Here’s what to do if you miss your flight because of TSA Lines during the Partial Government Shutdown

TSA officers have been working without their regular paychecks since the partial government shutdown began, and as call-outs and resignations mount, some airports are closing screening lanes or consolidating checkpoints. More than 450 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began. The result? Lines stretching hours long at major hubs including Houston, Atlanta, and New York.

Here is what you actually need to know: what your rights are if you miss your flight, what each major airline is currently offering, and how to make sure you are never caught flat-footed like this again.

What Happens If You Miss Your Flight Because of a TSA Line

Missing a flight because of a long security line is not the airline's fault. Airlines are not legally required to rebook you for free just because the government's security apparatus is understaffed. What they choose to offer is entirely at their discretion, and right now, policies vary significantly by carrier.

The good news: several airlines have stepped up. The less good news: some of them have narrow conditions and deadlines, so you need to act fast.

Contact your airline immediately. If the delay causes you to miss a connection or significantly disrupts your itinerary, you may be entitled to rebooking or in some cases a refund. Document your wait time if possible, as this may support a claim through your travel insurance or credit card benefits.

Now, here is what each major airline is doing right now.

Airline-by-Airline Breakdown: What They're Currently Offering

Southwest & Allegiant: The Most Flexibility

These two are currently offering the most generous policies. Allegiant has issued a travel with confidence guarantee that lets customers traveling during the partial government shutdown change or cancel their itineraries at no additional cost. For a limited time, the carrier is offering fliers no change fees for eligible bookings, plus the option to cancel a flight for a refund. Customers must contact Allegiant's customer service team directly by phone, chat, text, or email to change or cancel a flight.

Southwest is also allowing customers to rebook at no added cost for the duration of the shutdown. Both airlines are encouraging travelers to build in extra time at security.

American & JetBlue

If you miss your flight because of a security line delay, both American and JetBlue have indicated they will rebook you on the next available flight. That sounds reassuring, but pay attention to the word "available." During peak spring break travel, the next available seat may not be for hours, or even a day later.

Delta

Delta's current waiver is airport-specific, with particular attention on Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is advising passengers to allow at least four hours for security screening. If you are not flying out of Atlanta, Delta's rebooking policy is less clear and reportedly at the airline's discretion. Call and ask directly rather than assuming you are covered.

United

United has a specific carve-out for Houston travelers, which makes sense given how bad lines have been there. The policy allows rebooking on multiple flight options, including the ability to fly out of surrounding airports, with no additional fees. That waiver is in effect through March 27, so if you are reading this close to or after that date, verify the current terms directly with the airline.

The bottom line across all carriers: Call your airline before you give up and leave the airport. Policies are shifting daily and agents often have more flexibility than what is published online.

What to Do in the Moment If You Miss Your Flight

Stay calm and move quickly. Here is the order of operations.

Step 1: Do not leave the airport. Leaving before you have a confirmed rebooking can complicate your claim and may void some protections.

Step 2: Document everything. Take a photo of the security line with a timestamp. Screenshot your original boarding pass. Note the time you entered the security queue and the time your flight departed. This documentation matters if you later file a travel insurance or credit card claim.

Step 3: Call the airline immediately. Do not wait in the customer service line at the airport if you can avoid it. Call the airline's customer service number directly. Have your flight number, airline name, and departure time ready to give the agent.

Step 4: Ask specifically about the shutdown waiver. Do not assume the agent will volunteer it. Ask by name: "Do you have a travel waiver in place for the government shutdown that I can be rebooked under?"

Step 5: If you are rebooking on a later flight, ask about meals or hotel vouchers. Most airlines will not offer these for situations beyond their control, but it is always worth asking, especially if you are stuck overnight.

How to Protect Yourself Going Forward: Credit Cards and Travel Insurance

This situation is a good reminder that the best time to think about travel protection is before you book, not after something goes wrong. There are two main ways to protect yourself financially when travel goes sideways: using a credit card with built-in trip delay benefits, or purchasing a standalone travel insurance policy. Both have conditions. Here is what to know.

Credit Cards with Trip Delay Coverage

Several premium travel credit cards include trip delay reimbursement as a built-in benefit. The key requirement: you have to book your flight using that card for the coverage to apply.

Despite what many travelers believe, there is no federal law in the U.S. requiring airlines to provide passengers with compensation for a delayed flight. That makes having a card with this benefit particularly valuable.

Cards that are well-regarded for this include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Platinum, and Capital One Venture X. For delays over 6 hours or requiring an overnight stay, the Chase Sapphire Reserve can cover up to $500 per ticket for meals, lodging, and more. The Amex Platinum offers similar coverage on the same 6-hour threshold.

Only 29% of consumer credit cards provide trip cancellation insurance, and just 18% come with travel delay insurance. So do not assume your card has this benefit. Pull up your card's benefits guide and look specifically for "trip delay reimbursement" before your next trip.

A few things to keep in mind with credit card coverage. The delay typically needs to be a covered reason, such as a common carrier delay, weather, or equipment failure. A TSA staffing shortage during a federal shutdown is a grayer area, so document everything and file the claim. The worst they can say is no. For Chase cards, you must initiate the claim within 60 days of your delay. For Capital One, you have 30 days. Do not wait.

Standalone Travel Insurance

If your credit card does not offer trip delay protection, or you need additional coverage, you can purchase it as part of a travel insurance package. Providers like Allianz, Travel Guard, and World Nomads offer standalone policies that can include trip delay, trip cancellation, and interruption coverage.

The key with travel insurance is understanding what counts as a covered reason. Not all policies are equal. Look for a policy that explicitly covers travel delays caused by government shutdowns or staffing disruptions. "Cancel for any reason" (CFAR) policies cost more but give you the most flexibility. If you are booking a trip right now with spring break uncertainty still in play, a CFAR policy is worth considering.

What About TSA PreCheck During the Shutdown?

Worth knowing before you get to the airport: TSA PreCheck has been subject to temporary suspension at some airports due to staffing shortages during the shutdown. Even if you have PreCheck, do not count on it cutting your wait time right now. Check the status at your specific airport before you travel.

The private CLEAR program allows people to enroll at the airport and can help skip certain parts of the security process. Annual membership costs $209, but some credit card companies will reimburse that fee as a travel benefit. If you are facing a multi-hour line and have a card that covers CLEAR, it may be worth looking into on the spot.

Faster TSA Line Wait

There are a couple things you can do to speed up your TSA wait time. First if you have TSA PreCheck you can opt-in to TSA PreCheck Touchless ID - Learn about TSA PreCheck Touchless ID and how to get it. The other option is to use the CLEAR lane if it is open and your airport has CLEAR - Learn about what is CLEAR and how to get it for free.

The Bigger Picture

Even if the partial government shutdown ends, it may take days, if not weeks, for TSA to return to full staffing levels. The disruptions are not going away the moment a deal is reached in Washington.

Spring break travel is already at record levels. Conditions are changing daily. The best thing you can do right now is check your specific airport's wait time estimates before you leave for the airport, contact your airline proactively if you have an upcoming flight, and make sure you understand what protection you already have through your credit card.

You cannot control the security line. You can control how prepared you are when things go sideways.