Why is Denver TSA wait times so long?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the airport is overstaffed beyond its allocated staffing amount. A DIA spokesperson said the existing airport infrastructure cannot handle the number of passengers flying through it.



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How to Get Through Airport Security Quickly, According to a TSA Insider
  1. Enroll in TSA PreCheck or Clear. ...
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  5. Make sure you're following TSA's 3-1-1 liquid rule. ...
  6. Empty your water bottle.


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Denver International Airport comes in third among the world's top 10 busiest airports. According to Airports Council International, DIA comes only after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth as the busiest across the globe. The ranking is for 2022 and based off passengers traveled.

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The TSA and airports want you to get there earlier, each for its own reasons. The agency does not like to be rushed with screenings, even if there's a long security line. Airports want you to take advantage of their incredible shopping and dining facilities, which you can't do if you're rushing to the gate.

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Which airports have the longest wait times? Topping the list is John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, with an average security wait time of around 23 minutes and a passport control wait time of about 25 minutes.

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Chicago O'Hare, also one of the most heavily traveled hubs, occupies less than a quarter of Denver International Airport's property, which, at 53 square miles, is the biggest airport in the United States.

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Generally, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best weekdays to fly. Thursday is a bit more expensive but still reasonable. Saturday is usually the cheapest weekend day to fly. That does not mean you cannot find great flight prices on the other days of the week.

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Generally, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best weekdays to fly. Thursday is a bit more expensive but still reasonable. Saturday is usually the cheapest weekend day to fly.

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Most people don't like the time wake-up times required to hit the earliest flights out of the airport, so a “first flight of the day” oftentimes offers less packed airplanes as well as easy breezy airport concourses. As a bonus, the early morning flights almost always have the best on-time records.

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TSA PreCheck Benefits About 99% of TSA PreCheck® passengers wait less than 10 minutes.

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The program doesn't guarantee you'll get through security faster, and, indeed, so many people are now clued into TSA PreCheck that the line can sometimes be as long as (or even longer) than the general public queue. But generally, you'll have a smoother experience than if you had nothing.

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