More than 17 Million Travelers Expected to Fly Over Labor Day, According to the TSA — What to Know If You’re One of Them

More than 17 million travelers are expected to pass through airports across the United States next week in what is forecast to be the busiest Labor Day holiday weekend on record.

Overall, airports are forecast to be 8.5 percent more crowded compared to the same time period last year, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The busiest day of the holiday weekend, which runs from August 29 to September 4, is expected to be Friday, August 30, when the agency anticipates it will screen 2.86 million travelers.

“People are traveling more than ever this summer and TSA along with our airline and airport partners stand ready to close the busiest summer travel period on record during this upcoming Labor Day weekend,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. “I commend our vigilant workforce, from our [transportation security officers] on the front lines at airport security checkpoints across the country to those behind the scenes, working hard to keep the transportation system secure — especially as we continue to roll out new checkpoint technology that improves security effectiveness, efficiency, and the passenger experience.”

The record-breaking prediction caps an equally record-breaking summer that has seen more than 3 million travelers screened in a single day. In fact, the TSA said it has so far screened a total of 239.8 million people since the Memorial Day holiday weekend — or an average of 2.7 million per day — and the ten busiest travel days in the agency’s history have all occurred this year since May.

Major airlines are also anticipating record-breaking numbers for Labor Day. United Airlines told Travel + Leisure it expects more than 2.9 million passengers to fly with the carrier between Aug. 29 and Sept. 3, an increase of more than three percent compared to last year. To keep up with the demand, the airline said it has added 1,500 flights for the Labor Day holiday weekend.

“The record-breaking number of customers traveling with us this Labor Day caps off our truly exceptional summer travel season,” Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said in a statement shared with T+L. “This summer has shown that the demand of air travel is stronger than ever and we look forward to keeping up this momentum this fall, providing even more best-in-class experiences for our customers.”

To ensure a smooth airport experience despite the crowds, the TSA recommends travelers arrive at the airport early — most airlines recommend arriving two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight — and know the rules for carry-on luggage, like no liquids over 3.4 ounces.

Travelers can typically get through security faster with TSA PreCheck, which passengers are also signing up for in record numbers. Members of the program are not required to take off their shoes, belts, or light jackets, or take their laptops or liquids out of their carry-on bags.