10 things you can do while waiting in the TSA line

For more than 40 days and forty nights, the US Congress has failed to reach an agreement that would restore the salaries of many Department of Homeland Security employees. The evidence is spread throughout the country’s airports, in the form of hours-long waits to pass through security.

TSA workers have been forced to recall and are struggling to pay for gas, rent, child care and groceries, according to officials from the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 47,000 TSA agents. Nearly 12 percent of customers called in Thursday, compared to the usual rate of 4 percent.

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA workers; The department said employees could see their paychecks “as early as Monday,” though union representatives said it could take more than a week for agents to receive their paychecks. (Congress has yet to vote on whether to fully fund the department and reopen the government.) But it’s unclear whether airports will be able to avoid disaster during the upcoming spring weekend. Record long lines still wrap around some of the country’s largest airports.

So, if you are traveling, arrive early and be prepared to wait. Focus on “preparedness.” WIRED has some WIRED ideas to pass the time.

Consider TSA pre-screening.

Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Think of the line as a kind of liminal space for ritual, or a threshold designed specifically for meditation. Maybe reflect on your mistakes. Top of the list: Not signing up for TSA PreCheck. If you’re already in line, it’s too late now, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Those who can pay the $80 fee — valid for five years — get fast-track boarding, and thus the right to stand in security lines that seem to be moving faster at the moment. The online registration process takes only a few minutes. What a great way to kill some time!

Applicants must then register (or enter) 10-minute in-person document screening meetings at local enrollment centers, which are located everywhere from airports to local Office Depot and Staples locations. After that, the actual registration can take between three and 60 days, the TSA says.

Read Wired

You are already here! Nose around. Check out our latest magazine package, The War Machine, which examines how technology has changed the way the world fights and then tries to recover. Or head to the Gear homepage to read about the latest gadgets and gadget trends. If you’re feeling extra nostalgic, check out this list of some of WIRED’s best stories from the past 30 years.

Breathe easily

Just because you’re nice and calm now doesn’t mean everyone around you is acting the same way. Escape with deep breathing, headphones, and maybe a meditation app. Some options are here.

While you’ve got those headphones

Play the podcast! WIRED just updated its list of the best ones. Includes the best recommendations related to technology and science Body and symbolabout the dark side of loving artificial intelligence; Your undivided attentiona panel hosted by tech industry veterans on the downsides of living online and how we can improve it; and wordswhich delights in taking listeners down various scientific rabbit holes. Oh and Uncanny ValleyWIRED’s inside look at the people, power, and influence in Silicon Valley.

Organize your photos

Is your photo folder a living hell? Us too. What a great time to tackle the task of deleting what no longer serves you. Going through photos one by one is always an option, but WIRED also tested a couple of apps to help phone users declutter, and they loved it! Rodeo organizes screenshots by location, and helps you organize reminders and lists to share with friends and family. Swipewipe is a Tinder photo app: simply swipe left to remove photos from your phone forever.

Finally discover how to solve the Rubik’s Cube

Photo: Getty Images

This takes some thought, but a Rubik’s Cube might be the perfect companion while waiting for class. No flying limbs, loud noises, or even screens. It’s just you, your fingers, and pure engineering logic. Here’s our step-by-step guide.

Listen late to Horizon Worlds Gospel (on mobile!)

Meta’s Horizon Worlds is going through some weirdness, as the tech giant turns away from the (nominal) Metaverse and its bets on virtual reality to focus on artificial intelligence. After announcing the end of Horizon Worlds in VR, Meta reversed course just one day later. Whatever it is: it definitely exists on mobile! Visit the Comedy Club! Make some friends! Avoid children (unless you are a child)!

Skateboarding (digitally)

There are a lot of mobile gaming options. WIRED senior writer Jeremy White particularly likes Grand Mountain Adventure and Grand Mountain Adventure 2 (Android, iOS), open-world snowboarding games that take you to the most beautiful mountains and ski resorts to jump the slopes, slalom, or even tour the backcountry. We have more mobile game recordings here.

Consider the line

Photography: Vital Images/Getty Images

If you prefer to spend your time contemplating the world in front of you, there’s probably never been a better time to learn about the theory behind perfect queues. There is an entire cottage industry of crowd science consultants and scientists working on the mathematics and psychology behind the most effective way to move a group of people from here to there. Learn about them here, then think about how your airport can do it better.

Disavowing the airport theory

Last year, TikTokers were drawn to the “airport theory,” the idea that life could be better (?) and more relaxed (??) if travelers arrived at the airport as late as possible, passing through security and into the boarding line. This gives us angina, and—look around!—seems like a particularly bad idea right now. Here are some other airport tricks to keep in mind during your next trip, hopefully after Congress decided to pay federal employees for their work.