Download this app before you head to the airport
Editor's Note
Surprises can be great. But outside of an unexpected first-class upgrade, most of us prefer to know what to expect when it comes to travel.
That's especially true when it comes to airport security wait times — particularly on the heels of a summer that saw the 10 busiest days ever recorded at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.
Some of my most stressful airport experiences have involved arriving late to the airport for one reason or another and then standing in a security line watching precious minutes tick away.
Sure, this is where line-skipping programs like Clear and TSA PreCheck can be a lifesaver. They offer critical time savings, even as membership in the PreCheck program has exploded to record numbers.
But the TSA also offers another way to plan ahead and predict your security wait time — right on your smartphone.
Read more: Ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear
The MyTSA app
The TSA has a free mobile app you can download: the MyTSA app.
It displays current security wait times at checkpoints across the country. Plus, it predicts future wait times in the terminal you'll be visiting — down to the day and hour.
How to use the TSA app
When you log in, you'll see a screen like the one below. It displays the airport you're closest to and what the current wait times are. At the time of writing, I was near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), where wait times were between 15 and 30 minutes.
You can also add airports — such as the one closest to your home — to a list as a "favorite." In my case, that's Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina. Wait times, as I search, are less than 15 minutes.
Plus, you can search any airport across the country.
I searched for New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and found wait times listed at an estimated 15 to 30 minutes.
You can also whittle the information down to specific terminals, like Terminal C, where Delta Air Lines operates its LaGuardia hub.
This app also shows whether a Federal Aviation Administration delay program is happening; this may not greatly affect security wait times, but it likely means flight delays are widespread.
Estimating future wait times
The app can also help you plan for estimated future wait times based on past data.
Let's say you're planning to fly out of LaGuardia in the morning on a Friday, often the busiest day of the week. You could use the app to see what LaGuardia's TSA checkpoints are typically like between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on a Friday.
It shows that waits are often 15 to 30 minutes during that time, with a longer wait time later in the afternoon.
Keep in mind that if you have TSA PreCheck, your wait is almost certainly going to be shorter. As the app points out, most TSA PreCheck passengers (nationwide) wait five minutes or less.
Checking 3-1-1 compliance
You can also use the app to double-check whether the items in your carry-on bag comply with the agency's rules for liquids and prohibited items.
After my electric razor recently died, I felt compelled to double-check whether disposable razors are allowed in carry-on bags. I typed it into the search bar on the app and saw that I was clear to bring one.
On the other hand, if you search for "peanut butter," you'll find that this is prohibited in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces.
Bottom line
Planning ahead is critical when it comes to air travel. The MyTSA app can help you see what security screening waits may lie ahead — among other useful features.
That — plus enrolling in time-saving programs like Clear and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (and making use of application fee reimbursements offered by some travel credit cards) — can make the trip through security more predictable.
Related reading:
- Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
- The best travel credit cards
- Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
- 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees