The amount of people seeking flights this summer is heading
toward pre-pandemic levels – and the Transportation Security Administration has
some tips to make those plan as smooth as possible.
Official who spoke at a news conference at John F. Kennedy
International Airport said the current air travel levels are about 85-90% what
they were in 2019.
They expect to be at 100% by the middle of the summer.
Here are the tips from the TSA:
- Face
masks are optional but recommended. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends face masks for passengers aged 2 and older in indoor
areas of public transportation and transportation hubs as an effective
precaution for those who seek to avoid exposure to COVID in higher risk
public spaces.
- Pack
smart; start with empty bags. Airline passengers who pack for travel with
empty bags are less likely to bring prohibited items through a TSA
checkpoint. Technology and modifications help reduce the need for physical
contact with TSA officers, but those who take time to come prepared for
the TSA checkpoint are far more likely to avoid delay and physical
contact.
- Know
before you go. Airports, like highways, have high traffic surges and
construction delays. Plan to arrive at the airport in plenty of time to
check in, check bags and complete security screening in time to avoid
stressful sprints to the departure gate. At the TSA checkpoint, have a
valid ID card readily available and follow the liquids rule of 3.4 ounces
or less, with the exception of hand sanitizer, which has a temporary
12-ounce limit in carry-on baggage.
- Contact
TSA for help if there are questions or concerns. Those who are preparing
to travel and may have special circumstances, considerations or general
questions about airport screening can get live assistance by tweeting
questions and comments to @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger, daily from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT. You can also call the TSA Contact Center at
866-289-9673.
- TSA
also offers TSA Cares, a helpline for travelers with disabilities, medical
conditions and other special circumstances. You may submit a request for
assistance by calling TSA Cares at 855-787-2227, weekdays from 8 a.m. to
11 p.m. and weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Passengers may also
use the TSA Cares form available on the TSA website which can be found at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support.
- Enroll
in TSA PreCheck to “travel with ease.” By enrolling in TSA PreCheck,
airline passengers can avoid removing shoes, belts, liquids, food, laptops
and light jackets at the TSA checkpoint.
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