Whether you're hitting the road or taking to the skies for Thanksgiving, millions of Americans are expected to be traveling this week. The rush really gets underway on Friday.
It's already been a record-breaking travel season. TSA officials say in 2023, they've already seen seven of the top 10 busiest travel days in their history.
It can sometimes catch people off guard when they get to the airport and it's packed.
"Yeah actually you know those days are gone when you could just come to the airport and just breeze by through security," Kelly Khatib, communications manager for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. "Sometimes you get lucky because we are very lucky in Buffalo that we don't have so many of those lines, but on those days, please don't let this fool you, people. We recommend that you get here at least two hours early to make sure that you're not running around like the people on 'Home Alone' running to the gate and you're losing your luggage. We don't want any of that to happen. We want to make sure that you're getting home for the holidays."
There are things passengers can do to prepare that will help ensure the security screening process goes smoothly:
- Wear slip-on shoes that can easily be taken off and put back on
- Remove your computer from your bag before you get to the screening machines
- Solid foods are permitted through security
- Ice packs are permitted through security if they are frozen solid
- If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, and it's larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in a checked bag
This year TSA expects to screen 30 million passengers nationwide. Historically, the three busiest travel days are the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after.
Here's a look at how many people TSA plans on screening on those days:
- 2.6 million passengers on Tuesday, Nov. 21
- 2.7 million passengers on Wednesday, Nov. 22
- 2.9 million passengers on Sunday, Nov. 26