WASHINGTON (WAVY) — Officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) say they expect airport security checkpoints nationwide to be busy during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel period.

From Friday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 28, the agency says they expect to screen about 20 million passengers during the Thanksgiving holiday.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske says they are expecting close to pre-pandemic levels this holiday, however, he advises those traveling to plan ahead.

The highest travel day in TSA’s history was the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2019 (pre-pandemic), when nearly 2.9 million individuals were screened at TSA security checkpoints nationwide.

Typically, the busiest days during the Thanksgiving travel period are the Tuesday and Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward. 

The best way to ensure a smooth trip through the security screening process is to arrive early, allow time to park your cars or return rental cars, check your bags with their airline, and get your boarding passes before heading to the security checkpoint.

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