⚠ BWI SECURITY CRISIS ACTIVE — TSA CALLOUT RATE 29% — OFFICIAL AIRPORT ADVISORY: ARRIVE 4 HOURS EARLY ⚠
BWI Departure Advisory · March 29, 2026
FAMILY TRAVEL PLAN
Flight 8:45 AM · Party of 4 · Baltimore/Washington International
Target Arrival
Be at BWI no later than
4:45 AM
That's 4 hours before your 8:45 departure — per BWI's own advisory issued this week.
Game Plan
3:15
Wake up & load the car
Everyone dressed, bags in the car, kids are actually awake. Build in a buffer — it always takes longer than expected.
3:45
Leave the house
Drive to BWI or head to the Uber/rideshare. Account for Sunday morning traffic — typically light, but don't chance it.
4:45
Arrive at BWI — hard deadline
Drop bags at the curb or check-in counter immediately. Lines are longest later in the morning as flights stack up.
5:15
Enter security line
Expect 1.5–3+ hours. Checkpoints A & B have been intermittently closed. PreCheck and CLEAR may be down. Get in line immediately.
7:45
Target: through security, at gate
Grab food, hit the bathroom, get the kids settled. One hour at gate is the goal.
8:45
Departure ✈
Wheels up. You made it.
What's Going On
😴
TSA Callout Rate at BWI
29%
Peaked at 38% last week. Nearly 1 in 3 officers not showing up.
📅
DHS Shutdown Duration
42 Days
TSA officers working without pay. ~500 have quit nationwide since it started.
⏱️
Reported Peak Wait Times
3–4 hrs
Lines stretched outside the terminal building this past week.
🚫
PreCheck / CLEAR
Spotty
Both have been closed at Checkpoint C due to staffing. Don't count on it.
Tips for the Family
🧳
Check bags curbside the moment you pull up. Don't wait to get inside — every minute in line counts.
📱
Download boarding passes now. BWI's real-time wait tool is offline due to the shutdown. Check your airline's app for updates before you leave.
👶
Pack for the line, not the flight. Snacks, small activities, and a charged device will keep kids manageable during a potentially 2–3 hour security wait.
🔄
Know your airline's rebooking policy. Most major carriers are issuing free travel waivers for missed flights due to TSA delays. If something goes sideways, call immediately.
✅
Head straight to the longest checkpoint. Don't wait to scout — ask a BWI employee which checkpoint is open and get in line. Don't split up.