Thanksgiving Travel and Airport Tips From TSA

Braving a busy airport during Thanksgiving is a necessary evil for those looking to clock some family time over this gratitude-themed holiday. TSA is bracing for a particularly busy travel week—in fact, it’s projected to be the busiest on record at about 18.3 million people between November 26 and December 2, according to a statement.

The idea of that many people standing in line for the metal detector already sounds like a doozy. It sounds even more imposing when you compare to travel numbers in recent years. Since 2022, there’s been a 17% increase in passenger volume. Doing some quick math, you’re looking at an increase of more than one million travelers in two years.

“The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue,” says TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “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.”

Want to avoid some of the chaos? TSA projects the three busiest travel days will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday, so consider booking travel on other days.

To make things go a bit smoother, your friendly neighborhood TSA agents have provided travel tips to hopefully shave some time off your upcoming airport time.

Start with an empty bag

It all starts with the bag you’re bringing. Many prohibited items end up at the airport by accident, according to the TSA. So with this tip, you’re much less likely to accidentally bring in prohibited items. As someone who once held up the line for accidentally bringing my mini embroidery scissors through bag check, it’s a good call. If you must use the backpack you take everywhere, fully empty it out before you go ahead with packing your Thanksgiving essentials.

The ‘it’ rules

If you can “spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it, or pour it,” TSA agents require that it’s put in a checked bag if it exceeds the standard 3.4-ounce allowance. This includes Thanksgiving offerings like gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam, and preserves—all are considered liquids or gels. Solid foods are allowed through TSA in a carry-on bag, so go ahead and pack a little turkey for the road.

Check yourself

If you’re unsure if a particular Thanksgiving dish or travel essential will clear security, there’s a way to find out before you’re staring down the barrel of the line you’re holding up. Consult the “What Can I Bring?” page on TSA’s website. Or just ask @AskTSA, and everyone will be thankful for you this holiday season.

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