Fliers brace for big security lines at airports

NEW YORK -- An expedited screening program called PreCheck was supposed to be the answer to maddeningly long security lines at the airport. But four years after its launch, the Transportation Security Administration is far short of enrolling enough travelers to make a difference, spelling trouble for summer travel season.

Fliers can expect massive security lines across the country, with airlines warning passengers to arrive at least two hours early or risk missing their flight.

The TSA cut its airport screener staff by 10 percent in the past three years, anticipating PreCheck would speed up the process.

When not enough fliers enrolled, the agency tried to make up for that shortfall by randomly placing passengers into the express lanes. But it recently scaled back that effort for fear dangerous passengers were being let through.

That's when the lines started growing, up to 90 minutes in some cases.The TSA is shifting some resources to tackle lines at the nation's biggest airports but says there is no easy solution to the problem.

"We had unacceptable line waits at the majority of our hubs," said Robert Isom, chief operating officer of American Airlines. "Based on what the TSA is telling us, there is no relief in sight."