Some call security line literally a mile long at Midway
Thanksgiving travel took its toll at Chicago's Midway International Airport, creating unusually long security lines particularly early Sunday morning.
Chicago Aviation Department spokeswoman Karen Pride said lines were long between 6 and 8 Sunday morning. She says that's “when most people are traveling for the holiday period.”
#overheard in @TSA line @MDW #Chicago #midway "where's the line?" I just mapped it -1.2 miles long! #seriously pic.twitter.com/TEWeQ2xsfHmdash; Denise Whitaker (@deniseonKOMO) November 30, 2014
Before that, travelers were tweeting pictures of the corridors in the airport jammed with people, luggage in tow. Some called it a mile long; journalist Denise Whitaker of KOMO 4 in Seattle apparently used a smartphone app to log it at 1.2 miles long.
#HolyBackups @MDW #never seen @TSA it this bad - will surely #miss our @IFLYSWA #Thanksgiving #travel pic.twitter.com/UhXcGq0SXemdash; Denise Whitaker (@deniseonKOMO) November 30, 2014
Ugh @SouthwestAir gate agent call for passengers-1 minute to closing doors - ran as fast as I could- #missedFlight pic.twitter.com/9yUJdzfrqgmdash; Denise Whitaker (@deniseonKOMO) November 30, 2014
One traveler, 21-year-old Emma Cronin, told the Chicago Sun-Times the line stretched through the airport to the Chicago Transit Authority Orange Line station.
One more pic from the other side of TSA. Took 75 minutes to get through. Happily landed now. pic.twitter.com/pSt7DOzT1rmdash; TumbleDry (@TumbleDry) November 30, 2014
Cronin got to the airport an hour before her flight and says she made it on time. She said security officers were helpful and #8220;the line moved very fast.#8221;
Pride said the lines were cleared by 9:15 a.m.