Tag Archives: CBP

Federal government may be shutdown, but it’s business as usual at the Ford Airport

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, ,
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport has been running at normal times but staff recommends that people get to the airport at least 90 to 120 minutes before their flight takes off. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

With reports of some TSA officers not coming in and potentially long wait times at local airports, area residents will be happy to know things are running smoothy at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

“The security wait times are running at normal times,” said Alicia Roberts, marketing coordinator for the Ford Airport. “We appreciate the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), and CBP (U.S. Customers and Board Protection) staff continuing to work hard to keep things at the airport running smoothly.”

Roberts statement matches what the TSA website has stated. According to the site, TSA screened 1.89 million passengers on Jan. 14. The overall wait time for 99.1 percent of passengers was less than 30 minutes with 94.3 percent of the passengers waiting less than 15 minutes. For the TSA PreCheck lanes, the average wait was less than 10 minutes.

Wait times vary at each airpot. For example, Atlanta was reporting a max standard wait time of 88 minutes with a TSA PreCheck maximum wait time of 55 minutes. For Chicago’s O’Hare, the maximum waiting time was 16 minutes and the maximum wait time for TSA PreCheck was three minutes. At the Detroit airport, the maximum wait time was 19 minutes and the maximum wait time for the TSA PreCheck was four minutes.

Roberts said that it is always recommended that passengers come to the airport early to get checked in and through security. GFIA encourages passengers to arrive at least 90-120 minutes before their flight and check flight information at www.flyford.com.

To help with moving through security, passengers should utilize the 3-1-1 rule with liquids, gels and aerosols. Put all liquids in containers with a 3.4 ounce maximum capacity, and place them in a clear, plastic one-quart zip-top bag. Each passenger is limited to one quart-sized bag.

Additional 3-1-1 Information:

  • Deodorant:Stick deodorant is not limited to 3.4 ounces or less, but gel or spray deodorant is.
  • Suntan & Sun Block Lotion:Lotions fall under the 3-1-1procedures mentioned above. As well as the aerosol spray lotions. Sunblock sticks do not fall under this rule.
  • Makeup:Any liquid makeup cosmetics such as eyeliner, nail polish, liquid foundation, etc. should be placed in the baggie. That goes for perfume as well. Powder makeup is fine.
  • Beverages:Wine, liquor, beer, and all of your other favorite beverages are permitted in your checked baggage. You can also bring beverages packaged in 3.4 ounces or less bottles in your carry-on bags in the 3-1-1 baggie.
  • Sporting Goods: Golf clubs, tennis rackets, baseball bats (including the mini slugger bats), cricket bats, lacrosse sticks, bows and arrows, hockey sticks, scuba knives, spear guns, etc. are all prohibited from being carried onto the plane. However, you can have them checked as luggage.


Due to safety concerns, the FAA yesterday recalled thousands of furloughed inspectors and engineers back to work. It happened after unions representing aviation safety inspectors and air traffic controllers raised concerns that the shutdown was eroding the safety of the nation’s air travel.

All FFA TSA and CBP employees are working without pay during the government shutdown. 

CNN recently compiled a list of impacts from the government shutdown. Click here to read more.