Global Entry Story and TSA Question

Check "security wait times" link on their web site. This is supposed to be up to the minute.
https://www.jfkairport.com/

Great to hear GE worked so well for you. I usually spend at lot of time trying to get my fingers just right on the glass so the prints can be taken.

The TSA people are working without pay, and my guess is that sick calls will increase along with their frustration and hardship. Travelers will be affected, perhaps in unpredictable ways. I'd allow more time than usual, pre-check or not. And it wouldn't hurt to say a kind word as you pass through their gauntlet. They're paying the price for our DC dysfunction.

Why I like Global Entry.....Last night, I flew into JFK Terminal 7 on
Icelandair. I walked off the plane at 6:56 PM. (I looked at my
watch.). I walked to immigration, used the GE machines, chatted a
minute with the CPB agent as I was the first one to talk to him. (No
other flights were arriving.) I walked to the Airtrain platform and a
train was arriving.

I looked at my watch again. 7:04. From plane to train including a stop
at immigration took 8 minutes. I think that's a new record for me.

Applause all the way! GE is one huge time saver. Unfortunately for me, my flights often arrive at gates with at least a 10 minute walk to the kiosks including walking quickly on the people movers; I've only arrived at T4, not T7. So I'm impressed big time with 8 minutes.

Now the question, I fly again tomorrow. I have TSA precheck. However,
I have been reading that due to the government shutdowm, TSA workers
have to work but arent' getting paid. Many are calling in sick. That
included 170 yesterday alone at JFK. Has anyone flown in the past few
days and seen a slowdown due to a shortage of TSA workers? I wonder if
I should allow more time? I've been out of the country awhile and this
is the first I heard about TSA issues. I fly out on Delta Terminal 4
at JFK and their precheck line is usually pretty quick.

Given people calling out sick and fewer TSA people on duty anyway on Sunday mornings, I think you are wise to arrive earlier than usual. Early yesterday morning at Terminal C in LGA (~6am), my husband told me the Precheck & regular lines were combined. No reason was provided. Only those with CLEAR bypassed the long line. The lines could be combined at T4 at JFK as well.

Please let us know what you did and how it worked out. Good luck. I haven't traveled out of T4 since the shutdown so I am eager to learn how things go for you.

Travelers won't be subjected to their disrespectful, demanding
behavior, sarcasm, and over-the-top searches. So, it's okay for the
airports to be without them now; after all the insistence as to why
the agency is needed? They're calling in sick, so, they are not too
concerned with passenger and airline safety? ^,^

I travel 2-3 times per month and don't come across what you describe. Treat people with respect and one will be amazed how that same treatment is returned with regularity. Once in a while you find those who are just in hideous moods but that can be the case for bus drivers, hotel front desk employees, servers in restaurants, librarians, etc. It's not a norm. Moreover, i don't blame those who are forced to work without pay from taking sick days. I would be sick about that too.

Security is no more compromised today that it is any other day of the year. The TSA checkpoints are manned at the levels required. Bags are being checked, as required. Many TSA workers are working overtime to keep the lines open when their fellow workers don't manage to make it in.

I have not yet noticed any slower or out of the ordinary delays at any of the airports I have flown through in the US since the shutdown. Pre Check lanes are open their random times as always. Doesn't mean it won't happen as things drag on because it is only so long anyone can go without a paycheck coming in.

Hi all,

I removed a side discussion as it wasn't helping the OP get the answers he needs. Thanks for observing our #1 guideline and staying on topic!

I flew yesterday. JFK Terminal 4 PreCheck.

No lines. Friendly, smiling TSA workers. It was a breeze. I always say "good morning/afternoon/evening" and yesterday they all responded with the equal response and a "How are you today?"

Super!! Thanks for sharing!

Further Security line experience:
BWI, flew on January 7th in the evening. Absolutely no lines. Thanked the TSA for coming to work for us.

Another update. Flew yesterday RDU to JFK.

10 am. Long line at main checkpoint. About 20 people ahead of me at Precheck. I still got through In about five minutes.

Barking orders but adding "have a nice flight" at the end.

I was at RDU last week. They were all very pleasant, although disturbed about their situation. There was such a small to no line that there was time for chats. They said the good thing about the shutdown was that people were being nicer to them than usual. It's a shame people aren't nice all the time. Also, companies were sending food in to them as well. Nonetheless, it won't pay the rent/mortgate, etc.