BOSTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened more than 658,000 people at New England airports during the 10-day Thanksgiving holiday. New England TSA officers had their busiest day of the year when they screened 77,365 people on Sunday, November 28. The agency expects these high travel volumes to continue into the December holidays. Travelers should expect high passenger volume from Friday, December 17 through Monday, January 3, with busiest days being Thursday, December 23 and Monday January 3.
“I want to thank our Transportation Security Officers throughout New England who met the travel volume demand during the Thanksgiving holiday season.” said Bob Allison, TSA Federal Security Director for Massachusetts and Maine. “They kept airport screening lanes efficiently moving to ensure more than half-a-million passengers arrived at their destinations safely, and I expect more of the same for the December holidays.”
Holiday travelers may enjoy a smoother screening process by enrolling in TSA PreCheck. Members of the trusted traveler program do not have to remove their shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, or light jackets. In November, 94% of members waited less than 5 minutes. Those who apply today will likely have their application accepted within 5 days, just in time for the holidays.
The application process is a simple two-step process, which can be started online and at home. 1) Apply online and schedule an appointment at any of the more than 400 enrollment centers. 2) Attend a 10-minute or less in-person appointment that includes fingerprinting for a background check and a payment of $85 for the 5-year membership. Many credit cards and loyalty programs also reimburse the application fees. Travelers whose membership expired can renew their membership online for $70 before the holidays at TSA.gov/PreCheck.
In order to keep screening lanes moving quickly throughout the holiday season, travelers should:
- Be flexible. Airports have rush hours too. If you want to avoid normal airport rush hours, which are normally between 5-7 a.m. or 4-6 p.m., consider booking your flight outside of those hours. Check all carriers, as they might have other flight options.
- Pack smart by contacting TSA or visiting our What Can I Bring page before you leave you home.
- Use gift bags to avoid TSA officers having to unwrap presents if an item alarms during security screening.
- Arrive early at the security checkpoint: two hours for domestic or three hours for international flights.
- Follow signs and verbal direction provided by our Transportation Security Officers (TSO) to help keep screening lanes moving.
- Be patient and considerate of others. Our TSOs are working as fast as they can and many travelers are flying for the first time since the pandemic began. In an effort to remind passengers to show gratitude and practice patience with others while traveling, TSA worked with its partners in the development of this Public Service Announcement about the Gift of Travel.
- Avoid fines by properly packing your firearm and respecting our officers, flight crew and other frontline workers. Firearms are prohibited at the checkpoint and in carry-on luggage.
- Join TSA PreCheck or renew your existing membership here before the holidays.
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Airline travelers may contact TSA directly before their flight with questions on airport screening. General questions can be answered by submitting a question directly to @AskTSA on Twitter and Facebook or by calling (866) 289-9673 between the hours of 8am-11pm Eastern on weekdays or 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekend/holidays. Download the free myTSA app, which has the handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. For individuals with special needs, TSA Cares is available via email here or by calling (855) 787-2227 on weekdays between 8am-11pm or during weekends/holidays between 9 a.m.-8 p.m. EST.
For more information on traveling safely during the holiday season, please visit www.tsa.gov.
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