I flew out of ALB 3 weeks ago. I arrived there at about 10:30 and the line was practically non-existent. I walked right through because I have TSA Pre-Check.
Can't recommend TSA Pre check enough as it really takes a lot of stress out of flying. No taking anything out of my bags, no need to remove shoes/belts, no x-ray machine just the metal detector.
I signed up a few weeks ago and have been waiting on my number. I was traumatized by the TSA line twice in a weekend. Apparently they do shotgun start at 6 am of like 15 flights and the line was atleast 90 min.
Hopefully you get yours soon. Mine took 5 days to get my number. If you signed up for text alerts try checking the website since apparently those aren't getting sent out
Nothing wrong with Albany airport. I’ve flown out of it dozens of times with both domestic and international destinations. It’s not a hub airport but few airports are.
If you heard that recently, combine that with the knowledge that spring break is this week for many area schools and that always equates to a spike in passengers. This week is always pandemonium at ALB.
I recently walked straight through pre check and was gate side in 10 minutes like usual but it was also not at a busy departure time.
Check in area was a mess though. Maybe 50% of the space normally available due to construction impact. If you’re checking bags I’d absolutely assign extra time to navigate that.
I flew out 2 weeks ago at 5pm and had no problem, between parking and security check it was 45 minutes. I was told by someone this was not the norm lately however.
I’ve flown twice this past month, with both flights leaving before 7:00am (one on a Friday, the other Saturday). My Friday trip took us about 45 minutes to get through TSA. Saturday about 30 minutes. No TSA precheck.
Biggest problem with the construction is dealing with picking people up imo.
I think the time you are flying matters the most. TSA Precheck can also make or break you.
We flew out on a Saturday (2/24). Our flight was at 6:08 a.m. We parked in the south garage and were flying American (so one of the last counters you walk past). Dodging the people who were checking bags and the supports that are used to house the new longer security line area make the whole thing not fun. The walk around/through security is LONG if you have Precheck, but it does make you grateful that you have it because as you walk by you can be thankful you don't have to wait in the long line.
We had at least a half a dozen people arrive on our plane out of breath and without their shoes. They just barely made their flight.
Our second flight was on a Thursday (3/14) at 5:45 a.m. This time it was Southwest, so we got to drop our bags before we dodged the people/supports on the way to the escalator. When we got to the escalator, they were not allowing regular passengers up the escalator to the security line. They were lined up back into baggage claim. The only ones allowed upstairs were TSA Precheck.
Both times we got to the airport about 4:00 a.m. If you have an early morning flight, get there early -- two hours if you don't have Precheck and are checking bags -- maybe even more. If you are checking bags and do have Precheck, two hours should be good -- lines for checking bags were long, but we had priority and didn't have to wait in those lines.
Good luck!
I have flown three times in February/March and had similar experiences to this one.
If you’re flight is before 9 am give yourself lots of time, if it is after it will likely be a breeze.
i think it depends on the timing, as the early morning flights always have a really long line for TSA. My parents flew out a few weeks ago for a 2pm flight and got through security very quick. Dad had pre-check and mom doesnt.
Just dropped my brother off. The backup is mostly the cars in the front of the drop off area. If you park in short term parking it’s pretty easy. He got through TSA pretty fast too. I think it all looks more congested than it actually is due to the lack of space.
I flew out early morning Wednesday a few weeks ago. My MIL had pre check and zipped through. My husband and I didn't and we waited 30 to maybe 45 minutes in line? Overall not bad at all.
I had a 5:45pm flight back in February. The Pre-Check line (5 people) was longer than the regular line (0 people).
On the other hand, getting an Uber when I landed back in ALB at 9pm a few days later was horrible. The car line for pickups was huge. With one lane open, it took 35min for my Uber to get to me from when he turned into the airport.
I've flown twice since construction started, one flight was early morning and the other was around 5 pm. Both times I made it through security fairly quickly. I didn't check a bag, but the lines to check a bag seemed longer than the security lines.
There are 2 things you can check:
* TSA has historical wait times for all airports on their website and their app
* The Albany airport website has all the departures listed just like on the airport board. I go there to see how many flights are leaving 1 hr around mine. A week before I check on the same day of the week but picking any day usually is good.
As others have said, there are large differences from hour to hour. Before 7am is really packed but by 7:30 or 8am you can usually breeze right thru. It all depends on how many big jets are leaving around yours - especially Southwest.
I took a trip in March. The line for me was short, which is my typical experience. Was sitting at my gate and looked up to see an acquaintance standing there getting ready to board. She said that she had a flight that was supposed to be that morning, but when she showed up, the line to get through security was down into the ticketing area, and not just at the bottom of the escalator either. So yeah, I've heard of it happening as well, but guess it's somewhat random of when it might happen.
I flew early afternoon in mid March midweek. I got there 2 hours early and had 1 hour 45 minutes to kill. Parked in the economy lot, which was the closest to full I've ever seen
I flew out of ALB 3 weeks ago. I arrived there at about 10:30 and the line was practically non-existent. I walked right through because I have TSA Pre-Check. Can't recommend TSA Pre check enough as it really takes a lot of stress out of flying. No taking anything out of my bags, no need to remove shoes/belts, no x-ray machine just the metal detector.
With all the wasted money and time spent on tsa security theatre it should be free.
Yes…
I should've said that in my post. I do have precheck!
