Heightened Security Ahead Of Thanksgiving

Gas hasn’t been this cheap in the USA since 2008.

“I had a lot of free time on my hands this afternoon”, said Poteet.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

General Mitchell global Airport officials were expecting about 21,000 passengers on Wednesday – just slightly more than the 19,000 to 20,000 that go through the airport on an average day.

Not only will security be tighter this year, but there will be more people to screen.

But these aren’t even the busiest days for the holiday travel season.

With an increase in air travelers this year, staffing and security at the airport will ramp up, said airport spokesman Danny Valentine.

The stepped up security even extends to busy train stations and travel hubs like Penn station in NY City.

More than two million passengers are expected to take a flight each day during the holiday period, the highest figure since 2007, according to Airlines for America.

Other quick tips for picking up travelers: there are two lanes downstairs near the luggage pickup, there is no curbside parking.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects this season to be a record setter for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta global Airport. The busiest days will be Wednesday and Sunday.

AAA estimates that 3.6 million people will be flying this Thanksgiving, and close to 42 million will be on the roads. The airport suggests being there 90 minutes before takeoff.

Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Deborah Flint urged travelers to “reduce the stress of holiday travel by planning ahead and allowing extra time for getting to LAX”.

The holiday rush comes as the Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim group fighting to control territory in Iraq and Syria, has unleashed multiple attacks, including a coordinated wave of shootings and bombings in Paris on November 13 that killed 130 people.

On Monday, the State Department issued a worldwide travel alert for Americans because of the increased threat of terrorism.

The alert warns travelers to be aware of their surroundings, and avoid large crowds and crowded places, such as holiday festivals and events.

Despite the beefed-up security, “we know of no specific credible threat of a Paris-like attack directed against the USA homeland”, he said.