The spring break travel period is usually one of the busiest. But this year's could be more chaotic for a couple reasons.Gasoline prices have spiked due to the war in Iran. And airport security wait times have been unpredictable as Transportation Security Administration employees work without pay du e during a partial government shutdown.That could be compounded by a potential record number of people taking to the skies.Nationally, 171 million passengers may fly this spring break, according to the industry group Airlines for America. That's 4% higher than last year.More than 3.76 million passengers are expected to pass through Chicago's airports, O'Hare and Midway, during the period of March 19-30, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. O'Hare, which has seen periodic long security lines in recent days, was preparing for 13% more passengers than last year's spring break. Thursday was spring break's busiest travel day at O'Hare, with an estimated 296,000 passengers passing through O'Hare's gates, according to the Aviation Department.The group Airlines for America said it is worried travelers could be used as a political football in the current government shutdown, as Congress fails to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which funds the TSA. Security line waits are unpredictableWait times at airport security lines have been more unpredictable due to the shutdown and absenteeism among employees who have gone unpaid for weeks.On recent days, passengers reported waiting up to two hours in line at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, according to the Associated Press. Travelers were advised to arrive three hours early to airports in New Orleans and Austin, Texas.Many airports have reported wait times in line with normal conditions, making it difficult for travelers to know what to expect.TSA is not actively managing its sites during the shutdown, meaning the wait times listed on the MyTSA mobile app may not be accurate, the AP reported. Experts say the estimated wait times listed on third-party websites tracking TSA lines may also be outdated during the shutdown if they rely on publicly available data.It wasn't immediately clear if the Chicago Department of Aviation maintains its own security line tracker. The department did not immediately reply to a request for comment.The shutdown, which began Feb. 14, is the third funding lapse in a year and has left roughly 50,000 TSA agents working without pay. Last fall, the Federal Aviation Administration cut flights at certain airports including O'Hare as some air traffic controllers, unpaid during an earlier government shutdown, failed to show up to work.Gas pricesAirport delays are not a problem for those traveling by car. But drivers will face higher gas prices due to the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and the decreasing supply of oil from the Middle East.In Illinois, the average gallon of gas costs $4.11, according to auto club AAA. It was even higher in Cook County, where it was $4.34. That's above the national average of $3.91. A year ago, the average national cost was $3.10. Gasoline price have risen dramatically, according to AAA. Last week, the White House said it was releasing 172 million barrels of oil from the country's strategic reserves. But the announcement had no apparent affect on the cost of gas, which continues to rise.Higher gas prices is already affecting driving habits. Demand for gasoline dropped 5% last week, according to the Energy Information Administration. ...read more read less