As the last weekend before kids and college students start school and the unofficial end of the summer, Labor Day is a time when one can expect crowds almost everywhere one goes.
Amusement parks are packed, airports and hotels are crowded while prices for all those things spike to reflect the high numbers of people looking to squeeze one last trip out of summer.
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On the air travel end, Labor Day is not far behind Thanksgiving and Christmas as the date when airports see some of their biggest crowds. In advance of the national holiday, the Transportation Security Administration issued a warning about the "increase in travel volumes" over the weekend.
'Arrive early and pack your patience,' TSA tells travelers
"We anticipate this Labor Day holiday weekend will be busy, with passenger volumes nearly 11% higher than last year — volumes that already exceeded 2019 Labor Day holiday travel volumes," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement asserting that they were aiming to maintain the 30-minute wait standard for standard screenings. "There are occasions where wait times may be longer, so we encourage you to arrive early, pack your patience and reach out to us before arriving to the airport if you have any questions on our security procedures or items you may bring."
The TSA said that it has screened 227.5 million travelers since the start of the summer season on Memorial Day and expects to screen another 14 million on the weekend between Sept. 1 and 6. The busiest day is projected to be the start of the weekend on Friday. On Sept. 1, TSA expects to have 2.7 million travelers pass through security checkpoints.
"TSA uses a variety of security methods and technologies to secure our transportation systems," the agency warned. "Screening protocols can be unpredictable and may vary from airport to airport depending on available technology and the current threat environment."
Do these 10 things to avoid delays and problems at security
The overarching suggestion stressed by TSA has to do with double-checking one's travel details and requirements before the flight.
Having the right ID for where one is going, knowing the 3-1-1 liquids rule that requires any liquids larger than 3.4 ounces to be in stowed luggage and familiarizing oneself with the rules for things like baby carriers, sport equipment and other nonstandard items to not accidentally end up with something that isn't allowed and get delayed.
Wearing clothes without a lot of adornments and emptying and then repacking one's carry-on bag before the trip can also help one pack in a way that is less likely to flag an alarm or cause some other setback.
And as everything will take longer due to the busy period, arriving early is always a good idea to leave time for delays and leave a buffer period for dealing with the unexpected.
"The airport will be busy, especially this Friday, so arrive two hours prior to your scheduled flight to allow for adequate time to park your car or arrive via public transit or rideshare, check bags and go through security screening before arriving at the departure gate," TSA said.
SEE TSA'S FULL LIST OF TIPS FOR MINIMIZING DELAYS AT SECURITY HERE.
