5 Things I Learned in a 4.5 Hour Line at BWI

Last weekend (March 27-28, 2026), I went to see a college friend in York, PA. I flew into Baltimore on Friday morning and returned on Saturday to head home. It was a day like no other.

• 10:42 am joined the line OUTSIDE the terminal

• 12:54 pm entered the airport at Door 10 after snaking up and down the sidewalk

• 2:43 pm upgraded from the orange traffic cones to the black belt stands that herd people

• 2:45 pm missed my flight home and was rebooked on the 11 pm flight

• 3 pm entered Security Checkpoint C and met a helpful FBI agent who was volunteering to support operations and logistics

• 3:13 pm completed my longest ever in life airport security wait (I didn’t have this experience in San Juan, Marrakech, Accra, Nassau, or ANYWHERE)

While shuffling along with thousands of other inconvenienced travelers, I had a few epiphanies. Epiphanies may be too strong of a word, but realizations nonetheless.

1. Inept, incompetent government harms people. Our public dollars should promote public good. Transportation is a public good and taxes are supposed to resource safe, efficient infrastructure not immoral wars. Federal workers, like TSA agents, should be paid on time! I’m glad that Marguerite Casey Foundation invests in community-powered organizations that strengthen communities and hold government accountable. Public dollars for public good. Periodt.

2. I control the weather. I was hot (as in livid) when I joined the end of the line four hours before my flight. I was not dressed appropriately to stand outside for two hours. What dysfunction to not be able to operate airports in a country that boasts of innovation and abundance. After venting to my sister, I managed to recalibrate and try to see this “adventure” as an opportunity. I decided to write a reflection blog while I was freezing my blessed assurance off on the sidewalk. Mindset matters. As I wrapped my jeans from my carryon around my head and shoulders as a scarf, I counted my blessings. I had a wonderful time with Cereta the day prior, a beautiful morning drive back to Baltimore, and my insulin pump was fully loaded. God had me.

3. You have not because you ask not. On Friday afternoon, the news kept showing ridiculous lines at BWI. The next morning, I returned my rental car early in an attempt to avoid any hiccups. The representative at Alamo confirmed the charge of $118 for the trip and asked if that sounded right. I told him that I came back so early because of the lines on the news and he deducted $60 from my fee. Look at God! Another reminder to ask for what we need.

4. Wheaton alumni are everywhere. As I surveyed the never-ending lines, a familiar face greeted me. ✳️ Ryan Sermon ✳️ and I served on the Wheaton College alumni board together and we were both having the best day ever in line at BWI. He also missed his flight, so we had time to grab a bite once we got through security. Ryan is doing exciting work and looking for opportunities in higher education that will use his gifts of administration, workforce alignment, student affairs, and partnership development to support student success. 

5. Kindness still matters. Given the circumstances of unexpected delays, overcrowded people, and no recourse to make the lines move any quicker, I expected to see some drama while I watched the show that was BWI for one-sixth of my day. Instead, I witnessed people helping people by holding spots in line when bladders were overflowing and offering advice on rebooking flights by phone while standing in line. Shout out to my linemates, Christine and Maria, who were pleasant conversation partners. We agreed that it would have been stellar to have a petition for all those impacted travelers to sign to tell our elected officials to DO THEIR JOBS.

   
   

   Though Southwest Airlines is not responsible for government dysfunction or TSA, their staff members brought bottled water, pretzels, Oreos and graham crackers through the lines. An FBI agent volunteered to help out on his day off because he knew some of the TSA agents. Good hearts and kind folks are still here – we just need to open our eyes.

While I found some gems in the waiting, my BWI saga was a total cluster. Our government must do better.