SALT LAKE CITY — The busiest week of the year for travel is fast approaching, with 1.5 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles from home for the holidays, according to AAA.
TSA spokesperson Rory Dankers joins guest hosts Maura Carabello and Greg Skordas to discuss travel and packing tips to help travelers get to their destination as smoothly as possible.
Please come early and be prepared
Dankers said the TSA expects about 430,000 travelers to pass through checkpoints at Salt Lake City International Airport over the holiday season.
She added that the three busiest days for tourists are December 21, 22 and 23.
“If you’re traveling on any of those three days, it’s absolutely crucial that you arrive at the airport early and be prepared,” Dankers said.
We recommend that you allow yourself plenty of time to park your car and store your luggage.
“Don’t miss the opportunity to prepare before you get to the airport,” she said. “You don’t want to be the person holding everyone back in line, with everyone staring at you and wondering what you’re thinking. Be a travel pro, be prepared, and get through the checkpoint quickly.”
Are there any prohibited items in your luggage?
When you arrive at the airport security checkpoint, make sure there are no surprises in your luggage.
“The number one cause of delays for us is prohibited items brought in by travelers,” Dankers said. “In many cases, travelers don’t even know they have a prohibited item in their bag.”
What about liquids?
What does the TSA consider to be liquids?
“Anything that can be spilled, spread, sprayed, pumped or poured is considered a liquid,” Dankers said.
According to the TSA, carry-on bags are limited to liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes in travel-sized containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less; anything larger than that must be packed in checked luggage, Dankers said.
If you’re in doubt about whether there are any items you can’t bring on a plane, she recommends downloading the MyTSA app, which gives passengers 24/7 access to the most frequently requested airport security information from any mobile device.
To wrap or not to wrap presents?
Will the TSA flag wrapped gifts? According to Dankers, it depends.
Wrapped sweaters and the like are fine, but if the gift is a liquid, don’t wrap it – TSA officers will need to check the amount of liquid before allowing it onto the plane.
And if your wrapped gift has sharp corners, don’t wrap it, Danker said, because airport officials will need to inspect it before security checks.
“The other thing is, if there’s anything even remotely abnormal that you can see with the naked eye or on an x-ray, officers are going to want to take a closer look at it,” she said.
If the unusual gift is wrapped, it needs to be unwrapped, she warned.
“We need to do that to make sure that potential safety threats don’t get on board the plane,” Dankers said.
Instead, she advised putting the items in a gift bag and wrapping it at your destination, or purchasing one when you land.
Are you ready for REAL ID?
Beginning May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers will be required to comply with REAL ID when boarding domestic flights and accessing certain federal facilities.
Related: The Ultimate Travel Preparation Checklist
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