BNA, TSA announce passenger projections, holiday travel tips

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Millions were projected to travel the week of Christmas for the holidays, and TSA said thousands of those people would fly through the Nashville International Airport.

Airport officials at BNA also shared ways travelers could avoid delays.

When talking to people at the Nashville airport, many said they were flying all over the U.S.

“I’m headed onward to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit my family,” BNA traveler Emily Chaplin said.

“I’m actually traveling from Oklahoma City to come here to Nashville,” another BNA traveler Kyra Oliver said

Chaplin and Oliver were just two of the 30,000 people traveling through BNA today.

“I was a little worried with how busy everything was expected to be, but I’m actually pleasantly surprised. I feel like I kind of got through everything really quick,” Oliver said.

Oliver flew into Nashville at noon. TSA officials said their busiest times are between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. If travelers are flying during those times, TSA officials suggest heading to the airport at least two hours early.

“There’s always a little bit of anxiety when you travel especially during the holidays, however, I’m grateful and thankful that the weather seems to be cooperating with us this year,” Chaplin said.

Although Chaplin said she didn’t run into any delays, she was still constantly checking her airline app. BNA officials said travelers can also sign up for their text notifications for any airport related delays.

“I loved the online boarding pass. I decided to do something different, and it got me through a lot faster. I could just get dropped off right at the TSA entrance,” Oliver said.

If people are traveling with gifts, TSA said make sure they’re not wrapped. People don’t want a run into a situation where a TSA agent has to unwrap their gift if it gets flagged by their machine.

“So far, knock on wood, everything has been smooth and easy, and everyone has been cheerful and helpful,” Chaplin said.

For smooth traveling, BNA officials advised people to plan as much as they could.

TSA said the busiest days for travel would be December 26 and 27.

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