At San Diego International Airport (SAN), arriving early for a flight is no longer optional.

Across the country, airport security lines lengthened as staffing shortages and pay concerns continue to affect Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations.

During past disruptions, including government funding issues, some TSA workers have gone unpaid, contributing to higher quitting rates and longer wait times at major airports. San Diego did not see the worst of these delays, but SAN still issued travel advisories warning of longer security lines, recommending passengers arrive at least 2.5 hours prior to departure.

“I’d rather be way too early than risk it,” one traveler noted, already through security with hours to spare.

Nowadays, a traveler flying out of SAN not only has to catch their flight, but also out-strategize the line, along with everybody else trying to do the same. The result of this revolutionary plan is a system in which passengers arrive earlier, wait longer and still feel less prepared.

The combination of social media and the usual stress most feel while traveling has led not only to cautious travelers but also to competitive ones.

“I saw a video of a line wrapping around the airport,” another passenger said. “So I figured earlier was better.”

The logic is simple: arrive early to avoid the line. But the flaw is even simpler: everyone else had the same idea.

As a result, security lines became less of an obstacle to avoid and more of a shared experience. Many accepted that there is no beating it, only joining it.

None of this is an unexpected or irrational response. TSA understaffing is a serious challenge that continues to yield chaotic travel across the country.

At this point, the safest strategy may be to arrive early enough to beat the rush, but not so early that you become the rush. Maybe if you get lucky, you can spend a few hours seated on the floor next to a charging station, eating an airport sandwich that costs more than your flight.

Good luck, Falcons.