TSA Hits 3 Million Passengers for First Time Ever — Here’s Why It Matters

The Fourth of July holiday weekend set a new record as 3,013,413 travelers went through TSA security on July 7, 2024. This wasn’t a surprise, as AAA estimated 5.74 million people would fly throughout the weekend. The busy weekend didn’t come without issues, though, as nearly 9,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 1,437 were cancelled.

While busy summer travel isn’t a shocker, consumers should note the record-setting demand for travel as they think about their own plans. The record-setting demand is impacting the travel experience for millions of flyers. The pandemic-bruised airline industry is struggling to keep up, and security lines remain long.

These headaches can give even the most experienced traveler a less-than-desirable experience.

Here’s what you can expect if you’re headed to the airport in the next few months.

Airlines Are Doing More With Less

Following the pandemic shutdown, experts predicted a massive comeback in travel demand — and they were right. The airline industry isn’t keeping up with the collective wanderlust for several reasons.

First, there have been several issues with getting planes in service. Boeing, one of the largest players in the aerospace business, hasn’t been able to deliver planes to their commercial airline customers due to immense pressure from regulators following several incidents with malfunctioning aircraft and alleged business malpractice. This has affected the airlines, as Boeing hasn’t been able to deliver new planes. In Q1 2024, it delivered a mere 83 planes — the lowest since mid-2021.

This has led commercial carriers like Southwest Airlines and American Airlines to cut flights and staff. One Southwest flight attendant I spoke to said the airline has recently brought more scrutiny to inflight employees with hopes of eliminating more staff.

This trickles down to consumers. Fewer planes in the sky means fewer seats for travelers to pick from. From July 2023 to February 2024, available seat miles shrunk 15%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. That figure is likely higher now during the summer travel season.

So what can you do as a traveler?

• Book as early as possible. While airline ticket prices remain lower, booking close to the departure date could come with a hefty price tag.
• Expect packed planes. If you travel in economy with a backpack like me, there’s a higher chance you may need to check your bag at the gate.

Hurry Up and Wait

The thorn in every traveler’s side is a long security line. Even with expedited programs like TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR, outrageous wait times remain commonplace.

The Pittsburgh International Airport announced Monday it had made changes to alleviate wait time pressures as flyers missed their flights in recent weeks. Earlier this year, TSA sent temporary officers to help with the record demand and any staffing shortages.

Unfortunately, security lines are a necessary part of travel, and there aren’t many ways around it — except for signing up for an expedited security clearance program. Here are the three available, and how you can potentially sign up for free for each one.

*The information regarding the American Express^® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

My personal favorite of the three is Global Entry, as I have an application fee credit with my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. I’ve found I don’t wait any longer than 20 minutes flying domestically, and coming back into the U.S. is a breeze. Collectively, I’ve saved dozens of hours in security lines with Global Entry.

Final Thoughts

More people traveling, I believe, is a net-positive for everyone involved. However, no good thing comes without challenges.

If you plan on traveling in the near future as travel continues to recover and expand, making the process as seamless as possible is vital. Otherwise, you could induce a few headaches — including an unwanted sprint for your gate at the last minute.