If you’re headed home for the holidays this Thanksgiving, you might want to give yourself a lot more extra travel time—and maybe brush up on any meditative or other self-soothing methods that work for you.
The Transportation Safety Administration says 2024 could be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period ever, with a 6% increase in passengers from last year. All totaled, the agency says it expects to screen 18.3 million people from Tues., Nov. 26, to Mon., Dec. 2.
“This holiday season is expected to be one of the busiest travel periods on record,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas in a statement. “I encourage travelers to plan ahead, follow TSA’s travel tips, and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck.”
The busiest days, not surprisingly, will be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday. TSA officials say they expect to screen more than 2.8 million people on Tuesday; 2.9 million on Wednesday; and more than 3 million people on Sun., Dec. 1.
The busier-than-usual holiday comes after a busier-than-usual year. Passenger volumes have hit record highs in 2024, increasing 17% since 2022. All 10 of the busiest travel days in the TSA’s history have occurred this year, officials say. Sun., July 7, currently stands as the busiest day on record.
As it braces for the crowds, the TSA is also reminding folks what they can—and can’t—bring on board airplanes with them. It gets a little weird.
You can, for instance, fly across the country with a cooked, or even raw, turkey in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you (fresh or frozen). You’ll need to have it packed in a cooler with ice packs, mind you, but it’s perfectly acceptable to authorities.
Mac and cheese? Bring it on board! Stuffing? Sure thing! Casseroles? The more the merrier. Gravy? Hold on a minute, pilgrim…
Liquids are still limited as carry-on items, with very few exceptions. You’re allowed no more than 3.4 ounces of most liquid or spreadable items, which is less than half a cup.
And please tell us you’re not just bringing half a cup of gravy to a Thanksgiving dinner.