If you’ve ever wondered how early you actually need to arrive at the airport, John Glenn Columbus International has a tool that can help take the guesswork out of it.
Travelers flying out of CMH can now check estimated TSA security wait times directly on the airport’s website before leaving home.
The airport’s security page shows hour-by-hour wait time estimates for the entire day, giving passengers a quick look at how busy checkpoints are expected to be.
On average, passengers moving through security at CMH wait about 21 minutes, though that number can vary depending on the time of day. The tool breaks down estimates by hour so travelers can see when lines may be longer or shorter.
For example, wait times in the early morning may only be a few minutes, while mid-afternoon periods could approach 20 minutes or more.
Of course, the estimates aren’t a guarantee.
The airport notes that wait times are subject to change and may not reflect the exact experience travelers will have when they arrive.
Even with the tool available, airport officials still recommend arriving at least 90 minutes before domestic flights and two hours before international departures to allow enough time for parking, check-in, and security.
Still, for anyone trying to plan their trip a little more precisely, the page offers a helpful glimpse at how busy the airport might be before you even leave the house.
You can check the wait time estimates here: flycolumbus.com/passengers/security.
