WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration is predicting the busiest Thanksgiving travel week on record.
TSA said Tuesday it projects it’ll screen 18.3 million people in U.S. airports between Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2, which would be a 6% jump from this time last year.
When will be the busiest travel days for Thanksgiving?
The federal agency expects the three busiest Thanksgiving air travel days will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after.
TSA also projects Sunday, Dec. 1, could break its all-time record of screening more than 3 million people at security checkpoints nationwide. That record was set earlier this year on Sunday, July 7, though the agency has screened more than 2.9 million passengers on multiple occasions in 2024.
While record-breaking crowds could be expected, the agency says it’s ready.
“The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “Working alongside our airport and airline partners and the FAA, we have optimized staffing and will do our best to maintain our wait time standards: less than 10 minutes for TSA PreCheck lanes and less than 30 minutes for standard screening lanes.”
Thanksgiving foods you can’t bring in your carry-on
If you’re flying and planning to bring some Thanksgiving dinner staples with you, it’s important to know what foods you can and can’t pack in your carry-on luggage.
According to the TSA, some key foods, such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves – which are considered liquids or gels – must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces.
“If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, it is a liquid, aerosol or gel and must be packed in your checked bag if it exceeds the 3.4-ounce limit. As always, passengers may bring solid foods such as cakes and other baked goods through the checkpoint,” TSA explained in Tuesday’s press release.
You can also check the TSA’s searchable “What Can I Bring?” database for specific questions, but the agency notes the final decision rests with officers at the airport on whether an item can go through a checkpoint.
Auto club AAA is also predicting record-setting travel numbers for Thanksgiving, with 79.9 million people in the U.S. hitting the road or flying. If those expectations hold, it would be up 2% from last year.