HOUSTON – With security lines stretching for hours at Houston-area airports, travelers are being urged to adjust their expectations and plan ahead.
Katy Nastro, a travel expert with Going.com, told KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding that arriving early is no longer optional.
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She recommends arriving two to three hours before boarding for midweek flights and three to four hours early for busier travel periods, including weekends and peak times.
“Leaving early to get to the airport is not a recommendation at this point. It is a requirement,” Nastro said.
Nastro noted that Houston is among the areas hit hardest, increasing the likelihood of delays.
To reduce wait times, she suggests choosing less busy travel days.
“Tuesdays and Wednesdays are really the least flown days,” Nastro said, citing TSA data. Travelers should avoid peak periods such as Fridays, Sundays, and busy weekend mornings.
For shorter trips, Nastro suggested considering driving instead of flying or departing from smaller regional airports.
“If you’re based in Texas near Houston, and you can drive to another nearby airport … that’s really one of the ways,” she said, adding that higher fares are likely, especially during spring break travel.
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Flying later in the day may also provide more flexibility, giving passengers extra time to get through security. Still, Nastro emphasized that there is no reliable workaround.
“It is extremely frustrating because there is no simple answer,” she said.
Even expedited programs like TSA PreCheck or CLEAR may not significantly reduce wait times, as those options have been temporarily suspended at Houston’s two airports.
“The only surefire way to avoid any congestion through TSA is to not travel at all,” Nastro said.
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