Stressed-out travelers can look forward to this flight upgrade.
As of today, United is rolling out a tracker in its mobile app that provides passengers with estimated TSA wait times for both security and TSA PreCheck lanes.
“The goal is simple: reduce uncertainty and give customers more control over their airport experience,” United said in a press release.
The app tracks wait times at United hubs, including Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.
The app will provide wait time updates throughout the day, helping passengers plan their travel accordingly.
The release of United’s new app feature comes in the wake of airline passengers experiencing some of the highest security wait times in TSA’s 25-year history, with some taking more than four-and-a-half hours to clear checkpoints.
Blessedly, lines dwindled this week, easing the worst bottlenecks as Transportation Security Administration officers began receiving back pay for working during the government shutdown.
Checkpoint lines that previously stretched for hours at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport shrank to waits of 10 minutes or less on Monday.
In other previous trouble spots, such as Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington International Airport, travelers were moving smoothly to their flights.
“We appreciate the work and professionalism of our TSA agents, and while most began receiving back pay earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shutdown continues, and people want to stay informed about expected security wait times at our airports,” said Jason Birnbaum, United’s Chief Information Officer.
“Our customers rely on our mobile app for all their travel needs, and this new feature lets them know what to expect and better plan their trip.”
United acknowledges that estimated wait times are based on available data and may not reflect actual passenger wait times.
In addition to the wait times tracker, the United app now provides turn-by-turn directions to gates with estimated walk times, flight status updates and real-time reports on whether United is able to hold the plane for those attempting to make extra-tight connections.
The app update also includes a package-delivery-style bag tracker and personalized, automatic rebooking assistance and, if eligible, meal and hotel vouchers if a flight is delayed or canceled.
United has enhanced the app’s bag tracking capabilities by integrating Apple’s Share Item Location for AirTag.
United is also the only US airline currently sending real-time radar map texts to customers to help them better understand how the weather in one part of the country can compromise travel elsewhere.
Speaking of compromised travel, last week, United CEO Scott Kirby told Bloomberg TV that ticket prices could jump as much as 20% if oil stays elevated amid the Iran war.
Meanwhile the airline made waves last month when it released its new cabin designs, which will include an increased number of premium seats with fewer options in the standard coach section.
The fresh fleet — which will include new Coastliner planes, or Airbus A321neo jets, for transcontinental flights — will feature 12 premium economy seats, along with 36 added-legroom seats in addition to regular economy. A snack bar will also be added to the rear of the plane, at the expense of three seats from the plane’s standard design.
Experts maintain that these plush upgrades will result in steeper fares for economy travelers.
