Just finished TSA security line in Terminal 4 of New York JFK. Total waiting time: 51 minutes. Not too bad. https://t.co/iqn1uS9FFz ⏱️ 51m
Last updated: Mar 24, 2026 01:34 PM ET — 12 reports across 1 days
TSA wait times at JFK remain significantly elevated on Tuesday, March 24. Terminal 7 general screening is experiencing the longest delays at 75 minutes (Tue Mar 24, 11:41 AM), more than four times the typical 15-minute wait. Terminal 5 reported 42 minutes (Tue Mar 24, 1:05 PM), roughly double its usual 21 minutes. Terminal 4 showed 29 minutes (Tue Mar 24, 12:14 PM) versus a typical 12 minutes.
PreCheck passengers are also facing significant delays. One traveler reported 1 hour 38 minutes for TSA PreCheck in Terminal 5 (Tue Mar 24, early morning around 6 AM). Early morning hours appear particularly congested—one account from Terminal 5 around 6:30 AM (Tue Mar 24, 8:33 AM report) described disorganized lines and missed flights. However, midday reports suggest some improvement: a traveler cleared Terminal 4 in just under an hour total (Tue Mar 24, 1:25 PM), and another noted Terminal 4 lines were moving quickly (Tue Mar 24, 11:48 AM).
Arrive at least 2.5 to 3 hours before your domestic flight and 3 to 4 hours before international flights. Current conditions remain unpredictable across terminals, so building in extra buffer time is essential. Check which terminal your airline uses, as wait times vary significantly by location.