United Airlines will add TSA wait time estimates to its app as part of a new pilot program, the airline announced on Wednesday.
The new feature will allow passengers to organize their airport plans, and the carrier has begun rolling out the update. The security wait time estimates will update throughout the day and will include details for both regular lines and TSA PreCheck lines.
TSA information will be available to passengers traveling through Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
“Our customers rely on our mobile app for all their travel needs, and this new feature lets them know what to expect and better plan their trip,” said Jason Birnbaum, United’s Chief Information Officer.
The long TSA lines have disappeared from many checkpoints so far this week, as airport security agents began receiving back pay after weeks of delays, and spring break travel has come to an end. The latest partial government shutdown spotlighted the vulnerability of airport security lines to federal funding disputes, and United hopes to offer a new service to address such issues.
“We appreciate the work and professionalism of our TSA agents, and while most began receiving back pay earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shutdown continues, and people want to stay informed about expected security wait times at our airports,” Birnbaum said.
