TSA shares tips for traveling this holiday season

The holiday travel period is well underway, so plan on packing your patience.

The Transportation Security Administration estimates that it will screen at least 20 million passengers around the winter holidays, R. Carter Langston, press secretary for the TSA, told TPG in an email.

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According to Langston, this is still a drop in passenger screenings from pre-pandemic 2019, though it's still a pretty substantial increase from 2020, when the TSA screened nearly 18 million people during the same holiday travel period.

In fact, for the first time during the pandemic, the TSA screened more passengers on Dec. 22 than it did on the same day in 2019.

Travelers can expect longer lines at airports across the country, so it's important to be prepared.

Below are some suggestions from the TSA for how you can minimize travel headaches this holiday season.

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Get there early and be flexible

There is nothing more stressful than running late when you have a flight. To avoid sprinting through the airport, the TSA suggests arriving to the security checkpoint two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.

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Related: These are the TSA-approved foods you can — and can't — bring with you on an airplane

The TSA says peak screening hours at airports are typically between 5 and 7 a.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m., so you'll want to avoid entering the security checkpoint during these times, if possible, to avoid extended wait times of up to an hour. If you're checking a bag or transiting through a terminal that is notably crowded or under construction, allot extra time to account for additional delays.

Follow U.S. mask and testing protocols

With COVID-19 infections rising and concerns about the omicron variant, one of the most important tips to remember this holiday season is to wear a mask. The federal mask mandate has been extended to March 18, 2022, so all travelers are required to wear a mask at U.S. airports. If you do not have a mask, you'll need to grab one at the security checkpoint.

While testing is not required for Americans traveling within the U.S., as of Dec. 6, anyone flying to the U.S. from overseas is required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of their scheduled departure time, regardless of vaccination status. Some domestic airports, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Miami International Airport (MIA), Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and O'Hare International Airport (ORD), will offer tests for returning travelers, though pre-departure tests are not provided.

Related: Things are changing quickly: What to know about traveling right now during omicron

Pack smart

If you're traveling with gifts, the TSA recommends packing them in bags or unwrapped boxes that can easily be checked. Gifts that are in wrapping paper and activate the security alarm while going through the machine will need to be opened.

Related: Reminder: You can't drink your own booze on an airplane

Additionally, solid treats like fruitcake, candy canes and holiday cookies can be brought through security, but you'll have to check eggnog, Champagne, cranberry sauce and any other liquids or spreads greater than 3.4 ounces.

Related: From fruitcakes to frozen drinks, here's what you can bring through security

"During a pandemic, it is important to try to reduce touch points, so now more than ever, it is important to know what should not be packed among your carry-on items," Thomas Carter, the TSA's federal security director for New Jersey, said in a press release. "Advance planning and packing properly will facilitate the screening process and ease your travel experience at the airport."

Know your security checkpoint resources

To weave through security lines faster, there are several traveler programs available, including Clear and TSA PreCheck. While TSA PreCheck requires making an appointment at an enrollment center before joining, you can apply for Clear at the airport if you spot a lengthy security line you want to quickly bypass. Fees apply for enrollment in these programs, but remember that multiple credit cards offer fee credits for these services when you use them to pay for memberships.

Related: There's a new way to get through TSA screening faster. But do you need it?

For real-time answers to general TSA-related questions, you can reach out to @AskTSA on Twitter or by Facebook Messenger on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST and on weekends and holidays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST. There's also the TSA Cares phone line, which can be contacted by calling 855-787-2227 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST and on weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear — and how you can save on both

Bottom line

Related: Unruly passengers to lose PreCheck

Traveling can be hectic, especially during the holidays amid a global pandemic. However, with a little patience and kindness toward other travelers, flight crew, officers and front-line workers, plus these handy tips from the TSA, you'll reduce travel woes this holiday season.

Additional reporting by Christine Smith.