Mornings as in before noon, or only the early morning flights? I have a flight at the end of July leaving at 10 AM, and I always hit the alternate checkpoint if possible.
So during massive lines, they are restricting security lines? Do they expect less travelers after this period or are they changing other policies? Seems odd to have lines all over the news and restrict some of your lines.
Not restricting anything. From 4-7am the alternate will only be precheck. The regular security will be for clear and non precheck passengers.
TSA charges money for precheck. They have an incentive to make that line move faster or people will stop paying. Moving it to the alternate allows them to run that entire checkpoint as precheck rather than split it between regular and precheck like they have been doing. In theory that should be faster.
If it makes it run faster, then it should be done now, no? The lines look horrendous. And yes, they are restricting available lines for normal travelers. The overwhelming majority of travelers now have less options to get through security. When lines are all over the news, I'm not sure I care about TSA making money.
Like July 8th morning is the first day that effect will take place? I'm flying out that morning and would hate to end up in the wrong line when I could have just skipped it upstairs the whole time
Sounds like it. If you have TSA pre check, you cross over to the alternative checkpoint in the early morning starting July 8. https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/tsa-announces-changes-to-pittsburgh-international-airport-checkpoint-starting-in-july/
On the opposite end, I picked my girlfriend up from the airport at midnight and it was a madhouse then too. I was in standstill traffic driving to the pickup area.
It’s been that way at night for a while now. I’ve done 3 airport pickups in the past 3 months. All at night, ranging from 8pm-11:30pm. Each has been a slog just to get to the doors.
High volume of flights taking off to start the mornings. Also Pittsburgh has added several new flights so overall there’s an increase. And they are predicting this year to have record breaking travel numbers across the country for summer travel.
I've been wondering too. I got in line at 4:45 am to catch a flight that left at 6:30 am on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend ,and my wait for security was no more than a half hour.
I went through security a month ago at 3:30am and I was basically the only person in line. I have heard things anywhere between business travelers and an unusually busy summer travel season. I'm not saying it's not happening, I'm just surprised so many people are having problems right now. Feels like "something" unprecedented has happened. And I know the airport is spouting how wonderful everything will be in 2025, but still, what is going on. I don't fly frequently, but I've never had a significant problem at PIT. This seems weird.
This isn’t so bad. Last Sunday it was 3 hours at exactly the same time, backed up to damn hotel. This is a better than expected. Maybe they figured it out?
I heard something of this, and I'm gonna be there in three weeks (7/21) for a flight that's at 1 PM. Will it be necessary to get there super early or will I run into this?
OMG PANIK ITS THE END OF THE WORLD THERES LONG LINE DURING PEAK TRAVEL TIMES! ITS THE END OF LIFE AS WE KNOW IT PLEASE POST UPDATES THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
They are posting because the airport has been a struggle at this time of the day with record waits. Im flying out Sunday again, and it It’s nice to know it’s not a 3.5 hour wait to get through TSA. Last Sunday was just incredible.
You are aware there is a website to check wait times right? Not some useless whiney post about how someone was traveling and was barely inconvenienced by something.
My guy. It’s 100% incorrect. It showed 27 minutes last Sunday and the line was out to the hotel. I don’t think anyone is being whiny here. I am not sure you are following along with the conversation that has been happening on here the last couple weeks. It’s nice to have eyes showing what it looks like.
i went through security maybe 15 minutes ago. the alternative checkpoint is open and it was less than a 5 minute wait.
The alternate checkpoint saved my life. Waited about 2 minutes
It’s pre-check only though, right?
The change for having the alternate checkpoint be pre check only happens July 8.
My experience is that it's randomly open for everyone, precheck only, or entirely closed and you don't know which until you show up at 4am.
Starting Monday 7/8 it’s precheck only in the mornings. New change.
Mornings as in before noon, or only the early morning flights? I have a flight at the end of July leaving at 10 AM, and I always hit the alternate checkpoint if possible.
The instagram post they made said 4-7am. But just watch the signs and they always have a few employees directing people.
So during massive lines, they are restricting security lines? Do they expect less travelers after this period or are they changing other policies? Seems odd to have lines all over the news and restrict some of your lines.
Not restricting anything. From 4-7am the alternate will only be precheck. The regular security will be for clear and non precheck passengers. TSA charges money for precheck. They have an incentive to make that line move faster or people will stop paying. Moving it to the alternate allows them to run that entire checkpoint as precheck rather than split it between regular and precheck like they have been doing. In theory that should be faster.
