Airline delays this fall - might it get better?

TSA PreCheck is only of use at your starting airport. If you are connecting domestically you just go gate to gate. If your connection is abroad then you are subject to whatever is going on at that airport.
For the return to the US, and depending on arrival time, it is always best to have a way to avoid the long immigration lines. Yes, use Mobil Passport if in effect at arriving US gateway.

A few thoughts in no specific order...

I think the current situation may be reaching a sensationalized state. Sure, it's real—chronic at some airports, acute at others, sometimes specific to airlines. On one hand, that means these problems aren't as big or widespread as may be feared. On the other, it can mean they're less predictable, and we're naturally leery of the unpredictable.

I think October should be easier. Some of the same problems will persist, but the summer travel rush will have passed and it's a less tumultuous season for weather delays.

I'd definitely book longer layovers—the three-hour connection vs the 75-minute. Pack a book and patience.

No need to fear JFK. (But all else being equal, I'd avoid an itinerary that called for terminal change there.) There are more sad stories from there only because more people fly through there—it's only proportional.

It's likely too late to get Global Entry, but not to get TSA PreCheck alone. I used to think that PreCheck alone was a waste of $85, but with mobile passport, the faster, easier route may be worth it.

I’m not sure there is much more you can do other than build in time in your schedule. If you have an important deadline (start to cruise or a tour) maybe add an extra day of travel time upfront to play it safe. No one can accurately predict travel issues these days. The best you can do is plan ahead (which you are doing) and then be willing to accept that things may not go as planned.

For connecting flights, it's not always a simple gate-to-gate connection. Sometimes you have to change terminals by exiting to the public side and go through security again to enter the new terminal. Most of the time, in newer airports, you stay air-side. But not always. You may want to check on your specific airports. I remember exiting in Boston, but that was many years ago, so it's worth investigating if it's the same or has changed.

Another help is the size of your airport. Tampa isn't the smallest, but it's also not one of the giants. You can check it out ahead of time. For example, at BWI, the TSA check point closest to the Southwest check in is always slammed but another, which is close by near international check in, is often deserted and easy to get through. It's only a few steps. So it's worth studying your home airport.

I agree with what everyone else has said, We are traveling to Italy in September and I have set up 3-4 hour lay-overs on each leg, it's probably over kill but my flights can be 1.5-2 hour delayed and we still make our next flight. Also, we leave on our initial flight at 6:00 am (I know, this is a pain) because they rarely cancel the first flights of the day and we will be able to get from Kansas to our Hub which is Atlanta, once there it's direct to Rome so we should be okay.

Travel has become more difficult but I still enjoy it so much that I'm willing to plan ahead and then when we have to, roll with the punches to make our destination. Whenever I start to get upset about something I remind myself how lucky we are to get to travel to amazing places and enjoy different cultures!

My husband and I just returned from England and went through a nightmare at Heathrow Airport. However, we are still going to Europe (France and Spain) for three weeks in early October. The lesson we learned at Heathrow was to arrive very early for a flight (four hours). It was obvious that they had a staffing shortage but high numbers of travelers. What could have been a powder keg explosion never occurred: all passengers were polite and workers (when you could find them) were very helpful. These things happen especially in the summer and during covid--numbers were rising greatly in England.

We have no connecting flights in October which makes things less stressful. Numbers of travelers will be less in the fall. However, predictions of rising numbers of covid cases are being made, so maybe another or continued worker shortage?

We have yet to arrange the flight from Barcelona to Granada. All other modes of transportation are by rail or bus (not to say that there can't be issues there). Like you, we are retired and do not have to return to work, so that eases the mind.
I wouldn't automatically believe that it's too late to get TSA pre-check. It helped us get through Newark Airport for our flight out and has been helpful with other flights for the years that we've had it.
Another perk that keeps us positive is that we have entry into United's lounges. We also purchased Priority Pass for airports that do not have United lounges. We have yet to try PP. It's just nice to chill with a glass of something and some food in a lounge with comfortable seating away from the congestion.

Hope you enjoy your trip and don't stress too much.

I think it will be better in the fall and I don't think you need to be overly concerned. That said, once you get comfortable with the process, something unexpected is bound to happen.

When we flew back from Sicily in mid May, we connected thru Boston. Never again will we connect thru Boston. The long walk thru the terminals was actually sort of welcome after the long flight, but at the very long TSA line and the rude agents at the next terminal were not. We have not connected thru Boston in the past. While we were in line we were hurriedly reorganizing our carry on bag and back packs. We had unpacked a bit for our long flight and needed to reconsolidate liquids and empty water bottles and eat the container of yogurt we had just purchased. That was not so much TSA's fault as it was the way the airport is organized. Had the line not been so long we would have tried to sit down to reorganize before joining the line. A TSA agent went off on me for not removing my ipad and for having a couple tablespoons of water in a water bottle. He commented that the rules have been in place for about 20 years. The small amount of water in the bottle apparently triggered an extensive check of my carry on suitcase. So that was fun after a 10 hour flight.

We wouldn't have been quite as hurried, but we were selected by CDC to stand in a line to have our vaccine cards, COVID tests and identification checked. I mentioned to the CDC employee that we had a connecting in 100 minutes and she said that we would have plenty of time. By the time we were done with the CDC we had to join the now long line for Customs/Immigration. Then we had to wait to recheck our checked luggage.

I haven't really considered precheck because we don't fly that much domestically and our airport TSA folks are generally "Minnesota Nice". If we change our travel credit cards to a card that reimburses for precheck, we may go ahead and sign up.

We came back to Chicago from Heathrow on Wed. and had no problems. Carry-on only, we arrived 4 hours early, and had a morning flight. Those seem to be pretty big keys.

The statements by airline execs I have seen in the news is that it will be 2023 before things are 'running smoothly', and they will be out of 'scramble to keep up' mode.

By Oct., the summer crush of travel will be over so presumably ( hopefully?) the worst will be over.

I know I need to be prepared and flexible and to roll with the punches.

Good to be in that frame of mind.
Yesterday my niece got word the morning of her flight, that the plane for her departure was so far behind, she would arrive in Paris and have 15 minutes to get to her next flight. Her SEA-CDG-ATH, got changed to SEA-SFO-MUC-ATH. Took talking to 3 different service reps to make the change. ( No, I do not know what airline)

Thanks for the replies, feedback, and suggestions. I always avoid tight connections, but I think I'll build in more time than usual. I feel better now about booking for October.

Kathy, I just recently got my TSA Precheck and only took about 10 days from initial request for appointment to receiving my number. I think you have plenty of time.

TSA pre-check only applies to National travel in the USA.

Lorie

Correct. Pre does not even apply in an airport with pre-clearance, e.g., Dublin, where you are already in a US line.

FWIW, We thought we would have to go to a major city to get Global Entry, but we were able to do it online because we already had TSA pre-check. Decided to add everything we can that might help us in future travel.