Steven Dial, a Houston-based entrepreneur, spent Friday morning standing in TSA security lines at Bush Intercontinental Airport. His purpose? To wait on behalf of paying clients facing hours-long delays caused by Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages during a partial government shutdown. Dial, who typically offers executive household support, saw this as a natural extension of his existing services, charging $65 an hour plus parking.

He helped four clients bypass the worst of the queues, including one who swapped places with him near ticketing, with fellow passengers understandingly accommodating. Meanwhile, established line-waiting services like Same Ole Line Dudes, based in New York, are seeing increased interest in TSA waits, though they currently charge higher rates ($35 per hour) due to airport restrictions on chairs and the need for constant standing. This trend highlights the growing frustration among travelers facing severe airport delays.