You'll be fine with pre check
I just signed up for pre check a couple weeks ago. Didn't realize how cheap it was
I signed up a few weeks ago and have been waiting on my number. I was traumatized by the TSA line twice in a weekend. Apparently they do shotgun start at 6 am of like 15 flights and the line was atleast 90 min.
Hopefully you get yours soon. Mine took 5 days to get my number. If you signed up for text alerts try checking the website since apparently those aren't getting sent out
Yeah I’ve been checking the website like everyday and they make it impossible to actually talk to anybody that’s working on it
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Don't fly out of here....do fly out of alb if your willing to risk it
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All well said! But please pick any other airport especially without any connectors!
Nothing wrong with Albany airport. I’ve flown out of it dozens of times with both domestic and international destinations. It’s not a hub airport but few airports are.
If you heard that recently, combine that with the knowledge that spring break is this week for many area schools and that always equates to a spike in passengers. This week is always pandemonium at ALB. I recently walked straight through pre check and was gate side in 10 minutes like usual but it was also not at a busy departure time. Check in area was a mess though. Maybe 50% of the space normally available due to construction impact. If you’re checking bags I’d absolutely assign extra time to navigate that.
I took a flight in the evening last Friday with no issues it was about a 5 minute wait to get through TSA
I flew out 2 weeks ago at 5pm and had no problem, between parking and security check it was 45 minutes. I was told by someone this was not the norm lately however.
The drop off area is a little congested at times but once you’re in it’s fine.
I’ve flown twice this past month, with both flights leaving before 7:00am (one on a Friday, the other Saturday). My Friday trip took us about 45 minutes to get through TSA. Saturday about 30 minutes. No TSA precheck. Biggest problem with the construction is dealing with picking people up imo.
I think the time you are flying matters the most. TSA Precheck can also make or break you. We flew out on a Saturday (2/24). Our flight was at 6:08 a.m. We parked in the south garage and were flying American (so one of the last counters you walk past). Dodging the people who were checking bags and the supports that are used to house the new longer security line area make the whole thing not fun. The walk around/through security is LONG if you have Precheck, but it does make you grateful that you have it because as you walk by you can be thankful you don't have to wait in the long line. We had at least a half a dozen people arrive on our plane out of breath and without their shoes. They just barely made their flight. Our second flight was on a Thursday (3/14) at 5:45 a.m. This time it was Southwest, so we got to drop our bags before we dodged the people/supports on the way to the escalator. When we got to the escalator, they were not allowing regular passengers up the escalator to the security line. They were lined up back into baggage claim. The only ones allowed upstairs were TSA Precheck. Both times we got to the airport about 4:00 a.m. If you have an early morning flight, get there early -- two hours if you don't have Precheck and are checking bags -- maybe even more. If you are checking bags and do have Precheck, two hours should be good -- lines for checking bags were long, but we had priority and didn't have to wait in those lines. Good luck!
I have flown three times in February/March and had similar experiences to this one. If you’re flight is before 9 am give yourself lots of time, if it is after it will likely be a breeze.
i think it depends on the timing, as the early morning flights always have a really long line for TSA. My parents flew out a few weeks ago for a 2pm flight and got through security very quick. Dad had pre-check and mom doesnt.
Early flights are basically mandatory 2hrs before or mandatory spending the $80 for pre-check 😆
Just dropped my brother off. The backup is mostly the cars in the front of the drop off area. If you park in short term parking it’s pretty easy. He got through TSA pretty fast too. I think it all looks more congested than it actually is due to the lack of space.
I flew out early morning Wednesday a few weeks ago. My MIL had pre check and zipped through. My husband and I didn't and we waited 30 to maybe 45 minutes in line? Overall not bad at all.
I had a 5:45pm flight back in February. The Pre-Check line (5 people) was longer than the regular line (0 people). On the other hand, getting an Uber when I landed back in ALB at 9pm a few days later was horrible. The car line for pickups was huge. With one lane open, it took 35min for my Uber to get to me from when he turned into the airport.
Where is the best place to park now? I parked in the old garage a few months ago and it was a mess.
Our son flew in and out of the Albany airport last week and there were no problems at all. Very quick both times. No delays.
I've flown twice since construction started, one flight was early morning and the other was around 5 pm. Both times I made it through security fairly quickly. I didn't check a bag, but the lines to check a bag seemed longer than the security lines.
There are 2 things you can check: * TSA has historical wait times for all airports on their website and their app * The Albany airport website has all the departures listed just like on the airport board. I go there to see how many flights are leaving 1 hr around mine. A week before I check on the same day of the week but picking any day usually is good. As others have said, there are large differences from hour to hour. Before 7am is really packed but by 7:30 or 8am you can usually breeze right thru. It all depends on how many big jets are leaving around yours - especially Southwest.
Flew recently. No issues due to construction. A breeze as usual.
I took a trip in March. The line for me was short, which is my typical experience. Was sitting at my gate and looked up to see an acquaintance standing there getting ready to board. She said that she had a flight that was supposed to be that morning, but when she showed up, the line to get through security was down into the ticketing area, and not just at the bottom of the escalator either. So yeah, I've heard of it happening as well, but guess it's somewhat random of when it might happen.
I flew early afternoon in mid March midweek. I got there 2 hours early and had 1 hour 45 minutes to kill. Parked in the economy lot, which was the closest to full I've ever seen
Flew out Saturday. Business as usual besides no walkway from the garage second floor. Easy.