United added TSA wait times to its mobile app on April 1, 2026, positioning itself as the first major U.S. airline to offer live security queue estimates in its Travel section. The feature provides real-time updates for standard security and TSA PreCheck lanes throughout the day. There is one significant catch: it only works at seven U.S. hub airports, leaving the vast majority of United passengers without access.
Key Takeaways
- TSA wait times app feature launched April 1, 2026, as a pilot program at seven U.S. hubs.
- Available in United’s mobile app Travel section for Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. airports only.
- Provides estimated security wait times using United’s collected data with regular updates for standard and PreCheck lanes.
- First major U.S. airline to offer in-app TSA wait time tracking, though competitors could follow.
- Feature is free and rolls out immediately to existing United app users at covered airports.
What United’s TSA wait times app actually does
United’s TSA wait times app feature displays estimated security checkpoint delays using data United collects directly. The tracker updates throughout the day and distinguishes between standard security and TSA PreCheck lanes, allowing travelers to plan their airport arrival time more strategically. This is genuinely useful information—knowing whether you face a 10-minute or 45-minute queue changes your departure strategy. United positioned this as a response to ongoing operational disruptions, with Chief Information Officer Jason Birnbaum noting that the feature helps travelers stay informed during a period when TSA operations remain unstable.
The feature integrates into the existing United app rather than requiring a separate download. For travelers at the covered airports, accessing it is straightforward: open the app, navigate to the Travel section, and check estimated wait times before heading to the airport. The integration is clean and purposeful—no bloat, no unnecessary gamification. This is a functional tool, not a marketing gimmick.
The seven-airport limitation that makes this feature nearly useless
Here is where the rollout falls apart. United operates flights to over 350 destinations globally, yet this feature only works at seven U.S. hubs: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.. For a frequent flyer routing through smaller airports like Boston, Miami, or Phoenix, this feature provides zero value. Even for passengers connecting through a covered hub, the feature only helps if your final destination connects through one of those same seven airports.
The pilot program structure suggests United is testing the infrastructure before expanding, but there is no announced timeline for broader rollout. The feature launched during a U.S. Department of Homeland Security shutdown that disrupted TSA operations, which may explain the rushed seven-airport deployment. However, from a user perspective, calling this a major feature launch when it excludes the vast majority of United’s network is misleading. United’s own website suggests the app handles trip planning and booking across the entire network—this TSA feature does not extend that capability meaningfully to most users.
How TSA wait times app compares to alternatives
No other major U.S. airline currently offers a comparable in-app TSA wait time tracker, making United the first to launch this specific feature. Travelers relying on other carriers still must check TSA’s official website or third-party apps to estimate security delays. United’s integration into its existing mobile app is technically ahead of the competition, but the advantage is hollow when the feature covers only seven airports. American, Delta, and Southwest have not announced similar features, though they could easily replicate this functionality if demand emerges. The real competitive advantage here is not technical—it is that United moved first, however incompletely.
Is the TSA wait times app worth using?
If you regularly travel through one of the seven covered hubs, yes—the feature saves time and reduces anxiety. Knowing you have a 25-minute PreCheck wait instead of a 40-minute standard security queue is genuinely valuable information. You can adjust your departure time, grab coffee, or use the extra minutes productively. For everyone else, the feature does not exist. This is United’s core problem: they launched a feature that solves a real problem for a tiny subset of their passenger base while ignoring the 90% of travelers who will never see it.
When will United expand the TSA wait times app to more airports?
United has not announced an expansion timeline. The April 1, 2026, launch was explicitly framed as a pilot program at seven hubs. Pilot programs can expand quickly or languish indefinitely depending on technical performance, user adoption, and resource allocation. Given that the feature is free and integrates with existing app infrastructure, technical barriers are low. The real question is whether United prioritizes expansion or moves on to other app features.
Can I use United’s TSA wait times app at international airports?
No. The feature is limited to U.S. airports and specifically to United’s seven hub locations. International airports operate under different security protocols, and TSA jurisdiction does not extend outside U.S. territory. If you are traveling internationally on United, this feature will not help you navigate security at your departure or connecting airports abroad.
United’s TSA wait times app is a clever idea executed with insufficient ambition. The feature works well at seven major hubs but abandons the vast majority of the airline’s network. For frequent flyers routing through covered airports, it is a useful addition. For everyone else, it is a reminder that United still treats innovation as a hub-centric advantage rather than a network-wide benefit. The real test is whether United expands this feature or lets it languish as a limited pilot—right now, it feels like the latter.
This article was written with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
Source: Tom's Guide
