Airports Authority Offers Annual Thanksgiving Travel Tips

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times for air travel around the nation. As a result, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is offering the following tips to help passengers with their travels this year.

“We advise our customers to plan ahead and arrive early during peak times this holiday season,” said Metropolitan Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter. “We want travelers to have a good experience at our airports when they visit family and friends during this time of year.”

The Airports Authority anticipates that the Thanksgiving holiday rush will continue now through Monday, Nov. 28. Peak travel times are typically during the early morning from 5:30 to 8 a.m. and late afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. There could also be a mid-day peak from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Travelers are advised to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight, especially during these peak times.

Student Ambassadors - wearing distinctive yellow shirts - and Travelers Aid volunteers - wearing blue blazers- will be available at both the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport to give directions, answer questions and offer assistance to passengers.


BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

• Weather can significantly impact flight schedules. Call your airline's customer service number or visit the airline’s website to confirm your flight prior to coming to the airport, especially if severe weather is predicted.

• Consider printing your boarding pass at home or work before coming to the airport. Some airlines also offer electronic boarding passes. Check with your airline for further information.

• Place identification tags on both the inside and outside of your baggage.

• If you are traveling with a laptop computer, be sure to place a label on the computer itself and another label on the carrying case.

• Government-issued photo identification is required for all passengers over age 18.

• Carefully check your bags to ensure that prohibited items are not present.

BEFORE YOU GO TO THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT

• Remember these numbers: 3-1-1. Only liquids and gels in 3-ounce or smaller containers are permitted in carry-on luggage. All 3-ounce containers must fit in 1 clear sealed plastic bag that is no larger than 1-quart. Place the bag in the gray bin at the checkpoint for inspection.

• Have your boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available to present to the TSA officer.

• Leave gifts unwrapped. They may be opened for inspection.

• Place keys, loose change, cell phones, pagers, and other items from your pockets into your carry-on baggage prior to arriving at the checkpoint to avoid activating the metal detector. 

• Avoid wearing heavy jewelry, metal hair barrettes or clothing with metal snaps or buttons that may activate the alarm at screening checkpoints. If the metal detector alarms when you pass through, you will be required to undergo additional screening, which may include a physical pat down search.

• You must remove your shoes so consider wearing a pair that is easy to slip on and off to expedite your trip through security screening.

• Carry-on baggage is limited to one carry-on bag plus one personal item. The airlines strictly enforce this rule. Personal items include laptops, purses, small backpacks, briefcases or camera cases. Laptops must be removed from most cases at the x-ray machine.

• Spare lithium batteries—like the ones found in cameras, lap-top computers, cell phones and radio-controlled toys—are prohibited in checked baggage. Spare batteries are allowed in carry-on luggage as long as they are in the original packaging, in separate protective cases or have tape across the battery’s contacts to isolate the terminals and prevent short-circuiting.

• If you are traveling with infants or young children, take them out of baby carriers and strollers and take them through the metal detector with you. Strollers and baby carriers go through the X-ray machine with your bags.

• Check TSA’s website for more information about screening procedures and a complete list of prohibited items.

TRAVEL WISELY

• Carry medicine, cash, jewelry, electronic devices and other important and valuable items with you on the plane—not in checked luggage.

• If you leave your car at the airport, remove any valuables, including portable GPS devises.

• Carry your purse and wallet securely, and keep your luggage and carry-on items in your sight at all times. Under security procedures, unattended bags and other items will be confiscated and may be destroyed.

For more information about Reagan National Airport call 703-417-8000. For information about Dulles International Airport call 703-572-2700. To find out more about both airports, visit the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s website.