California Airport Delays

Spring break is here, and if you’re headed to the airport in the coming days, you’ll want to give yourself more time than usual—significantly more. If traveling in the coming days or weeks, here is how to prepare for airport delays so you can make it to your destination on time and as smoothly as possible.

Flying Out of SNA or LAX This Spring Break? What You Need to Know About California’s Airport Delays

A 44-day partial government shutdown has impacted TSA officers and other airline staffing across the country, turning security lines at major airports into multi-hour ordeals stretching out the door and triggering some of the worst airport delays in recent memory.

Travelers in Orange County and Los Angeles have some good news: not all airports are experiencing the same level of difficulty. However, do not become complacent.

A National Crisis of Increased Wait Times, Resulting in Missed Flights

The Department of Homeland Security has been without full funding since February 14, leaving roughly 50,000 TSA officers, classified as essential workers, required to report to duty without pay. The financial strain has been severe.

Nationwide, callout rates hit a record high of nearly 12% in late March, and close to 500 TSA employees have quit since the shutdown began. At the hardest-hit airports, more than half of scheduled workers failed to show up on a single day. 

Philadelphia closed security checkpoints entirely. Houston saw long lines that stretched for 4 hours. New Orleans advised passengers to arrive three hours before departure to make their flights.

Shortage of TSA Workers Continues to Increase

Lawmakers’ two-week recess earlier in March ended without a resolution, resulting in TSA employees missing two paychecks. Consequently, many workers had to seek alternative sources of income, such as taking on side jobs or resigning, to cover their living expenses.

As of Friday, March 27, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA workers immediately, drawing on funds from last year’s federal legislation.

While some relief followed, with wait times at Atlanta and Houston airports improving, experts caution that lines may not return to normal for weeks, as TSA workers need more than a single paycheck before regaining confidence that the financial whiplash won’t repeat.

The lines for TSA Pre-check, digital ID, and Clear at the Delta terminal at JFK Airport have also shown considerably shorter lines.

How Will SNA and LAX Travelers Be Affected?

Orange County residents flying out of John Wayne Airport (SNA) can expect much shorter security lines than at major hubs like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, CA

As a smaller regional airport, SNA has, for the most part, avoided staffing issues with TSA, with recent data listing wait times of just 20 minutes. Its compact size and lower passenger capacity offer smart access for travelers with flexible departure plans.

However, SNA is not immune. Current advisories recommend arriving 30 to 60 minutes earlier than normal, as lines can shift quickly.

• Peak Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Non-Peak Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, CA

As one of the nation’s busiest airports, LAX faces the same combination of high passenger volume and reduced staffing of TSA workers that has caused chaos elsewhere.

Travelers departing from LAX this spring should plan for delays and allow at least two to three hours beyond their normal arrival time. This is especially crucial due to reckless driving by both Uber/Lyft drivers and other drivers approaching the airline dropoff points, as dealing with a car accident will cause further delays. 

5 Tips to Prepare for Busy Spring Break Travel

1. Give Yourself More Time

For LAX, passengers should arrive at least three hours before a domestic flight. For SNA, add an extra 30 to 60 minutes to your usual arrival time. Check the airport’s official website and social media for the latest wait-time information. These are updated manually and are more reliable than the MyTSA app, as it has not been actively managed during the shutdown.

2. Use TSA PreCheck or CLEAR

Even with some backup at busier gates, expedited lanes remain dramatically faster than standard security lines. At John Wayne, TSA PreCheck holders are averaging about five minutes. To save money, check with your credit card company; many travel credit cards include TSA PreCheck and Global Entry as benefits. 

3. Pack Smart and Opt Into Biometric Screening

Wear slip-on shoes, keep outer layers easy to remove, and have your ID and boarding pass out before you reach the bins. Many airports are expanding biometric identity verification. Accessing this option in your airline’s app before you travel can significantly reduce your time at the checkpoint.

4. Have a Backup Plan

In the event you miss your flight, contact your airline immediately. It is often much faster to call for assistance (even while still at the airport) than to wait in the typically long lines at the physical help desk, where many other passengers are also seeking help. 

5. Utilize the Necessary Travel Applications

If you’re planning to use a rideshare service to the airport, schedule the Uber or Lyft ride in advance to avoid booking delays. Scheduling ahead not only saves time, but it also saves money. Additionally, enable flight notifications in your airline’s app so you can access all flight information, such as gate changes or takeoff delays.

TSA Employees Received Back Pay, but Airport Delays Still Possible

TSA employees worked without pay for over six weeks during the DHS shutdown in February, stemming from a dispute between Congress over deportation funding. 

Most recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that the vast majority of TSA employees received two weeks of back pay on Monday, March 30th, while others experienced delays in receiving paychecks due to processing times. 

Attorney Jeff Car Accident Lawyer

Though the TSA staffing crisis is easing, heavy airport crowds are expected to persist through April due to spring break, Passover, and Easter weekend. If you’re planning to travel in the coming weeks, ensure you allow enough time to safely get to the airport and get through the TSA checkpoints.

If you were injured in a car accident or as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, Jeff’s got you. Schedule a free consultation with our California car accident lawyers from Attorney Jeff Car Accident Lawyer today. 

Written By

Michelle Jaco

A content strategist and copywriter based in Orange County, she possesses over ten years of professional writing experience. A graduate of San Diego State University with a B.A. in English, she specializes in building brand identity and enhancing reader engagement, with expertise spanning legal content, software startup copy, and lifestyle branding. When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Michelle is typically traveling, running along the beach, and indulging her sports fandom by cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Dodgers (she maintains that she is not a bandwagoner).