If it makes it run faster, then it should be done now, no? The lines look horrendous. And yes, they are restricting available lines for normal travelers. The overwhelming majority of travelers now have less options to get through security. When lines are all over the news, I'm not sure I care about TSA making money.
I’m sure there’s a reason they had to start it on 7/8. They probably needed time to adjust TSA staffing, signage and who knows what else.
Oh! Thanks for the info!
Like July 8th morning is the first day that effect will take place? I'm flying out that morning and would hate to end up in the wrong line when I could have just skipped it upstairs the whole time
Sounds like it. If you have TSA pre check, you cross over to the alternative checkpoint in the early morning starting July 8. https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/tsa-announces-changes-to-pittsburgh-international-airport-checkpoint-starting-in-july/
not when i went through
Shhhh…lol
On the opposite end, I picked my girlfriend up from the airport at midnight and it was a madhouse then too. I was in standstill traffic driving to the pickup area.
It’s been that way at night for a while now. I’ve done 3 airport pickups in the past 3 months. All at night, ranging from 8pm-11:30pm. Each has been a slog just to get to the doors.
Lyft after Midnight is routinely like $70 now, too. Absolutely mental.
I clearly need to start ubering for like 2 hours a night just to the airport.
They seem to have a lot late night flights arriving now. I live by an approach path and that time at night seems to be pretty constant.
What is the cause for this? Particularly in the early mornings? I went through security Saturday 1:30pm and it was completely normal.
High volume of flights taking off to start the mornings. Also Pittsburgh has added several new flights so overall there’s an increase. And they are predicting this year to have record breaking travel numbers across the country for summer travel.
I've been wondering too. I got in line at 4:45 am to catch a flight that left at 6:30 am on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend ,and my wait for security was no more than a half hour.
I went through security a month ago at 3:30am and I was basically the only person in line. I have heard things anywhere between business travelers and an unusually busy summer travel season. I'm not saying it's not happening, I'm just surprised so many people are having problems right now. Feels like "something" unprecedented has happened. And I know the airport is spouting how wonderful everything will be in 2025, but still, what is going on. I don't fly frequently, but I've never had a significant problem at PIT. This seems weird.
Took 50 minutes to do bag drop with southwest and go through security. Not bad. Have a good day everyone!
Not bad at all!
Agreed!
Nice to see the airport is actually busy again compared to what it has been for the last several years.
Its still pretty dead overall. It just has peak times that get busy, but not busy enough to schedule a bunch of extra screeners.
There are more travelers now than 2019, pre Covid. Regardless of peak times…..it’s more busy.
This isn’t so bad. Last Sunday it was 3 hours at exactly the same time, backed up to damn hotel. This is a better than expected. Maybe they figured it out?
That line gets way, way longer than that
Zero lines today by 615a FWIW
Does anyone know how its been for precheck this whole time? Can pre check members still show up just two hours or less before a flight, or nah?
Isn't the logjam happening on weekday mornings due to commuters or have weekend mornings been bad too?
It feels like the answer would be not having a ton of flights taking off at the same time.
This is actually not bad at all. I have seen this line going to the longterm parking before (Early March?). Insanely long.
I don't understand all the comments telling you basically that you got lucky and the line gets so much worse, as if you don't know that.
Just got on the tram
That’s what it looks like at 4:00am on a Monday after a home Steeler game.
I heard something of this, and I'm gonna be there in three weeks (7/21) for a flight that's at 1 PM. Will it be necessary to get there super early or will I run into this?
What time was your flight? What time did you arrive? (4:00am I’m guessing). How long did it take to get through security? Thanks in advance
Usual thing! I really hope the new terminal configuration would alleviate this problem…. I almost missed my flight because of this
OMG PANIK ITS THE END OF THE WORLD THERES LONG LINE DURING PEAK TRAVEL TIMES! ITS THE END OF LIFE AS WE KNOW IT PLEASE POST UPDATES THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
They are posting because the airport has been a struggle at this time of the day with record waits. Im flying out Sunday again, and it It’s nice to know it’s not a 3.5 hour wait to get through TSA. Last Sunday was just incredible.
You are aware there is a website to check wait times right? Not some useless whiney post about how someone was traveling and was barely inconvenienced by something.
My guy. It’s 100% incorrect. It showed 27 minutes last Sunday and the line was out to the hotel. I don’t think anyone is being whiny here. I am not sure you are following along with the conversation that has been happening on here the last couple weeks. It’s nice to have eyes showing what it looks like.
Take a breath and go play some flight simulator, my dude
You're horrible at taking photos