TSA, American Airlines sending help for O'Hare airport security lines

In the wake of excessive lines at security checkpoints that have caused frustration and missed flights for hundreds of passengers, the Transportation Security Administration, airline and travel officials are making moves to cut down on long lines.

O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport authorities Tuesday morning asked travelers to arrive three hours before their flights because of delays at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.

Hours later, TSA officials announced they would send an additional 58 new security officers and four more bomb-sniffing dog teams to O’Hare to address the long delays.

Long lines caused 450 American Airlines passengers to miss their flights Sunday night at O’Hare, airline spokeswoman Leslie Scott said. Since the company began tracking excessive wait times in February, she said some 4,500 passengers have not made their flights.

“We know it is frustrating for our passengers,” Scott said. “They don’t want to come here and stand in line for two hours. It’s equally frustrating for our employees because it’s not within their control.”

In an unprecedented move, American Airlines plans to hire outside vendors to help with nonsecurity functions such as moving bins or telling passengers to remove their shoes in an effort to help TSA agents.

Darrellynn Hanes, the owner of McHenry-based Worldwide Traveler LTD, said lately she's encouraged fliers to arrive at the airport two hours in advance for domestic flights and three and a half hours in advance for international travel.

That’s between 30 minutes and an hour longer than she would typically suggest.

“We are absolutely advising them to go ahead of time for a longer period,” Hanes said. “They can get a little bit disgruntled. No one likes those long lines.”

Lines are nowhere near as long at smaller volume airports, such as those in Milwaukee and Rockford, officials there said.

“It typically will take you from 10 to 15 minutes from the time you enter the terminal to the time you enter the gate,” said Ken Ryan, director business development for Rockford International Airport. “That includes going to the counter if you need to and going through security.”

Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport spokesman Harold Mester advised fliers to arrive two hours before their flight.

He said the absence of excessive wait times like those in Chicago can make the airport more appealing for travelers from McHenry and Lake counties.

Officials are hoping relief will come soon. Congress earlier this month agreed to shift $34 million in Homeland Security funding in order to pay overtime to existing staff and hire an additional 800 screeners.

That won’t be enough to address the problem, argued the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA employees. The union insists it needs an additional 6,000 full-time screeners to alleviate long airport security lines.

The TSA currently has about 42,000 officers on the job, down from 47,000 in 2013.

At the same time, the volume of passengers has risen 15 percent, from 643 million to 740 million, according to a news release the union.

The TSA reduced staffing levels in hopes 25 million people would sign up for its PreCheck program, an expedited security measure for travelers that costs $85 and lasts for five years.

• The Associated Press contributed to this report.