Pack your patience: MKE Airport expects 50K holiday travelers ahead of Christmas

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Transportation Security Administration expects Thursday and Friday to be the busiest travel days before Christmas.

"It's a pre-pandemic experience again, we're back to pre-pandemic levels," said Jessica Mayle, regional spokesperson for the TSA.

According to Mitchell International Airport staff, 20,000 travelers are expected to fly in and out of Milwaukee throughout Thursday. They're expecting more than 50,000 travelers between now and Christmas.

With weather delays unlikely this weekend, airport staff expect things to run smoothly but still ask passengers to give themselves time.

"We like to tell travelers to come a little bit early, so we recommend about two hours ahead of your flight," said Summer Hegranes, marketing coordinator at Mitchell International Airport.

"We got here probably earlier than we needed to, thinking there might be some lines, but you can't be too cautious," said traveler, Jordan Kaminski.

The TSA website provides a list of items allowed and prohibited in carry-ons and checked bags.

They remind travelers to double check when heading to and from their destination.

"What we see around the holidays sometimes, people do everything right on the way out, and then they get some Christmas presents, and they come back, and they forget, oh, this wouldn't be allowed in a carryon," Mayle said.

Another TSA tip: keep any gifts unwrapped or in gift bags when heading through security.

"Wait to wrap them until you get to your destination, just in case TSA has to take a look inside, we don't want them to mess up your wrapping," Hegranes said.

Most importantly, be kind and pack your patience.

"Anything that you can do to come in with a good attitude and be respectful, it makes the process so much smoother for yourself and your fellow passengers too," Mayle said.

The TSA is anticipating the busiest return travel days after Christmas to be Dec. 29 and Jan. 1.