TSA Anticipates Record Passenger Screening for 4th of July Holiday
TRAVELERS URGED TO ARRIVE EARLY, LEAVE FIREWORKS AT HOME
OKLAHOMA CITY, June 28, 2018 – TSA officials are predicting one of the busiest Fourth of July travel periods on record, screening 28.3 million passengers and crew nationally from June 29 through July 9, 2018.WRWA anticipates screening nearly 87,000 during the same period.Travelers should be prepared for longer lines at the ticket counters and at the security checkpoints. It is essential that travelers get to the airport a minimum of one-and-a-half hours prior to their departure.
Travelers must also factor in time for the new electronics screening procedures. All personal electronic items bigger than a cell phone must be removed from carry-on luggage and placed in a bin with nothing on top or underneath for screening. This includes laptops, tablets, e-readers, handheld game consoles, etc. Items such as hair dryers, electric shavers or electric toothbrushes are not included. Passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck are not subject to the new rules, although all passengers may be subject to additional screening at any time.
Because of the 4th of July holiday, travelers may be tempted to pack fireworks and firecrackers.These items are explosive and flammable and potentially dangerous to aircraft.Any type of firework or firecracker is prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage.In fact, the handling and use of fireworks is prohibited in the City of Oklahoma City.
Travelers can help to keep lines moving and prevent delays by avoiding these common mistakes:
- Arriving late (most common)
- Invalid ID (including expired driver’s licenses) or no ID at all
- Overstuffed carry-on bags and liquids and gels over three ounces
- Not removing items the TSA officers ask you to remove when going through the metal detector or imaging machine
- Wearing clothing and jewelry that set off the screening machines
- Carrying prohibited items in checked and/or carry-on luggage.