⚠️ Airport Chaos Is Back. Here’s How to Get Through It

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Well, it’s officially getting wild at airports. (Downright dystopian, in some cases.)

The ongoing partial government shutdown affecting the Transportation Security Administration has resulted in extremely long wait times, widespread confusion, security closures at some terminals — and that’s to say nothing of the way people are behaving through these trying situations.

If you’re a business traveler, you may not have the luxury of rescheduling your trips around this chaos. So we’ve put together the playbook you need to get through it all.

Here’s what we’re talking about today:

🧭 Everything you need to know to navigate the chaos at airports
🌐 Airspace closures left him stranded. These miles got him home
💺 9 business-class seats on the same flight (yes, really)

SMART TRAVEL

Don't go to the airport without reading this first

Airports across the U.S. are especially chaotic right now, with long security lines, staffing shortages and unpredictable wait times (up to four hours in some cases!) turning even routine trips into a gamble.

Even trusted programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear+ aren’t immune, with some lanes closing or backing up at peak times.

Before you brave the crowds and the chaos, here are some tips that can get you through airport security with your sanity intact:

Security wait times are running upward of four hours in some places. Here are our tips for dealing with these long lines.
The TSA contracts out security to the private sector at these 20 airports. If you have options for where you route your trip, try for one of these airports.
If you have TSA PreCheck, it’s crucial that you make sure this number is attached to your flight reservation. And if you can, opt in to the especially speedy and high-tech Touchless ID option the TSA has been rolling out at select airports.
If TSA PreCheck is shut down at your airport, Clear+ may be your better bet for fast-tracking security (assuming its lanes are in service). This is also good news because, unlike with TSA PreCheck, you can enroll and be approved for Clear+ in about 10 minutes. Here’s how.
And if you have Clear+, know that this (relatively inexpensive) add-on saved this TPGer four hours of waiting yesterday when she had to travel through one of the worst-hit airports for a work trip.
With Global Entry shut down, you should try setting up this relatively unknown alternative offered directly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It’s free and doesn’t require a lengthy screening process!
The good news: There’s no shortage of credit cards that cover the cost of these time-saving services. Maybe you already have a card that covers the one you need?

— Colin Hogan, senior editor

DAY SAVED

Airspace closures left me stranded. Transferable miles got me home

I was one of the million-plus travelers caught up in the recent disruptions of airspace closures in the Middle East.

My bad luck had me flying on Emirates to Australia via Dubai for a mercy dash to see a dying relative on the first day of the current conflict, and both flights were canceled with no warning until I arrived at the airport.

Thank my lucky stars once again for my transferable points and miles to solve this problem and get me home. Using this invaluable tool, I was miraculously able to find a last-second award seat on Thai Airways from London to Sydney via Bangkok, departing only three hours after I found it.

This was available with Air Canada Aeroplan points, so I swiftly transferred my beloved Capital One miles at 1:1 ratio.

They hit my Aeroplan account immediately. I booked the flight and jumped in an Uber to Heathrow Airport.

Even if you can’t find award availability in an emergency, you can redeem Capital One miles at a rate of 1 cent per mile for virtually any flight, hotel stay or rental car through Capital One Travel.

While not the best value possible, this is still an excellent way to save real cash when you might not have the bandwidth to navigate award availability and transfer partners.

It’s another reminder that points and miles are just as useful in an emergency as they are for luxury vacations.

— Ben Smithson, senior writer

REDEMPTION SONGS

9 business-class seats on the same flight (yes, really)

Think great award deals are a thing of the past? Not quite.

Here’s one example: This business owner recently turned his stash of miles into not one, not two, but nine Emirates business-class seats for a family trip to Europe — proof positive that big wins are still out there.

Whether it’s maximizing transfer bonuses, using companion awards or jumping on premium economy sweet spots, a little research and flexibility can turn your business spending into outsize travel value.

And even when redemptions aren’t ideal, they can still be well worth it.

Here’s how to get big value from your rewards — and make your next trip a lot more rewarding.

— Ed Pizzarello, contributor

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