Thanksgiving is fast approaching. This means airports across the country will be busier than ever with a huge number of passengers traveling home for the holidays. According to the Transportation Security Administration, this year is one of their busiest Thanksgiving on record. 24 million travelers are expected to be screened at the airport checkpoints. That is a 6 percent increase compared to last year.
The increase in number of passengers has started last Friday. This upward trend is expected until Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Same as on Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving. It may be useful to note that the busiest travel days will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Sunday thereafter.
A passenger’s preparation can make a significant difference on his security screening experience. It is recommended that passengers arrive early – 2 hours in advance for domestic flights at Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and at John F. Kennedy International Airport and 3 hours in advance for international flights. This is to allow passengers to park their cars or return car rentals, check their bags with the airline, get a boarding pass, etc. before heading to the checkpoint.
Here are some travel tips for the airport security checkpoint as shared by the TSA:
Let us support TSA’s security efforts by being aware and reporting suspicious activities (If You See Something, Say Something™). For individuals traveling abroad, please check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Know Before You Go page to learn about required documentation.