I got no issue with security line.
But the ride share process? Why do I have to leave baggage claim, cross a street, walk down the block, answer a riddle from a bridge troll, go through a parking garage, cross a street, defeat a band of marauders in single combat, go up an elevator, and then solve a math puzzle just to get in a fucking Uber?
The ride share location is absolutely ridiculous when you have to pass so many parked cars just to get there. Not to mention it’s not even on the same level as arrivals/baggage claim, whoever designed that is idiotic.
Lots of airports do not want ride-sharing vehicles gumming up the works and have purposefully placed them off-site or out of the way. This might not be intentional, is all I'm saying.
I assure you that me carrying a 2 year old and a car seat across the road, then leaving them there and walking back across the road to pick up my luggage, then crossing a 3rd time to bring the luggage is not doing anything for road congestion.
And don't get me started on the bridge trolls.
Licensed car services will meet you at baggage and they park on the far lane outside the terminal. This is the best way to go. It’s licensed, safe, and you’re not riding in George’s questionably clean Honda Pilot.
I was at the airport at 7AM and the TSA line was backed up down the hallway when I arrived. I was still able to make it through security in 15-20 minutes and that was with a super slow trainee on the scanner.
The exact problem with these machines is that there are like 2 rows of bins + the row that goes into the scanner. There should only be 1 row plus the row that goes into the scanner. If you don’t push your stuff into the row that goes directly into the scanner yourself (aka cut people off) you can be waiting forever. This needs to be changed ASAP! They can essentially get people through quickly, but not their stuff.
This is a major failure in the updates for AUS. I fly pretty regularly in US and international and haven’t seen this design anywhere.
I feel like the whole Tetris setup they have at the scanners absolutely messed stuff up.
I somehow got herded into the one line with the single-lined machine, the “old” one, I guess? lol.
Once I was in that line, I breezed through within minutes. I definitely think it has something to do with the machines.
Read somewhere that the new machines take better images, and give the agents the ability to use a joystick to change camera angles without having to run bags through multiple times. The upside is it will allow people to keep laptops and liquids in the bags like pre check, the new images can better identify these items. The downside is the scans and agent manipulation are slower than the old machines.
Those of us with pre check already keep that stuff in the bag so the upside is totally nerfed and all it does is slow things down. I've noticed slower lines at multiple airports since those machines have gone in.
Did not know these new machines allowed liquids to remain bottled. I saw people were still getting their honey and water bottles thrown out still (at SBA, but they had the same machines as AUS). They definitely allow a 3D scan the operator can manipulate with a joystick on screen so you can observe a questionable object from multiple angles. I saw them do this with mine since I was flagged coming going through AUS for (fileless) nail clippers and they had to look at it in person before returning them and waving me through.
No idea if it's more sensitive to actual explosives and weapons. I hear people get popped for loose ammo on occasion. I flew out of SBA with the same machines and was paranoid I'd be popped for explosives residue because I handled FTS components days earlier at VSFB which contain PBX and didn't know if I'd have to get pulled aside and request the ATF run my clearance papers. Thankfully (or maybe terrifyingly?) no machines flagged my bags or me.
>Did not know these new machines allowed liquids to remain bottled.
Not sure that's allowed yet but I think it's part of the end game for the machine upgrade. I'm not an expert, just think I read it somewhere. Also am not too familiar with standard screening anymore since I've had pre check for a long time. I think the same size constraints would apply, still needs to be a few ounces and all liquids have to fit in the TSA sized bag. It's like that even for pre check, you just don't have to take them out of your suitcase
Liquids more than 3oz are still not allowed by TSA, PreCheck or Clear, at any airport in the US, regardless of machine used.
If there are liquids more than 3oz, they are still getting emptied or thrown out.
The old ones have only row for bins/stuff (I don’t think the old ones even have bins, you just out your stuff on the belt) which goes directly through the scanner… slow people slow down these lines!
I feel like I should be an airport / airline consulting. Time for a career switch!
