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TSA prepares for record-breaking Thanksgiving travel surge

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TSA prepares for record-breaking Thanksgiving travel surge
Policy
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Simple Flying | Simple Flying

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for what it anticipates will be a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period in 2024. The agency expects to screen approximately 18.3 million travelers from November 26 to December 2, marking a 6% increase compared to last year.

The busiest days are projected to be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday following the holiday. TSA estimates screening over 2.8 million passengers on Tuesday, 2.9 million on Wednesday, and more than 3 million on Sunday.

To help ease the travel process during this busy time, TSA has issued several recommendations for passengers:

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- Start with an empty bag to avoid bringing prohibited items through checkpoints.

- Arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.

- Ensure you have acceptable identification as part of the screening process.

- Follow liquid restrictions: all liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on bags must be 3.4 ounces or less.

For those traveling with certain foods considered liquids or gels—such as gravy or cranberry sauce—these should be packed in checked luggage if they exceed the limit of 3.4 ounces.

Reflecting on past records, TSA screened about 2.91 million passengers on the Sunday after Thanksgiving last year—a record for a single day—and set another record on July 7 when over 3 million travelers were screened nationwide.

"This holiday season is expected to be one of the busiest travel periods on record," said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. He expressed gratitude towards TSA staff who will work throughout Thanksgiving week and encouraged travelers to plan ahead by following TSA's tips and using programs like TSA PreCheck®.

Passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck can expect expedited screening processes, avoiding removal of shoes, belts, and light jackets, with wait times typically under ten minutes.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske stated that collaboration with airline partners and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aims to maintain standard waiting times: under ten minutes for TSA PreCheck lanes and thirty minutes for standard screening.

Airlines for America (A4A) forecasts that more than 31 million passengers will fly with US carriers during this period—nearly two million more than last year and three million more than pre-pandemic levels in 2019—aligning closely with TSA's projections of daily passenger numbers reaching around 2.8 million.

Organizations Included in this History
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