In April, American criticized TSA for longer-than-usual wait times, claiming that nearly 7,000 Spring Breakers missed flights during the week of March 14-20 because they were stuck in security lines. “The rise in checkpoint wait times is fueled in part by the unprecedented rapid growth in travel volume, with the number of travelers up more than 7 percent over last year,” says TSA spokesperson Nico Melendez. To make matters worse, he says, the TSA’s frontline staffing budget declined every year between 2012 and 2015. [...] during the past decade, airlines have launched self-check-in and incentives for curbside bag check, and almost every frequent flier program includes some form of pre-boarding. [...] the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transit Security Administration (TSA) and U.S.