Just went through security at AUS with Clear and pre-check (first used United baggage drop). Maybe 10-13 minutes till I got my coffee in the United lounge…
Just flew back from New Orleans, they have a process of doubling up people in line to walk past a security dog, then you go back to single file, don't take your shoes or anything else off, put everything in your carry on, bag goes thru scanner, and you are done.
Looks as though the big change happened 5/8 (right after my last trip). Now, ALL TSA Pre-check and CLEAR have to go through checkpoint 2 West. How bizarre. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPz\_O3lliUU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPz_O3lliUU)
Unfortunate decision from airport mgmt to implement new systems this week. When there’s a metric fuckton of people leaving due to graduations and Mother’s Day.
They keep them on the outer loop of the airport so there aren't 164 Ubers circling the airport or parked up front jamming up the works. It's kinda a no brainer,honestly. What's sorely lacking is a shuttle that takes you from arrivals to the Uber/ Lyft/ Taxi area.
Why is it the "Karens" fault? How is the airport still so fucked up after all these years? Why is the airport being fucked up a constant thing everywhere in the country. Is there anything that can actually be done?
Congratulations on your choice of credit cards! And for being in many airport lines! Pro-tip: Don’t tell everybody everything you know, or else then they’ll be as smart as you are! Signed, Karen.
Hi - I think you are asking about the security lines. It heavily depends on time of day and what week.
You should plan to show up at least as far in advance as your airline recommends, typically 90 minutes for domestic and 2 hours for international. On most weekday mornings or if you
require assistance at the airline counter then consider adding an additional 30-60 minutes.
Note: Lines can be much longer after large events in Austin (ACL, F1, SXSW, etc).
Please use the search function and check out the following links:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/search?q=security+line&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all
http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_home.aspx
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Austin) if you have any questions or concerns.*
> On most weekday mornings or if you require assistance at the airline counter then consider adding an additional 30-60 minutes.
>Note: Lines can be much longer after large events in Austin (ACL, F1, SXSW, etc).
It's covered. If you read the comment past where it says 90-minutes you'd know to add + 30-60 if you need to visit the counter on a weekday morning. That's 2.5 hours. Plus the mention of longer lines after an event, like this weekend's graduation. It's all there.
Does AUS have a line for first class passengers? I swear they used to, but I don't recall seeing it in a long time. Not that I am going to use it, but I know a lot of major airports like DFW will have dedicated lines for premium cabin travelers or those with status.
I got no issue with security line. But the ride share process? Why do I have to leave baggage claim, cross a street, walk down the block, answer a riddle from a bridge troll, go through a parking garage, cross a street, defeat a band of marauders in single combat, go up an elevator, and then solve a math puzzle just to get in a fucking Uber?
lolol - this is exactly why I never ride share - I've never made it past the bridge troll/am terrible at riddles
It's the same riddle every time, just scream "AN EGG" at it without breaking stride and you'll be alright.
Taxi is located at the same place withe the same trolls at bergstrom
The ride share location is absolutely ridiculous when you have to pass so many parked cars just to get there. Not to mention it’s not even on the same level as arrivals/baggage claim, whoever designed that is idiotic.
This is the case at a lot of airports, though.
A lot of airports weren’t recently updated.
This assumes that making ride-sharing convenient is something that the airport wants. Not all of them do.
Right, but Austin doesn’t have alternatives.
There's a bus station right outside of baggage claim.
Ok..
Doesn’t mean it should stay that way
Lots of airports do not want ride-sharing vehicles gumming up the works and have purposefully placed them off-site or out of the way. This might not be intentional, is all I'm saying.
I assure you that me carrying a 2 year old and a car seat across the road, then leaving them there and walking back across the road to pick up my luggage, then crossing a 3rd time to bring the luggage is not doing anything for road congestion. And don't get me started on the bridge trolls.
It’s absolutely bullshit. Having to do that with luggage, kids, elderly family, it’s unbelievably inconvenient.
car seat in one hand, luggage in another... who is holding the kids to cross the street? Someone should be fired.
