TSA offers travel tips ahead of Thanksgiving travel peak
Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, members of the Transportation Security Administration want to offer some helpful tips for people flying to visit family and friends.
TSA officials at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport offered these tips during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
TSA Federal Security Director Marty Robinson suggests planning ahead, arriving early, and making sure your luggage doesn’t contain any prohibited items.
RELATED: Some Minnesotans are flying early this holiday week to avoid record crowds
“Last year, over 6,000 handguns were intercepted at our checkpoints and we’re on track to beat that number this year,” Robinson said.
For $75 a year, Robinson said, travelers can sign up for the TSA PreCheck program, which speeds travelers through security without the need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops or light jackets.
MSP airport spokesman Jeff Lee said peak departure times are in the early morning hours, between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. To ease traffic congestion, MSP recently added a cellphone waiting area on Post Road so drivers don’t have to circle around while waiting for passengers.
RELATED: Record numbers expected to take to the skies and roads on Thanksgiving
“We’ve gone from just 40 spaces a few weeks ago to 140 spaces this year,” Lee said. “This is for public safety and to try and reduce congestion on the roads and improve traffic flow.”
Li noted that drivers can use either the upper or lower road to drop off or pick up passengers.
AAA estimates that 55.4 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Wednesday and Sunday.
Related articles: Pafoua Yang Air Travel MSP Airport Travel
Source link
