Security Lines at EWR

Are the security lines at EWR really horrible?  Do I really need to allow 2 hours just for security?  Thanks

Maybe ..... maybe not.  That's the problem, you never know these days.

I've flown out of EWR 3 times this year. Once was kinda bad but not horrible, the two other times were pretty much a breeze.

There are certainly lots of recent horror stories in the press about massive airport security lines, so there is some kind of systemic problem. 

Net-net I don't think there's any way to know what your experience will be in advance, but it'd be good policy to err on the side of giving yourself more rather than less time.   

A friend gave herself two and half hours on a Friday afternoon in Aprl and barely made her plane.  Fearing the worst I alloyed three hours for a Friday evening flight to London. I breezed through in twenty minutes. I would still err on the side of caution.

Worst, most inexcusable statesmen of the week was Jeh Johnson saying long airport screening wait times is not a ‘national crisis’. It is and it should be treated as such.

Flew through TSA this morning  n

But without certainty people need to waste time allowing for the worst.

jeffl said:

Flew through TSA this morning  n

Clearly, Jeff's phone was confiscated as he typed this

My husband allowed 2 hours yesterday afternoon -- it was not enough. The TSA agents fortunately started calling out specific flights and letting those people through. Apparently only one machine was working...

They should do away with all the ridiculous carry ons.  Charging for bags created a monster of carry on luggage, I am sure.

conandrob240 said:

They should do away with all the ridiculous carry ons.  Charging for bags created a monster of carry on luggage, I am sure.

I don't think it made that much difference.  Most people, especially business travelers, have been carrying on luggage for years.  Mainly to avoid waiting at baggage claim.  I'd estimate that the baggage fees are not contributing in any meaningful way to the security delays.  The fees have been in place for several years at this point and the insanely long lines are a relatively recent development.

The recent lines stem from lower prices.  means more vacation travelers.  means more carry on luggage as people avoid fees.  It all goes hand in hand

"A combination of fewer TSA screeners, tighter budgets, new checkpoint procedures and growing numbers of passengers is already creating a mess at airports around the country."

what's contributing to long lines is the perfunctory pat downs of little old ladies and children and the 20 minute chemistry set tests on bottled milk and yoohoo.  

they should learn from the israeli security procedures.

I think it's worse earlier in the day. It took me one hour to get through the line last week.  One body scan machine was being used.  If you think EWR is bad, you should see ORD (O'Hare)!  

The heads of Homeland Security and TSA should be immediately fired, if not summarily executed, for gross incompetence for not properly planning for this very foreseeable situation.

So 6 am is a nightmare?  I am thinking of allowing 2 hours - is that not enough?

and thanks to you all.

Really depends on your status (TSA Pre or not), terminal and date and time.  Assuming the worse combination of those 3, yes, 2 hours is advisable.  If you have TSA Pre and a mid-day flight on United, 45 minutes is more than enough time and will likely yield time to spare at gate.

OliveBee said:

Are the security lines at EWR really horrible?  Do I really need to allow 2 hours just for security?  Thanks

^

This.

I'm not sure about this. Planes have been flying pretty full for at least a few years now, it seems. I think the issue is with the TSA.   

conandrob240 said:

The recent lines stem from lower prices.  means more vacation travelers.  means more carry on luggage as people avoid fees.  It all goes hand in hand

Interesting that the TSA has the reduction of carry-on baggage as a major area of focus to help with the current situation.  Just how they're going to do that without subsidizing the fees is beyond me.

Terminal A is the worst bottleneck, and often does not have a Pre-Check line open before 6-6:30 am which adds to the pressure--and then creates chaos when the line does open and all the PreCheck folks are pulled back from their various pre-scan lineups. I have been arriving 2-2.25 hours before my morning flights and usually have about 30 minutes at the gate.  

The wheelies don't seem to be the problem--they are just one more thing to throw up on the belt with 3-4 bins of shoes, glasses, laptops, sweaters, and all the personal items that take more time. It seems more like a personnel shortage with many unopened scanner lanes compared to last year.

Flew out of JFK last month and it was just as bad, with a full hour in the JetBlue bag drop line before security.

Interestingly, I usually have TSA Pre, but my boarding pass this time does not indicate this..ugh...dunno why

I also think the carry on thing is a nightmare.  Folks take carry on then the hatches are full and they have to check them at the gate anyhow.  I check my bag these days so as not to have the hassle of scurrying for space on board.  

OliveBee said:

So 6 am is a nightmare?  I am thinking of allowing 2 hours - is that not enough?

and thanks to you all.

Yes 6am is a nightmare, but 2 hours should be enough.

https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/id/124860-EWR-security-setup-is-a-nightmare-?page=1

Concerning Terminal A, if you are flying United out of Term A and are TSA PreCheck, you are almost always better off to go though Terminal C precheck and take the Shuttle Bus from Gate C70 to Terminal A.  

*Please note that this shuttle is only good for United / United Express at Terminal A and not the other airlines.*  

How is Terminal B in comparison?  Flying out on Delta soon (Sat. 9:00am flight; no TSA Pre).

also flying out of term b  (intl) friday 5:50 pm flight-I am planning on getting there by 3:15pm-sound ok?  dont know bout tsa pre yet

As if flying weren't stressful enough...

I returned on the redeye to Terminal C Early this am. As I was departing I noticed that the C-3 Checkpoint area was barricaded with a construction wall. The Precheck Area seemed to be open.

This just happened in the last 24 hours. This may further screw things up at C.

I'm here right now.  I came in on a flight and the lights at the check point by the lower number gates in Terminal C looked like about 45 minutes or more wait.