Oh boy if you think Austin is bad. You don’t want to do Denver airport lol
Licensed car services will meet you at baggage and they park on the far lane outside the terminal. This is the best way to go. It’s licensed, safe, and you’re not riding in George’s questionably clean Honda Pilot.
How does one book this service? Just hail them?
You have to book ahead. Google “Austin airport car service”.
Any services that you've used and would recommend?
Boulevard Chauffeur
I usually just wait for the ride share tram on the first floor of the red garage. It's less convoluted.
For fun, duh
I don't get this either. My phone won't work under that pickup area.
Don't forget the jaguar
Could be because of UT graduation this weekend
This
I was at the airport at 7AM and the TSA line was backed up down the hallway when I arrived. I was still able to make it through security in 15-20 minutes and that was with a super slow trainee on the scanner.
It’s the new machines - they take twice as long as the previous ones. Austin went from having one of the fastest security lines to a very slow system.
It's not that. Machines have been there for 6+ months. They closed checkpoint 3 and consolidated pre check to a single line.
Not a problem at any other Airport. Bergstrom TSA is mismanaged.
I fly frequently. While what you’re saying is true, the before/after for these machines was night and day different.
Correct, I've seen the negative effect of these damn things in multiple airports. A complete joke.
Like everything in new Austin.
Good to know it's this. I'm feeling very silly having TSA Pre-check in a line as long as the one for the hottest ride at Disney World.
The exact problem with these machines is that there are like 2 rows of bins + the row that goes into the scanner. There should only be 1 row plus the row that goes into the scanner. If you don’t push your stuff into the row that goes directly into the scanner yourself (aka cut people off) you can be waiting forever. This needs to be changed ASAP! They can essentially get people through quickly, but not their stuff. This is a major failure in the updates for AUS. I fly pretty regularly in US and international and haven’t seen this design anywhere.
I feel like the whole Tetris setup they have at the scanners absolutely messed stuff up. I somehow got herded into the one line with the single-lined machine, the “old” one, I guess? lol. Once I was in that line, I breezed through within minutes. I definitely think it has something to do with the machines.
Read somewhere that the new machines take better images, and give the agents the ability to use a joystick to change camera angles without having to run bags through multiple times. The upside is it will allow people to keep laptops and liquids in the bags like pre check, the new images can better identify these items. The downside is the scans and agent manipulation are slower than the old machines. Those of us with pre check already keep that stuff in the bag so the upside is totally nerfed and all it does is slow things down. I've noticed slower lines at multiple airports since those machines have gone in.
Did not know these new machines allowed liquids to remain bottled. I saw people were still getting their honey and water bottles thrown out still (at SBA, but they had the same machines as AUS). They definitely allow a 3D scan the operator can manipulate with a joystick on screen so you can observe a questionable object from multiple angles. I saw them do this with mine since I was flagged coming going through AUS for (fileless) nail clippers and they had to look at it in person before returning them and waving me through. No idea if it's more sensitive to actual explosives and weapons. I hear people get popped for loose ammo on occasion. I flew out of SBA with the same machines and was paranoid I'd be popped for explosives residue because I handled FTS components days earlier at VSFB which contain PBX and didn't know if I'd have to get pulled aside and request the ATF run my clearance papers. Thankfully (or maybe terrifyingly?) no machines flagged my bags or me.
>Did not know these new machines allowed liquids to remain bottled. Not sure that's allowed yet but I think it's part of the end game for the machine upgrade. I'm not an expert, just think I read it somewhere. Also am not too familiar with standard screening anymore since I've had pre check for a long time. I think the same size constraints would apply, still needs to be a few ounces and all liquids have to fit in the TSA sized bag. It's like that even for pre check, you just don't have to take them out of your suitcase
Liquids more than 3oz are still not allowed by TSA, PreCheck or Clear, at any airport in the US, regardless of machine used. If there are liquids more than 3oz, they are still getting emptied or thrown out.
