TSA Airport Wait Times Vary Across South Florida

Airports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach see mixed delays on March 31

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:50pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly stylized, geometric illustration depicting the towering, streamlined forms of an airport terminal, rendered in bold, airbrushed gradients of blues and grays, capturing the grand scale and sleek aesthetic of modern air travel.The mixed performance of airport security wait times across South Florida reflects the ongoing challenges facing the TSA in maintaining efficient travel operations.Palm Beach Today

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wait times at major South Florida airports, including Miami International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, and Palm Beach International, varied significantly on March 31. While some airports experienced relatively short waits, others saw longer delays, especially for immigration processing.

Why it matters

Airport wait times are a key concern for travelers, as lengthy delays can disrupt travel plans and cause frustration. The mixed performance across South Florida highlights the ongoing challenges the TSA faces in maintaining efficient security screening, particularly in the wake of staffing shortages and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

According to the website Flightqueue.com, as of 9:30 a.m. on March 31, Palm Beach International Airport had wait times of less than 15 minutes for both TSA and immigration. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport saw 15-30 minute waits for TSA and less than 15 minutes for immigration. However, Miami International Airport had less than 15 minutes for TSA but more than 45 minutes for immigration. The TSA has faced staffing shortages, with over 500 agents quitting rather than work without pay. President Trump has signed an executive order to pay TSA agents, but it's unclear how many will return to work.

  • The wait time data is as of 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for airport security screening in the United States.

President Trump

The former President of the United States who signed an executive order to pay TSA agents.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The mixed performance of TSA wait times across South Florida airports highlights the ongoing challenges the agency faces in maintaining efficient security screening, especially in the wake of staffing shortages and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some airports saw relatively short waits, others experienced longer delays, particularly for immigration processing, underscoring the need for continued improvements in airport operations and security management.