Passengers Pay Strangers to Wait in Long Airport Security Lines

Line-standing services gain traction as travelers face hours-long TSA waits at airports recovering from staffing shortages.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:20pm

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A highly stylized, geometric illustration depicting the towering scale of an airport terminal, with sweeping gradients of grays and blues conveying the frustration and tension of long security lines.As airports struggle with staffing shortages, travelers are turning to unauthorized line-standing services to avoid the chaos of extended security wait times.Houston Today

As airports continue to grapple with long security lines due to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer shortages, some travelers are turning to line-standing services to avoid the wait. Companies like Same Ole Line Dudes in New York and independent contractors in Houston are offering to hold a passenger's place in the TSA line for an hourly fee, ranging from $35 to $65 per hour. While airports do not endorse these unauthorized services, passengers have been getting creative to cope with the extended wait times.

Why it matters

The rise of line-standing services highlights the ongoing challenges airports are facing in the aftermath of the DHS shutdown and TSA staffing shortages. Passengers are seeking alternative solutions to avoid the frustration and time lost waiting in long security lines, raising questions about the effectiveness of airport security procedures and the need for better resource management.

The details

Same Ole Line Dudes, a New York-based line-waiting service, has received requests from travelers looking to avoid hour-long TSA lines. The company charges a minimum of $50 for up to two hours of line-standing, with an additional $15 charge for overnight requests. In Houston, a local man has been offering to stand in TSA lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport for $65 per hour. While airports have warned passengers against using unauthorized line-standing services, as they pose security risks, travelers have been resorting to these options to cope with the extended wait times.

  • In recent weeks, travelers have faced TSA lines of up to five hours.
  • The DHS funding lapsed on Valentine's Day, leading to TSA officers working without pay.
  • President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order for emergency pay, and officers have begun receiving paychecks.

The players

Same Ole Line Dudes

A New York-based line-waiting service that charges a minimum of $50 for up to two hours of line-standing, with an additional $15 charge for overnight requests.

Steven Dial

A local man in Houston who has been offering to stand in TSA lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport for $65 per hour.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

The airport in Houston, Texas, which has warned passengers against using unauthorized line-standing services, as they pose security risks.

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What’s next

Airports and the TSA are likely to continue monitoring the use of unauthorized line-standing services and may take further steps to discourage or prevent passengers from using them, citing security concerns.

The takeaway

The rise of line-standing services at airports highlights the ongoing challenges travelers face due to staffing shortages and the need for airports and the TSA to find more effective solutions to manage security lines and ensure passenger safety.