HOUSTON — Long TSA lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are creating unexpected business opportunities for some locals willing to wait in security lines for a fee.
Steven Dial, owner of Dial Signature Solutions, has added TSA line-waiting to his company’s concierge services, charging $65 an hour plus $6 per hour for parking. Dial said demand is strong and that he is hiring others to help meet it. “All day today the phone has been off the hook,” he said. His services target travelers who might otherwise have to spend hours in line, including those with work or family obligations.
Dial, who has several appointments lined up beginning at midnight, encourages customers to reach him via Facebook, his website, or cell. He said he is confident about navigating the lines safely, relying on the airport’s TSA wait tracker for guidance.
Others have joined the trend. Guerra Nolvia, a Houston-area resident, posted in a Facebook group offering similar services for $100 an hour, writing, “Dreading getting to the airport 6+ hours early to wait in line? I am willing to do the waiting for you!”
As TSA staffing shortages continue to create hours-long waits, these entrepreneurial Houstonians are turning frustration into a paycheck.