What happens if you miss a flight due to long airport lines?

(NewsNation) — Long airport security lines tied to Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages are causing travelers to miss flights, prompting airlines to waive change fees for some affected passengers.

Airlines generally aren’t required to accommodate passengers who miss flights due to security delays, but they will usually try to rebook travelers on the next available flight, according to Clint Hendreson, managing editor at The Points Guy.

“The problem is there’s not a lot of seats available when it’s spring break, so the airline may not have another flight to put you on for a couple days,” Henderson said.

Major carriers, including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, are offering rebooking flexibility for travelers at some of the hardest hit airports, including Atlanta for Delta and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport for United.

For travelers who think they may miss a flight, Henderson said it’s important to contact the airline as soon as possible before rebooking options fill up.

“Stay in the security line, call the airline, get on the airline app, get on social media, do all the things that you can to try to get yourself protected,” he said.

What airlines are doing amid security delays

Delta is offering additional flexibility for travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, its main hub.

In a travel advisory, the airline said, “Due to longer security wait times, travel originating from ATL may be affected.”

According to the advisory, impacted travelers between March 23-30 who rebook on or before April 6 will have fare differences waived, provided........

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