Are you seeing viral ‘hacks’ for skipping long TSA airport security lines? Here’s what works—and what doesn’t

Some frustrated passengers are waiting hours in line at airports around the country, due to a stalemate over Department of Homeland Security funding, which has resulted in many TSA officers working without pay to walk off the job. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, lines were out the door earlier this week, according to the airport’s X account that posted this video of passengers waiting in the dark at 4:30 a.m. And it gets worse. According to the Transportation Security Administration, many airports could “literally shut down . . . particularly smaller ones,” if TSA officers continue to call out instead of coming to work, CNN reported. While TSA can’t technically close an airport, the catch is, planes can’t take off without passengers and crews going through security. But there is one hack many travelers are missing out on that could save them time and frustration: TSA PreCheck Touchless ID. Here’s what to know. What is TSA Pre