NATE BURLESON:
00:03:17
All right, Nicole, Skyler, thank you. It's frustrating because you think to yourself, I'm going to wake up early. I'm going to get to the airport early. I'm on the first flight out. Usually no delays. Yet still you're in lines that could be up to six hours long. Because everybody's thinking the same way you are. I'm going to take the first flight out. I'm going to get out early, so the lines already start. But nobody's frustrated with the TSA officers. We all understand what they're doing. They're frustrated at lawmakers who have tried to pass clean bills to just fund TSA without all the other issues that they're trying to seek a compromise on, and so far, they haven't been able to get that. I still say the people who have to make this decision, they should not get paid either until the people who they're negotiating for-- they should not have to get their salaries as well. Well, something tells me-- Because if you're losing your money, you're going to figure out something very quickly to settle this if you don't get paid. Where were you going to say, Vlad? I was just going to say lawmakers are scheduled to go on vacation for two weeks next week, so-- Exactly. --I'm feeling that they might have a deal this week. --are continuing to follow the chaos at America's airports, including lines like this one in Atlanta caused by TSA callouts. Congress is talking to get this partial government shutdown resolved, but that is cold comfort to folks that are on line right now, like our own Skyler Henry and Nicole Sganga. You know what? Let's start with Skyler in Atlanta. Hey, Skyler. So how is it going? Is there any progress? How are those lines looking? Nate, the good news is that this line is making some good time. We're about 47 minutes into the TSA PreCheck line, but then it keeps going after that as well. I think this is something different that we've seen over the course of the last several days, as our camera continues to move here, in that these lines were really at a standstill on Monday because of that busy travel rush and then, obviously, with what we saw on Sunday. And so now we know that TSA officers have opened up a few more checkpoints to try to make this work. Certainly much more organized than what we saw a couple of days ago. Still, there are a lot of things that they need to work out here. We're going on about 48 minutes or so here in the line. And, really, this goes to show just what has been happening as it relates to the number of TSA callouts all across the country. We hit those highs as it relates to what we saw in this last partial government shutdown. Here in Atlanta, more than 40% of TSA officers called out on Sunday. Those numbers continue to remain high. There are concerns, by the way, that that will actually get even higher, as these TSA officers are on track to miss their second full paycheck on Friday. So we'll see what happens as the days continue to progress. Nate.
NATE BURLESON:
00:05:57
Now let's check in with Nicole Sganga. We were a little bit worried because we couldn't track you down just a second ago. Nicole, do you have us? OK. All right, we're up next.
NATE BURLESON:
00:06:07
Nicole, do you hear us? I know we were trying to track you down. Hi guys.
NATE BURLESON:
00:06:11
We lost you for a second. We are now at the ticketing level. This is the-- hi, guys. If you can hear me, we're now on the ticketing level. This is now the third floor of this line that we've been weaving our way through. You can see just how chaotic this is. But a lot of relief on people's faces as now they can see at least the start of TSA screening here. Folks who I've been on line with say they're going to have to rebook their flight anyway. Summer here in front of me told me this is her fourth attempt to board her flight to Tulsa-- her fourth attempt. She was here yesterday. She was again here this morning and then had to rebook for a fourth time here. Spirits a little bit higher, but we've been on this line for well over two hours. Folks have not had access to bathrooms, to any sort of food. And you can see just how expansive this is here in Houston, where folks say that they're not sure what they're going to find on the other side. They're going to have to figure out a way to rebook their flights. I'll send it back to you guys.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS:
00:07:20
Oh, man. Makes you not want to book a flight at all.
GAYLE KING:
00:07:22
So we've got two correspondents still on their feet waiting on those lines. Skyler Henry's in Atlanta. Nicole Sganga is in Houston. Both appear to be a hot mess. But, Skyler, we're going to start with you in Atlanta. How much progress have you made? Significant progress, Gayle, so much so that I can actually enjoy some of that food that Nate was talking about. But there are still people that have maybe about 45 minutes or so to go through those TSA checkpoints, at least how far that we were allowed to get. Behind me, however, is general boarding. All lines are not created equal. Some of the people that we have spoken with say that they are getting through in roughly 30 minutes or so. So a tale of two different situations as it relates to what folks have to do as it relates to getting through these security checkpoints. Over the last several days, we have heard from people coming from weddings, going on business trips. One couple that we spoke with was actually celebrating their wedding anniversary heading to Cozumel, Mexico. All saying that they are coming here with a plan, arriving four, maybe even five hours ahead of their scheduled flights just to make sure that they can get through any of the logistical challenges that are out there. And that is especially important at an airport like here in Atlanta because what usually is reliable as it relates to ATL times and waits has not been available. So they are encouraging everyone to simply come here with a plan. Gayle. I will say this, Skyler. It makes you grateful to have TSA and TSA PreCheck and Clear, even though I know it costs a little more. You look at that, and you go, thank you. Skyler, we thank you. Now let's go back out to Nicole Sganga. She's in Houston. Nicole, you have a traveler you've been talking to. Curious to see-- well, at least you're out of the basement. That's a good sign. We're out of the basement, Gayle. I'm standing here with Meia Parker, who waited in line for how long before realizing you were going to miss your flight? I was two hours. Two hours, and now you had to rebook. This is your second time trying to board a flight today. Who do you blame for all of this? Do you blame the TSA workers? You can't really blame TSA. They are out of work. And like anyone in this economy, you don't want to work without getting paid. So I would do the same. We're six weeks into the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. What's your message to Washington, to your congressmen, to folks back on Capitol Hill? I just hope that they understand that this affects all of our daily lives and what we do every day, not just what goes on in the Capitol but every state. And Meia and I were talking earlier. Really, the conditions downstairs were really tough. No food, no water, no working AC. A lot of families and kids. So Meia is traveling alone today, but a lot of folks trying to bring little ones along to this journey. How would you describe this in one word, Meia? Chaotic. Chaotic. Back to you guys.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS:
00:10:15
Oh, boy. Chaotic, that is a perfect word to describe what we've been seeing. Nicole, thank you very much.
