Holiday Travel Security Tightened Up For Thanksgiving 2015 — Tips For Travelers [Video]


If you are planning on flying or traveling by bus or rail for the holidays, better brace yourself. Security is going to be tightened up beginning with Thanksgiving travel. In fact, you might even experience higher security while driving, especially if driving out of state or the country. ABC News reported that holiday security for air and rail travel will be beefed up beginning with Thanksgiving, due to the recent terror attacks in Paris. Security is being tightened at airports, rail systems, border patrol, and ports of entry.

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey told ABC News that in light of the Paris attacks, they will be increasing patrols and inspections, which include NYC-area airports, bridges, tunnels, railways, and the WTC. They request travelers to report suspicious activities to police or authorities, as well.

Holiday Travel Security Tightened
[Photo Courtesy of TSA]
Amtrak is working with law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels in order to gather intelligence and establish aggressive security measures on trains and along the tracks, as well as at train stations. An Amtrak spokesperson told ABC News that extra K9 units, uniformed personnel, and long guns are being deployed at various points of Amtrak’s service. Employees have also been given guidance on how to reach to active shooter incidents.

TSA isn’t releasing specifics, but confirm that measures are in place to protect the millions of Americans who will be traveling nationwide during the holidays. Busy airports, such as LaGuardia and JFK in New York, should expect longer waits, even with additional staff assigned to security checkpoints. TSA officials say that they screen nearly 2 million passengers daily, and that Thanksgiving travel will see that number increase by nearly 40 percent across the nation.

We already know travel during the holidays can be hectic, but with tightened security, the waits can be even more frustrating. Below are some tips to help your travel go as smoothly as possible. The main point is to follow authorities’ security demands and follow instructions while checking in. Be calm and polite during the check in process — it’s easier to get through when you are compliant rather than belligerent.

If flying, be sure to follow TSA rules. You can go to the airport’s website, usually, and find a complete list of what you can and can’t bring on the plane with you. A suggestion is to wear layered clothing rather than packing in order to save room in your carry-on. Below is a great video that explains the TSA liquids rule.

TSA Liquids Rule

https://youtu.be/qwi6XzjB00I

The Travel Channel published an article that gives tips for travelers to simplify their travels on Thanksgiving. The main points in the article are as follows.

  • Plan Ahead — plan your travel early to get best rates and seats. Find the best deals online.
  • Travel Light — Pack light and only take carry-on bags, airlines charge extra for checked bags.
  • Choose the Best Days — The day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday) and the following Sunday are usually the busiest travel days, if you can travel on other days, it might be less hectic. Travel Channel recommends flying out on Monday or Tuesday or even Thanksgiving morning to avoid the rush.
  • High-Tech Troubleshooting — Use your cell phone or tablet to download apps that will give you an advantage at the airport — maps of the airport (to show you where your gate is), there are even apps that help you check in and confirm seats and flight status. (Check the previous link for suggestions of the best travel apps.)
  • Holiday Road — Travel by highway to save money and avoid headaches — just make sure you use the same travel days as above, i.e. don’t travel on the busiest days. Use your GPS system to get alternate routes in case of construction or accidents, and make sure you have a toll pass or bring extra cash for toll fees.

You can also enroll in the TSA Pre-Check program to get through the security checks much faster, however. You can sign up online for this program and pay a fee that will cover five years of travel. With the pass, you can speed up your check-in process by not having to remove your shoes or place electronics and liquids into containers during the security scan. You will have to provide your fingerprints to TSA, but this means that you have a higher security clearance at the airport.

Did this article about holiday security travel tips help you in any way? If you know of any other holiday travel tips to help aid in security checks, please feel free to share them below.

[Image via TSA]

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