TSA Screenings Are About To Get Easier At Some Florida Airports

I'm sure while traveling, security lines are something you dread, but TSA screenings are about to get easier at some Florida airports.

I try to fly out of RSW in Fort Myers when I can. I like that it's 2o minutes away from home. Parking is easy and affordable. And TSA lines are nice and short. In fact, when I flew out for my 4th of July vacation, there wasn't ANYONE in front of me. Just one of the many perks of flying out of a smaller airport. But, if you've flown out of Tampa, Miami or Fort Lauderdale, you know those lines can be no joke.

When you walk towards the TSA agents, you've always had to have your ID ready and sometimes your boarding pass as well. But soon, that may change. Self-Service TSA machines are already in some airports, with more to come.

These kiosks are great and can save you some serious time. All you need to do is insert your ID or scan your passport and look at a screen in which your picture will be taken. The technology compares your picture on your ID to the one you just took. It also confirms your flight and if you're eligible for TSA PreCheck. So while you still have to walk through the body scanner and put your bags on through the machine, it eliminates the TSA agent checking IDs. There are some people who are weird about having their photo taken so there is still that option to go to an agent. But overall, they're finding the biometric technology is more effective when it comes to security.

Right now in Florida, Miami is the only airport that has implemented this new technology, but it will be rolled out in even more airports soon. For a full list of airports that have the self-service TSA kiosks, click here

Ouch. That one stings a little. A brand-new index study reveals Punta Gorda Airport is the worst Florida-based airport. 

The experts at FloridaRentals.com have revealed the best and worst airports across Florida. They indexed all 19 Florida-based airports, ranking each destination against 14 factors to receive a score out of 100. Here's how they got the score.

Rankings are based on several factors such as: number of scheduled outbound direct flight destinations, average minutes delay per flight, average minutes delay due to weather, average minutes delay due to security, average minutes delay due to aircraft arriving late, average cost of hotels within 5 miles (for 1 night), and percentage of all operations cancelled. 

I think this study may show more about Allegiant Air than Punta Gorda. Allegiant makes up the bulk of commercial flights in PG.  Skytrax, an online airline review site gives Allegiant a score of 3 out of 10. But, Allegiant is known as an ultra-low cost carrier, so the old adage of "you get what you pay for" comes to mind.

The Punta Gorda Airport has been making some definite improvements. There's now a 40-seat bar with runway views between Gates 2 and 3. There's also a food and beverage counter near gate 1. They also have food trucks in the short term parking lot. Sure, there's always the chance your flight gets delayed, but food trucks and drinking always makes the extra time go by easier. Our guy Pete is flying out of Punta Gorda next month, so we may revisit this.

Also, many of these airports are discussing or are in the middle of big improvements. So they know how busy they are, and they are expanding. A LOT of people are coming to Florida, so airport expansions are happening.

Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers fared much better in the study, ranking in the middle of the pack of Florida airports. So let's see how they stack up.

Ranking in second place is Miami International Airport, scoring 71.52 out of 100. There are 183 scheduled outbound flights from MIA, and 460 hotels within a five-mile radius. A night's stay near MIA costs an average of $180.69 for one night. Miami International Airport also has plans to improve, after recently announcing plans to open a private luxury terminal service for commercial flights in 2025. 

In third place is Tampa International Airport, scoring 69.97 out of 100. With 93 scheduled outbound flights and an average 4 minute and 3 second air carrier delay. There are 274 hotels within a 5-mile radius of TPA, with Booking.com locations averaging 5.89 stars. 

DAB scored a 68.34. Avelo Airlines now flies to Daytona Beach. 

FLL scores a 66.21. The delays back in April were not their fault. You can't fly planes when the runway was flooded. 

MCO scores a 64.24 on this list. They have 3 new parking lots under construction to help alleviate some of the parking issues. 

SRQ scores 63.40 with this list. They had record growth in June and are expanding. They just broke ground on a new terminal back in March. 

Our very own RSW scores 62.28. Also growing. The expanded terminal is expected to be operational in 2025.

JAX scores a 62.16. A new concourse and expanded parking coming in 2025.

GNV scored a 61.70. Silver Airways is the latest addition to this airport. 

This island airport scored a 61.62. The new concourse A should be ready in 2025. 

PNS scored a 59.62. TSA equipment upgrades have been causing delays. That should be done soo, if not already.

TLH scored a 58.26. Tallahassee International Airport  set a record for gun interceptions in 2022, with 15 firearms — 13 of them loaded – being discovered by the TSA. That will slow the line down at security.

PBH scored a 57.75 and we head down towards the bottom of the list. Good news if you're delayed, there's lots to do. An eight-hole putting green and a full spa. 

A 54.89 for this airport. But you get free entertainment.

A 51.27 score. It's a great way to get to the Panama City Beaches. Traffic there is booming and they're planning an expansion to parking, the terminal, and a new holding room for bags. 

This is where the scores really dip. The PIE has a 39.23. Remember that story last week of the extreme turbulence? They were flying to this airport. 

SFB scored a 35.37. This is the one that I thought would be at the bottom. It frequently shows up on the 'worst airports' list. There's a plan to build a connector from State Highway 417 to the Orlando Sanford International Airport. I guess so you can get there quicker for the experience.

Placing bottom of the list is Punta Gorda Airport, scoring 33.84 out of 100. PGD has an average 21 minute 13 second flight delay, and an average 46 minute 24 second delay due to the aircraft arriving late. 28.49% of PGD’s operations are delayed. 

TSA Screenings Florida Airports