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There is a shuttle bus that can ferry people in between terminals. I have used it before and, while convenient, it can be slow. Allow yourself plenty of time if you are going to rely on it to get in between terminals.

In March I flew out of the United terminal and the single security line snaked all the way from the upper concourse through the main concourse past the airline check-in counters. It was outrageously long, and it was a Friday at 6AM. It did move fairly quickly though, I think we were only in line for 30 minutes. It seemed like it would take a lot longer.

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The shuttle is after security?

I fly every week, going out of either Terminal A or C. Based on what I've seen so far, you're fine arriving 1.5 hours early, especially if you have pre-check. That may change with Memorial Day coming up, so budget a little more time if you can.

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While it is true that usually it is only two agents checking (sometimes a third one is present) the line moves MUCH FASTER because the ID check is cursory (you are a "known traveller") and the x-ray process is faster and smoother because TSA PreCheck passengers don't have to remove jackets or shoes, nor belts, and the x-ray screening is pretty much cursory as well. I have been in PreCheck lines that "looked" long (extending all the way to the stairs that bring you up/down to the check-in areas) but which move along super quickly.

Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck status) is by far the best $100 investment I have ever made.

The above is true for Terminal C. Terminal A, as someone else already mentioned, is a completely different animal. The TSA PreCheck line is hardly ever open, instead merged into the preferred status line, and they all end up dumping into the same security lines, so you end up getting slowed down by clueless travelers that you would normally avoid if they had the right set up in place.

TSA-precheck is often just a long sometimes longer then Premier line as there is usually only 1 or 2 screeners.

A friend flew out yesterday and was at security around 4 pm. She said the line went all the way up (down?) to the ticketing level and assumed it would be about 2 hours of wait. She has that TSA-pre status and I'm contemplating getting it.

I flew out International on 5/4. No line, no waiting.. but this was around midnight.

I actually find early morning to be one of the worst times as the TSA pre-check line at terminal A united (gates 23-28) does't open till 9 am and there are a lot of business people there to make the 6- 7 am flights

this week was actually better than last week in my estimation however it really just depends on what airlines, what terminal and what time.....

I mainly go out at 6 - 8 am and then return at 3 - 7 pm and I find the lines much longer in the AM then they are in the evening when I return (but maybe that is also cause I am just passing them by and not standing in them)

I find that pre-check at terminal C is always full (snaked at least 2-3 times) but its pretty fast line as there are 2-3 lanes open once you actually get to the front

Check before, but beware that their max time listed is 31 minutes even though the actual time can be 90 mins just for security. Never fly out in the late afternoon if you can avoid it. Early mornings are the best.

http://tsastatus.net/search.php?q=EWR

Put in EWR
http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_home.aspx
their wait times seem to max out at 31 minutes even if it is 90

If you are flying united out of terminal C and there are 90 minute lines, go through security at terminal A or B and take the transfer shuttle bus back to C.

It depends on the terminal. Gates at terminal A usually only have one line open that is shared with premier and precheck folks. Lines at terminal C appear crowded but move pretty well in my experience, especially if they are using the dogs. (I fly out of EWR about every 2 weeks.) You can check the wait time at http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_home.aspx

I flew out to L.A. a few weeks ago, got to the airport at 8:40 for a 9:30 flight and had no issue. They did rub me down twice, but they were nice about it.

Does anyone know if/how EWR is impacted by the TSA understaffing reported in the media? Are the security lines longer than usual? I like to be at the airport 1.5 hours before for domestic travel (with TSA Pre), is that still sufficient? Thx.