Airport Staffing Shortages Expected to Cause Long Lines

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The summer travel season arrives with Memorial Day weekend. That means busy airports and long security lines, even at smaller airports.

Staffing shortages will only add to the issues.

Staffing Shortages

At Kansas City’s International Airport the city’s Aviation Department warns staffing shortages will likely cause longer lines and wait times. It also warns that if travelers don’t allow extra time to deal with the lines, missing a flight is a real possibility.

The same issues are expected at airports across the country as everything from restaurants to airlines struggle to hire workers.

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Due to crowds, and airport staffing shortages, it’s recommend arriving at your terminal at least two hours before your flight departs.

The KC Aviation Department says travelers should add an additional 30 minutes if planning to park in an economy lot and catch a bus to a terminal at KCI Airport.

Flyers are also asked to check in online and get a virtual boarding pass or print out boarding passes before arriving at airports to ease lines at airline counters.

Added Security

Airports will also increase security to keep things running as smoothly as possible outside terminals across the U.S.

KCI Airport Police plan to step up traffic control and strictly enforce parking restrictions. That includes people sitting in cars at the curb either dropping off or picking up passengers. If you are dropping off passengers at KCI, police ask you use the circle lots or parking garages across the street from terminals.

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Kansas City does have a cell phone waiting lot at 680 Brasilia Avenue to wait for passengers to arrive. There is also two hours of free parking in the economy parking lots.

Parking Problems

While a spokesman for KCI Airport said the airport has plenty of parking available for travelers, that is not the case at other airports. Travelers at larger airports report nightmare situations trying to find a parking spot as Americans return to the air following two years of pandemic life.

Travel Changes

For travelers at KCI Airport, a lot has changed in the past two years, including traffic patterns to and from the terminals. Drivers now enter and exit each terminal using roundabouts. You’ll reach the roundabout for Terminal C before you arrive at the roundabout for Terminal B.

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Masks are no longer required at KCI or other airports across the country, but health experts recommend travelers continue to wear them while indoors and on flights.

Security screeners will ask each passenger wearing a mask to lower it when showing identification while going through security.

Know Before You Go

You can make the security process easier and faster for everyone by going through every section of your luggage to make sure there are no prohibited items.

If you are flying with food, make sure you know what needs to go into checked bags. TSA said if it can be spilled, sprayed, spread, pumped, or poured, it is not considered a solid and must be packed in a checked bag.

Travelers can take solid foods through security checkpoints.

The 3-1-1 rule remains in effect. Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes must be 3.4 ounces or less and all bottles must fit in a single quart-size bag. You will place the bag in a bin for screening at the checkpoint.

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You can find additional information on the TSA website.

Travelers should always check airport websites for flight status before leaving for the airport. Kansas City’s website is FlyKCI.com.

Even though it may be a little more difficult to physically claim baggage this Memorial Day, some simple planning will make your trip a lot more manageable.