If you’re a frequent flier, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced the panic that comes with joining an unexpectedly long airport security line. While you may have arrived well before your boarding time, you didn’t anticipate the wait time exceeding an hour—and now you’re at risk of missing your flight. With the TSA and extended security line wait times in the news lately, this scenario is all too common. But what actually happens if you do miss your flight because of a long TSA line?
You should start by accepting the fact that the airline probably won’t reimburse you for the flight. "Realistically, nothing is guaranteed. Airlines consider it the traveler’s responsibility to arrive at the gate on time, regardless of TSA delays," says Rick Bagnall, a travel insurance expert and vice president at Risk Strategies. “If you miss a flight solely because of a long security line, the airline is not obligated to rebook you for free or provide compensation.”
That said, there are a few concrete steps you can take to improve your ultimate outcome. "The first move is to contact the airline, even before you reach the gate if you can. Use the airline app, call the reservations line, or chat with them on social media, because speed matters once seats start filling up on later flights," says Bobby Laurie, a travel expert and host of The Jet Set. "I also tell travelers to take screenshots or photos showing the security line situation and the time, because while it does not guarantee compensation, it can help if you need to make your case."
Once you’re in contact with the airline, there’s a chance you may be able to hop on another flight. "Depending on the carrier and the fare type, they may work with you to get you on the next available flight, especially if you arrived in a reasonable window and the disruption was clearly tied to an unusually long TSA line," says Laurie. "However, in that situation, you'd be traveling on a standby basis. They won't remove a paying passenger who made it on time to get you on the plane home."
Because you’re not guaranteed a refund or a seat on another flight, always aim to employ smart travel practices. "The best solution is prevention—especially during peak travel periods," Bagnall said. He recommends flying from smaller or less-congested airports when possible, checking security wait times online the day before and day of travel, traveling during off-peak hours, and, of course, giving yourself plenty of buffer time. "TSA PreCheck and CLEAR [also] significantly reduce risk overall, and I recommend both whenever possible," he adds.
Start by accepting the fact that the airline probably won’t reimburse you for the flight. "Realistically, nothing is guaranteed. Airlines consider it the traveler’s responsibility to arrive at the gate on time, regardless of TSA delays. If you miss a flight solely because of a long security line, the airline is not obligated to rebook you for free or provide compensation," Bagnall said.
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