Spring Break Travelers Hit with Long TSA Lines Across the Country, but Palm Springs Airport Remains Smooth

Spring break travelers across the country are running into long security lines at airports, as TSA agents continue working without pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown. Palm Springs International Airport says it isn't seeing those same delays at this time.

The waits are hitting hard at some airports. One traveller said the security line at Salt Lake City stretched "to the entrance to the airport," where she waited 40 minutes before mechanical issues on her plane caused her to miss a connecting flight. That traveller was ultimately headed to Ireland, so she still has more flights ahead of her.

At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, spokesperson Jeff Lea said most travelers are waiting just five to ten minutes at TSA checkpoints, though he acknowledged there have been "a couple of thirty-minute blips." He also noted that even smooth departures don't guarantee a smooth trip: "As people travel and connect through multiple airports in their spring break travels, they might end up at one of those airports that have high wait times."

Here at home, Palm Springs International Airport says things are running smoothly as of Tuesday morning, with TSA wait times topping out at around 15 minutes. Still, the airport is recommending travelers arrive one and a half to two hours before their flight, just to be safe. You can check current TSA wait times at flypsp.com.

The shutdown has continued as Democrats push for immigration enforcement reforms following Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, where two people were killed by federal agents, alongside other misconduct allegations. Republicans have largely voted against those reforms, leaving TSA agents across the country working without a paycheck.