November 13, 2023
Guys – I’m warning you right now – if you are traveling for Thanksgiving especially if you have to fly – it’s going to be hectic, crowded, chaotic – pick your word. And a looming government shutdown could make things even worse.
And you don’t have to believe me – TSA just released their projections for the Thanksgiving travel holiday and they’re expecting to break records this year. They’re also giving some travel and packing tips to help you get through the security lines a little quicker it is linked below.
Now – back to the airport chaos we are expecting. TSA says the 12-day Thanksgiving travel period begins this Friday November 17th – and runs through the Tuesday after Thanksgiving November 28th. (Nov 19-Nov 28). During the three busiest days of that 12 day period – the TSA is expecting to screen more than 8 million people across the country. That will make it the busiest ever.
TSA expects to screen 2.6 million passengers on Tuesday November 21st, 2.7 million people on Wednesday November 22nd and 2.9 million people on Sunday November 26th. That Sunday is expected to be the busiest day of the Thanksgiving travel period and the busiest day at airports across the country for the entire year.
And if you think having TSA Pre Check is going to save you the headache – you may want to rethink that – because there are now more than 17.5 million other people who are also enrolled in the program. Which is not only the most ever enrolled – but also four million more people in the program than last year.
TSA says they are staffing up and are hoping to keep TSA Pre Check wait times around 10 minute and 30 minute wait times for standard lines…however – if Congress can’t get its act together and fund the government it will shut down on Friday – which is the same exact day this thanksgiving travel period starts. If the government shuts down, essential federal workers – like TSA agents would have to go to work with no pay. If the last shutdown is a guide, many of them wouldn’t tolerate that and could just call out sick which would mean fewer agents to screen all those millions of people.
Read more from TSA here.