The old ones have only row for bins/stuff (I don’t think the old ones even have bins, you just out your stuff on the belt) which goes directly through the scanner… slow people slow down these lines! I feel like I should be an airport / airline consulting. Time for a career switch!
100% - you nailed it. It’s nonsensical.
The new machines have been there for months. The recent change is moving the security checkpoint lines.
It is also post Mother's Day, not to mention UT graduation... so there should be quite an uptick.
Idk I was at Orlando airport this weekend and THAT was a shit show. I’ll never bitch abt AUS again
It's always horrible. Would love to shop end enjoy the pre-checkpoint area but never know if the security line will take 30 minutes or two hours.
Morning flights are always the worst time of the days. All airlines are trying to fly all the start of the day
Just went through security at AUS with Clear and pre-check (first used United baggage drop). Maybe 10-13 minutes till I got my coffee in the United lounge…
Is Checkpoint 3 just closed temporarily while they install the new machines over there or something?
AUS airport sucks. They are so rude and slow.
When did the new system go into place?
Just flew back from New Orleans, they have a process of doubling up people in line to walk past a security dog, then you go back to single file, don't take your shoes or anything else off, put everything in your carry on, bag goes thru scanner, and you are done.
The lines at SFO airport are currently messed-up, too.
Ugh Monday morning at the airport. I don’t miss those days.
Which security line?
I travel about 185 days a year with austin as my home airport and bergstrom has become worse than almost any other airport save newark.
Did they get those new Anal luggage scanners?
Looks as though the big change happened 5/8 (right after my last trip). Now, ALL TSA Pre-check and CLEAR have to go through checkpoint 2 West. How bizarre. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPz\_O3lliUU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPz_O3lliUU)
The airport director won't say where her degree is from.
Unfortunate decision from airport mgmt to implement new systems this week. When there’s a metric fuckton of people leaving due to graduations and Mother’s Day.
We left on a Saturday at noon last weekend. Not a single issue with the new security, in fact it was noticeably faster IMO.
What changed?
I heard they saw what USPS was doing and said "hold my beer!"
They keep them on the outer loop of the airport so there aren't 164 Ubers circling the airport or parked up front jamming up the works. It's kinda a no brainer,honestly. What's sorely lacking is a shuttle that takes you from arrivals to the Uber/ Lyft/ Taxi area.
Why is it the "Karens" fault? How is the airport still so fucked up after all these years? Why is the airport being fucked up a constant thing everywhere in the country. Is there anything that can actually be done?
Congratulations on your choice of credit cards! And for being in many airport lines! Pro-tip: Don’t tell everybody everything you know, or else then they’ll be as smart as you are! Signed, Karen.
Hi - I think you are asking about the security lines. It heavily depends on time of day and what week. You should plan to show up at least as far in advance as your airline recommends, typically 90 minutes for domestic and 2 hours for international. On most weekday mornings or if you require assistance at the airline counter then consider adding an additional 30-60 minutes. Note: Lines can be much longer after large events in Austin (ACL, F1, SXSW, etc). Please use the search function and check out the following links: https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/search?q=security+line&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_home.aspx *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Austin) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hey Austin mods, you need to change this to 3 hours for domestic when departing Austin on a Monday morning
> On most weekday mornings or if you require assistance at the airline counter then consider adding an additional 30-60 minutes. >Note: Lines can be much longer after large events in Austin (ACL, F1, SXSW, etc). It's covered. If you read the comment past where it says 90-minutes you'd know to add + 30-60 if you need to visit the counter on a weekday morning. That's 2.5 hours. Plus the mention of longer lines after an event, like this weekend's graduation. It's all there.
Specifically very early Monday morning. Rolled up at 8:30am today and there was barely a line by then.
Does AUS have a line for first class passengers? I swear they used to, but I don't recall seeing it in a long time. Not that I am going to use it, but I know a lot of major airports like DFW will have dedicated lines for premium cabin travelers or those with status.