See our tips to prepare for holiday travel. (TSA photo)
LOS ANGELES - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provided useful tips for those who are traveling out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) during the end-of-the-year holiday season.
The official end-of-the-year holiday travel season is projected to start tomorrow, Friday, December 15, and continue through Tuesday, January 2. During this period, TSA is projecting higher than usual travel volumes at airports nationwide leading to reminders to arrive at the airport early and prepared. At LAX, TSA expects to screen more than 1.9 million people through the airport’s security checkpoints tomorrow through January 2.
The busiest days of the holiday season locally and nationally for air travel are projected to be Thursday, December 21 and Friday, December 22 as well as Thursday, December 28 and Friday, December 29, 2023.
With a steady volume of departing travelers at LAX, TSA projects 774,000 people will be screened between December 17 and December 23. Security operations will be even busier the week of December 24 through December 30 when more than 791,000 people are projected to be screened at LAX.
Starting December 31 through January 2, TSA projects it will screen more than 100,000 people per day at LAX with the busiest single day during the holiday travel period occurring on Tuesday, January 2 when more than 117,000 people are expected to be screened at LAX.
“We have been planning for the end-of-the-year holiday travel rush at LAX for the past several months, ensuring that we have all of our security assets in place to ensure a smooth and efficient screening process for all travelers,” said TSA Federal Security Director at LAX Jason Pantages. “Travelers can expect to see checkpoints staffed and lanes open We encourage the traveling public to take a few minutes and prepare for the security screening process to help keep our operations efficient and smooth.”
During the screening process in the security checkpoint, travelers are reminded to remove items from their pockets such as phones, keys or loose change. These items should be secure in their carry-on bags instead of placing them in bins. This simple step will prevent items from being left behind in the checkpoint and ending up in the local Lost and Found.
The most common thing that slows down screening at a TSA checkpoint is having a prohibited item in a carry-on bag. This will guarantee that the traveler will experience a bag check in the checkpoint, slowing the process down for the traveler as well as reducing the overall efficiency of the screening process.
Two of the most common prohibited items TSA officers encounter are liquids, gels and aerosols (LGAs) in excess of 3.4 ounces and knives. Since 2006, TSA has limited the amount of LGAs a traveler can bring into the cabin of the aircraft to 3.4 ounces, which is equivalent to 100 ml. Any liquid in a quantity greater than 3.4 ounces such as lotions, shampoo, toothpaste, sunblock and hair gel should be placed in a checked bag. As for knives, if you must travel with them, they must be placed in your checked bag.
Here are five things travelers can do now to be prepared for the end-of-the-year holiday travel season:
1. Download your California digital ID.
TSA PreCheck-eligible travelers screened through select lanes in LAX’s Terminals 3 and 7 can use their California mobile driver license (mDL) for identity verification. California Department of Motor Vehicles has made the mDL available at no cost. Just download the CA DMV Wallet app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and follow the steps to add it to your smartphone. Travelers can use the California mDL in lieu of handing over their physical photo ID to the TSA security screening officer when entering the checkpoint.
2. Use TSA resources to travel smart.
To avoid bringing prohibited items in carry-on luggage, unpack your bag before you pack it. By starting with an empty bag or suitcase, you are less likely to bring a prohibited item to the security checkpoint. If you aren’t sure how to travel with an item, visit TSA.gov or download the MyTSA app and use the “What Can I Bring?” feature. Another option is to snap a picture of an item and send it to @AskTSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger for real-time assistance. Travelers can also send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).
3. Place gifts in gift bags instead of wrapping them.
Wrapped items are screened just like any other item. If a wrapped item alarms the security screening technology whether in carry-on or checked luggage, a security officer may have to unwrap it to determine what the item is and confirm it does not pose a security threat. Consider traveling with unwrapped items or placing them in a gift bag for easy access and resolution.
4. Make a plan for traveling with holiday foods.
Individuals often like to travel with food items during the holiday season. Solid food items like fruitcake, candy canes and chocolates are solids and may be transported in a carry-on bag. However, liquids and spreadable foods such as egg nog, wine, champagne, maple syrup and preserves are not solid and should be packed in checked bags. Here’s a helpful tip: If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it and it is larger than 3.4 ounces, it needs to be packed in a checked bag.
5. Confirm your Known Traveler Number (KTN) in your airline reservation. If you have enrolled as a Trusted Traveler, make sure your KTN and correct date of birth are in your airline reservation so you will be eligible for TSA PreCheck screening. There are more than 90 airlines that participate in TSA PreCheck and TSA offers the TSA PreCheck experience at every airport nationwide. Travelers 17 and under can use the TSA PreCheck lane when traveling with an TSA PreCheck-eligible parent or guardian on the same itinerary.
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