TSA warns of long lines as Thursday & Friday expected to be busiest travel days leading to New Year’s Day

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says Thursday and Friday will be the busiest days to travel leading up to New Year’s Day.

The roads will also be busy as people head home after Christmas.

The return trip is often harder. There are the goodbyes, which are always tough, but there is also extra luggage to account for.

There was a significant rush at Jacksonville International Airport from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday. During those two hours, the wait for standard travel was more than 30 minutes at the TSA checkpoint.

Geneaver Hall says she had never seen the line that long before. She was checking in for a flight to Puerto Rico at 6 a.m. Thursday to surprise her son for his birthday.

“I have never experienced it this long before,” Hall said. “But the plane doesn’t leave for another hour and a half so we are doing pretty good.”

Remember, all gifts someone is traveling with must be unwrapped.

In most cases, no liquids larger than 3.4 ounces are allowed in your carry-on, but there are a few exceptions.

The exceptions to that rule include things in a diaper bag for an infant like formula, bottles and breastmilk or those who need liquid and cream medication.

Nathaniel Ford Jr. was flying back home to Miami after spending Christmas with family in Jacksonville.

He says he is used to being prepared through TSA security checkpoints, especially during holiday seasons.

“I got a whole bunch of gifts that I’m going to take home now,” Ford said. “I have some vitamins, a little hat and everything. My dad got me the hat. You always have to be a little aware. I have my laptop in my bag. I’m going to make sure that when I get over there I’m going to take my laptop right out. You just have to be a professional traveler. That’s what it comes to. During the holidays, you just have to know what you are doing. You cannot not know what you’re doing because that is when it is a whole mess.”

According to TSA, if you can spill it, spray it, pump it or pour it, it has to be in a checked bag.

A firearm has to be properly packed in a hard-sided locked case in checked luggage. A traveler must declare there is a firearm while checking in for their flight at the ticket counter.

TSA is expected to screen around 40 million people through Jan. 2.

It says air travel is up 6% this year compared to this stretch in 2023.

Booking information from AAA shows flights cost 4% more in 2024 than last year. The average domestic ticket costs $830.

Raymond Cable is flying to Holland, Michigan, where he works. He will be back home in Green Cove Springs in February 2025.

He says he flies a lot, which is why he decides to travel light. He says it helps minimize possible delays going through security.

“I usually try coming home once a month,” Cable said. “I have been flying a lot. I have a lot of delays sometimes. Sometimes it goes pretty good. I usually try to travel pretty light because I have everything at home and I have an apartment up there. It kind of makes it easy. I do not have to check any bags.”

TSA encourages travelers to arrive at their respective airports at least two hours before their scheduled flight if it is domestic.

People should add an extra hour to that time if they are taking an international flight.