A new and insightful study from Upgraded Points has revealed which TSA (Transportation Security Administration) airport in the United States caused the most annoyances among passengers. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) airport security was the most frequently complained about, receiving nearly twice as many complaints as the average. Nearly 45% of complaints at the airport near New York City were reportedly related to problems with TSA PreCheck.
The study analyzed TSA contact center complaint data from 2015 to 2023. Upgraded Points examined the number and type of complaints filed against airport security at 44 major U.S. airports. To be clear, the source did not specifically state that it analyzed TSA complaints from the country’s largest airports.
From 2015 to 2023, Newark Liberty received 6.83 complaints per 100,000 passengers. For comparison, the study found that the average number of allegations filed is 3.92 per 100,000 people passing through airport security.
After Newark Liberty, Florida airports were the second, third and fourth most frequently complained about TSA crews. These were Palm Beach (PBI), Orlando (MCO) and Southwest Florida (RSW), respectively. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) rounded out the top five.
The end-of-year holiday season—October through December—has the highest number of complaints. Passengers most frequently had problems with expedited screening programs (such as TSA PreCheck). Another common problem was alleged misuse of passenger property. The fewest complaints involved pat-downs, civil rights, and lost property inquiries.
Which airports have had the fewest complaints about the TSA?
The airport with the fewest complaints against its TSA from 2025 to 2023 was Charlotte Douglas (CLT), followed by Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL). During this period, Charlotte Douglas had an average of 1.97 complaints per 100,000 passengers.
Chicago Midway (MDW) and Minneapolis Saint Paul (MSP) are tied for fifth among airline hubs with the least problematic airport security.
