If you’ve been to the airport lately, you know that it’s been nothing short of pure chaos. All across the country, travelers are facing unusually long TSA lines and delays at airports, driven by ongoing staffing shortages amid a partial federal shutdown. For some, this is a nightmare. For others, it’s the start of the next genius side hustle.
New Yorkers have never lacked creativity when it comes to making extra cash–just ask the woman who gets paid to sit in strangers’ cars to dodge alternate side parking tickets. Now, they’re capitalizing on the airport chaos: the latest side hustle? Getting paid to wait in TSA lines.
If you didn’t already know, NYC has its own crew of professional line sitters. Known as the Same Ole Line Dudes, they’ll wait it out so you don’t have to–whether it’s designer sample sales, SNL standby tickets, or concert queues. No line is too long or too trivial, so naturally, they’ve now added TSA lines to their growing list of gigs.
The team’s founder, told The Post, “We’re currently receiving inquiries about sitting in TSA lines at LaGuardia and JFK.”
Same Ole Line Dudes’ services cost $25 per hour with a two-hour minimum booking requirement. Honestly, it’s not a bad deal for those who’d rather pay a little extra than waste their time stuck in a notoriously slow line–especially considering New Yorkers are used to moving a mile a minute.
And with people constantly on the move via the airport, Same Ole Line Dudes aren’t the only ones doing it–others are jumping on the trend, too, charging travelers a premium to handle the wait for them.
One man even went viral for offering his services across three major airports, with rates ranging from $600 to $1,200. Pitching himself as the ultimate stand-in, he promises “strong legs, a strong bladder, and zero complaints”–and for the right price, he’ll hold your spot in line until you can breeze right through TSA.
Call it chaotic, call it genius–either way, it’s very New York.
On one hand, shelling out hundreds–or even just $50–to skip a TSA line might sound a little unhinged. On the other, if it means breezing through security while someone else does the standing, scrolling, and slow shuffling? Suddenly, it feels very on brand.
Whether this side hustle sticks around or disappears once airport chaos dies down, one thing’s for sure: if there’s a line in New York, someone will figure out a way to monetize it.
Hopping on a flight soon? Here’s how to check TSA wait times at JFK, LGA, and EWR.
