ENLARGE To move more quickly through security, get to the airport early, leave prohibited items at home and have identifications ready to be checked, the Transportation Security Administration suggested Thursday.
But the advice, offered at La Guardia Airport as a busy travel weekend loomed, didn't seem to tamp down the criticism of the agency.
Instead of offering tips, a group that advocates for airport improvements called Global Gateway Alliance said, the TSA needed to push for more staff, track actual wait times and get more people into PreCheck—the TSA's trusted-traveler program.
"Blaming passengers won't solve the problem of unconscionably long security lines at our airports," said Joe Sitt, chairman of the group.
Officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey sent the TSA's top leader a letter earlier this month, criticizing growing wait times at New York City airports as "abysmal."
'Blaming passengers won't solve the problem of unconscionably long security lines at our airports.'
On Thursday, Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye suggested the TSA wasn't doing enough to solve the problem. At John F. Kennedy International Airport, Mr. Foye said the TSA is increasing staff by a small percentage.
"While that's welcome, one could question whether that's adequate under the circumstances," Mr. Foye said.
A TSA spokesman declined to comment on staffing levels at JFK, citing security concerns, and didn't immediately respond to Mr. Foye's comments.
As the TSA has been panned in recent months by politicians, airlines and other agencies over an increase in wait times, it has been forced to defend itself.
"We're not going to compromise security for speed," TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said Thursday. "We were established in the wake of 9/11. Our mission is to make sure people get to their destination and get home safely."
To speed up lines, airlines—and in some cases airports—are lending staffers and hiring contract workers to assist the TSA this summer[2]. The extra staff are restocking the plastic bins at screening points, advising passengers to remove their shoes and take laptops out of their bags, and manning security-exit points. The idea: Free up TSA screeners to do the actual security checks.
TSA staffing is about 41,000 screeners, below the congressional cap of 42,500. Even if the agency was staffed up to the cap, it would have 5,600 fewer screeners than in 2011. The TSA is training 192 new screeners a week to build up staffing to 42,500 by summer.
Stacy Bodtmann, an official in the union representing such TSA screeners, said low pay was among the issues fueling high attrition that has led to staffing shortages at New York City airports. A TSA spokesman said starting pay for airport screeners is $25,000 to $30,000 a year.
Ms. Bodtmann, who works as a TSA officer at Newark Liberty International Airport, said passengers have seemed increasingly upset with long waits. "They get very frustrated," she said. "Their anger that we get the brunt of really needs to be redirected towards Congress and the agency."
Mr. Foye said the TSA problem deserved a long-term solution, probably more money from Washington.
Garrett McGrew, 31, spent two hours in line last Friday at the Newark airport on his way to Las Vegas and said a review of the procedures was "a little silly."
"They need more agents and more organization to push through the lines." he said.
—Andrew Tangel contributed to this article.
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