puddle jump into a single work day. Maybe you're one of them, and you have your reasons: You want to arrive back home in time to read "Goodnight Moon" to your offspring. Perhaps you refuse to pony up those out-of-control hotel taxes, or you've had enough cringey Airbnb host encounters. Or you just want to sleep on your own not-too-firm Goldilocks mattress at the end of a long day of management consulting. Either way, it certainly adds to the busy commute times at airports in the early mornings.

Unless you can afford to fly back and forth between Los Angeles and Sacramento by private jet, the way Arnold Schwarzenegger did nearly every day when he was California's governor, then you might want to stagger your hours so you arrive at the airport after 7 a.m. for that commuter flight. And if you're undertaking a longer journey, then it pays to recognize that you can avoid this same congestion by leaving a bit later in the day. If you leave LA on a 9 a.m. flight to Hawaii, for example, you'll land just in time to hit up one of Jason Momoa's favorite Honolulu restaurants for lunch, thanks to the time difference. Isn't it better to arrive fresh, with two more hours of sleep under your belt?

If you're a commuter, investing in TSA PreCheck will pay big dividends in shorter rush hour wait times. "TSA's benchmark for airport security screening in TSA PreCheck lanes is 10 minutes or less," the TSA spokesperson told Explore. "In standard screening lanes, the benchmark is 30 minutes." Ten minutes is just about right to solve the day's Wordle and post your score to social media, while 30 minutes is long enough that you'll start grumping and harrumphing and making unpleasant comments like, "Where am I, Ellis Island? The DMV?" Resist that urge, however, because a bad attitude is one of the behavioral traits TSA agents look for, and it may get you pulled out of line for further screening, delaying you even longer.

Our savvy TSA spokesperson had another suggestion for getting through security quickly and hitch-free: "Travelers who wish to get through airport security screening as efficiently as possible should begin with an empty bag to ensure there are no prohibited items from previous use." Starting your packing with an empty bag guarantees you won't accidentally bring something that will get you flagged for further screening. Having a prohibited item in the outside pocket of your carry-on will definitely get you pulled out of line, delaying not only you, but everyone in line behind you. You might even miss your flight.

What kinds of no-no items do people accidentally bring to the airport? Water bottles? You bet. Full-sized tubes of toothpaste? Yes, but that's not all. In 2023, TSA screeners found 6,737 firearms in carry-on bags while screening passengers. Do you know what the majority of those gun owners said? That they "forgot" the weapon was in their bag. These must be the same people whose dogs dine regularly on their term papers. A lot of travelers don't realize that you absolutely can bring a gun on a plane, but it needs to be properly stowed, declared, and checked as baggage.

It's important to know what is and is not allowed in your carry-on if you want to get through security faster. For example, you may bring a container of breast milk larger than 3.4 ounces on board if you declare it to a TSA Agent. Bear spray, however, is not allowed, at all. If you're not up to date on the rules, avail yourself of the TSA's What Can I Bring tool, so you can fly through security in time to catch your flight — even during the busiest times.