Idaho Falls airport predicting record amount of travelers this holiday season
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The following is a news release from the city of Idaho Falls.
IDAHO FALLS – With holiday travel upon us, the Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) is recommending some simple tips to help ease the burden of flying with what is expected to be a record breaking amount of travelers for the coming holidays.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) this holiday season is expected to see a record breaking number of flyers this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday travel period. More than 25 million passengers traveling through security screening checkpoints nationwide are expected November 16 through November 26, which is an increase of five percent over 2017.
IDA Director Rick Cloutier says some simple planning tips will help ease travel and make sure passengers are more likely to have as smooth and hassle-free an experience as possible, even during the hectic holiday travel times.
According to the TSA, the busiest travel days are the weekend leading up to Thanksgiving and the Wednesday immediately before the holiday, with 2.6 million passengers and crew expected during that time. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, more than 2.7 million passengers are expected to be making the trip back home.
“One of the most important things you can do to make your travel less stressful is to give yourself ample time for everything,” said Cloutier. “With the holiday travel volume, everything at an airport is going to take longer; from parking, to checking in to security and everything in between. If you plan for that, and build in a couple extra hours on top of what you would normally do, it is going to alleviate a lot of stress for you and your family.”
Cloutier says that in addition to making sure you have identification and tickets in hand, the TSA also recommends some simple things you can do before you leave that will help make things go smoother once you arrive.
Packing smart so that you don’t have problems at security is a big time saver. Making sure there aren’t prohibited items in bags will save hassles and delays in security lines. Liquids, foods, gels and other questionable items should go into checked bags and not carry-on luggage. A simple visit to www.tsa.gov can give travelers easy direction on guidelines for what can go through security and what can’t.
Enrolling in or renewing enrollment in the TSA’s Pre Check program is another way people can save time and hassle getting through security. Also, people with disabilities, or their families, can call the TSA Cares helpline toll free at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours in advance to arrange assistance at checkpoints.
“At IDA we will definitely be on our ‘A-game’ this holiday season,” said Cloutier. “It’s our mission to make holiday travel as smooth and enjoyable as possible. If travelers will take those few extra steps to physically prepare and be mentally ready for some of the added stresses, it will make the experience a lot more enjoyable for them and make the holidays a little nicer for everyone.”