The Transport Safety Administration warns travelers that this Labor Day weekend will be one of the record books. As a result, travelers should budget for additional safe time and everything else that air travel brings.
According to TSA, 17.4 million people are expected to fly during holiday weekends (Thursday, August 28 to Wednesday, September 3), which is probably the busiest Labor Day travel period.
TSA screens an average of 2.4 million passengers per day, but Friday will be the busiest day at the airport, with TSA expected to screen nearly 3 million people. TSA said there are seven of the busiest days at TSA checkpoints since May 23!
The weather is expected to mix together, with storms and some thunderstorms likely to be thunderstorms in parts of the country, especially in the southern United States. Please make sure to pay attention to the airport weather when you depart in case of storms closing the airport runway or causing cancellation of flights.
TSA’s recommendations for busy airports
TSA has a list of suggestions for travelers:
- Arrive at your airport early.
- Please make sure you have an acceptable ID form. The full list can be found on tsa.gov/id.
- Please do not participate or propose any unruly behavior. Violence at airports or on planes will not be tolerated.
- Check carefully to make sure you don’t leave any prohibited items in your bag. If you are unsure what you can or can’t fly, please contact @asktsa on X.
Tips for TPG Navigating Crowds
Here are the tips for TPG’s successful travel:
Arrival early
For all travelers who are nervous, we recommend that you arrive at international travel at least two hours before the flight’s boarding time.
This gives you plenty of time to park, check bags, browse the TSA checkpoint and walk to your door. I always remind people that most airports have a lot to do these days, so if you have a few minutes, that’s not a bad thing. If you have extra time, grab some food or shop.
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There is a plan B
Delays and cancellations occur, and this summer, extreme weather is common, resulting in many delays or cancellations.
Related: Key Travel Tips You Need to Know
If you face delays or cancellations, you will compete with potentially hundreds of passengers for limited seats. This means you want to be one of the first to rebook.
This also means that your airline’s customer service desk may have a long line.
Download your airline’s mobile app to track potential flight delays in real time. The airline app is a secret weapon in case of problems. Not only do you know when to start boarding, but you will also learn about any delays first. Most airlines can even let you rebook yourself in the app.
Related: Don’t Wait: Here’s How to Get to Airline Customer Service Quickly
We recommend you go to the customer service desk (use the lounge if you can access it). If there is a delay, you should also be on the phone with the airline or contact via social media. Sometimes, an airline representative on X will help you faster than a phone or face-to-face agent. When things go south, you have to use each tool.
Many airlines now have live chat features that can help navigate latency and cancellation.
Become your own best advocate
Travelers must be their best advocates to lead any possible travel nightmare.
First, be smart when booking. Try to find uninterrupted flights instead of connected flights, even if it costs a little more. You will eliminate the risk of losing your connection and reduce the chances of airlines misplaced their luggage during the transfer process.
You can also take the first flights of the day, as those are least likely to face afternoon thunderstorms and are most likely to depart on time. We even compiled five reasons to book the first flight of the day and use all the data.
Related: Your flight is cancelled or delayed – Here’s what you’re going to do next
If the flight is cancelled or delayed, there is always an alternative plan (or two) in my mind. I also want to see other airlines driving the route I booked in case something goes wrong. That way, I’ll know if I need to rebook.
Additionally, keep all receipts incurred during delay or cancellation. If it crashes, you will need excellent documentation, such as what a Southwest Airlines passenger experienced during the 2022 holiday.
If you stay at the airport for a long time, look for the secret quiet space of the airport to escape the travel chaos briefly (free).
Pass the airport safer faster
According to TSA, you can usually expect to wait 30 minutes or less in a standard TSA screening lane, but the standard waiting time for the TSA Precheck Lane is 10 minutes or less. Also, if you sign up for TSA Precheck, you don’t have to remove the liquid or laptop safely. If you haven’t attended TSA Precheck yet, we’ll have a handy list where airlines and airports are involved in the program and everything you need to know before applying.
After admission, you must add a known traveler number to your booking in order to use the service at the airport. Then, make sure you see the Precheck symbol displayed on the boarding pass when you board the flight. If you can’t see it, you need to contact the airline you are flying before heading to the airport.
The five-year membership of TSA Precheck is priced from $78 to $85, depending on the provider you register for. However, if you travel internationally frequently, you may need to opt for global entry, which costs $120 in five years. TSA Precheck membership is included in the global entries, so if you choose a global entries, you can enjoy both programs.
Related: Global Entry vs. TSA Precheck: Which is more beneficial?
You may also want to consider a clear membership. Clear is an accelerated security program that uses biometric data (eye or fingerprint scan) to verify your identity. This removes the steps that you have to show your ID to the TSA officer and lets you jump to the front of the security line (for those with Clear and TSA Precheck filter lines, or for those without the standard TSA filter lines). The obvious membership costs $209 per year. If you don’t want to pay the full fee, there are some ways to enjoy a discounted clear membership.
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