Lambert Predicts 8% Spike in Travelers This Thanksgiving Travel Period

The south Bend global Airport is asking travelers to pack their patience during the holiday season while airlines do their best to get people to their destinations for Thanksgiving.

Air travel is already up this year compared to last year for the Thanksgiving holiday, Atlanta airport officials said. Wednesday is predicted to be the peak travel day, with more than 28,000 people catching a flight out of the airport, in addition to all the airline travelers passing through. The busiest day for fliers will be Sunday.

The five busiest airports for Thanksgiving travel were Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

The Transportation Security Administration and airport officials unveiled an upgraded system to scan checked baggage on Tuesday.

The TSA may have to unwrap certain gifts to inspect things. The TSA also restricts liquids and gels, such as mouthwash and shampoo, to 3.4-ounces or less. The TSA allows one bag per passenger. For instance, poultry can be packed in dry ice for hand carry or for checked-in luggage.

Gibbs suggests domestic passengers arrive at least two hours before their departure time, and three hours before if they’re traveling internationally. United is also working to bring automated lanes-which are said to move passengers through at a 30 percent faster clip than traditional airport lanes-to major airports in Newark and Los Angeles before the Thanksgiving rush. Rules vary among airlines. The airport has scales installed at each terminal for passenger convenience.

Passengers without TSA PreCheck approval must remove coats, shoes and belts, and take all items out of their pockets. When packing them in a cooler or shipping box, you should check the dimensions if it might exceed the airline’s carry-on size allowance. TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger, quoted in the Times article, noted the additional employees – plus converting 2,000 part-time screeners to full-time employees and forming a 1,000-employee “deployment force” to be dispatched to trouble spots – could help make it easier to navigate congested security lines at airports around the country.