David Pekoske travel tips

Airport security checkpoints may soon be getting a high-tech makeover. 

My two boys are grown now, 24 and 20, and I always tell them to be careful. And invariably they always say to me that they are grown men and can be trusted.

Can’t decide between CLEAR and TSA PreCheck? Now you can sign up for both at the same time at a few key airports—and score a big discount, too.

Another blockbuster summer awaits, United Airlines said on Wednesday, despite cautioning headwinds will force changes to the carrier's ambitious growth strategy for the coming years.

This spring break, travelers may want to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and lots of patience. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently shared guidance that they predict a six percent increase in passenger screenings for this spring break season, versus the same time in 2023. If those estimates hold true, this would be one of the busiest spring break ever.  “TSA screened a record number of passengers in 2023, and we expect that trend to continue this year,” the TSA’s Administrator David Pekoske said in a news release. For travelers navigating airports, the TSA says the busiest travel days will be between March 7 and March 25.

A record 6,737 firearms were intercepted at airport checkpoints last year, the Transportation Security Administration announced Wednesday.

Last year, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers across the country intercepted a record 6,737 firearms—93% of them loaded—at airport security checkpoints, according to the agency.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipates that airport security checkpoints will be busier this winter holiday travel period compared to last year.Fortunately, the agency says it's prepared to meet the surging travel demand.The official end-of-the-year holiday travel period runs from Thursday, December 21 through Tuesday, January 2. TSA is projecting that the busiest days will be Thursday, December 21; Friday, December 29, and Monday, January 1.TSA said it expects to screen more than 2.5 million passengers each of those days, signaling a 6 percent increase from 2022. The busiest day last year was December 29, when officers screened nearly 2.4 million passengers nationwide.The projections come after the TSA screened nearly 30 million passengers during November's 12-day Thanksgiving holiday period. The agency broke the record for most passengers in a single day on Sunday, November 26, screening more than 2.9 million passengers at security checkpoints across the country."We are prepared to handle the busy passenger volumes this winter holiday season," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement."TSA’s continued success during this record year for travel is a direct result of teamwork, planning and professional execution across the agency, from our frontline employees to those behind the scenes; partnerships with airports and air carriers; and innovative checkpoint technologies that improve security effectiveness, efficiency and the passenger experience," he concluded.Industry trade group Airlines for America (A4A) projects that 39 million people will board flights in the U.S. between Wednesday, December 20 and Tuesday, January 2, for an average of 2.8 million passengers per day.

The Transportation Security Administration expects busy airport checkpoints this winter holiday season and is warning travelers to come prepared.

While Black Friday often receives the most talk among the week-long commercial holidays that directly follow Thanksgiving, it’s Travel Tuesday when travelers might be able to snag the last of the year’s best deals for their future trips. 

On the heels of a record-setting summer travel season, this holiday season is likewise shaping up to be a record-breaker for air travel.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration confiscated more than 1,800 firearms at U.S. airports from July through September and is expecting to surpass 6,500 firearms by the end of the year.

U.S. airlines and airports have geared up for a busy weekend ahead of the Labor Day holiday as travelers plan to jet off to international locations and cooler destinations.

More than 14 million passengers are expected to pass through airports across the United States over the Labor Day holiday weekend, with Friday forecasted to be the busiest day. 

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration expects the number of travelers passing through airport checkpoints to beat, if only slightly, the record of 262 million set four years ago.

There is good news about the sometimes cumbersome enrollment process for TSA PreCheck.

After 15-plus years in existence, you’d think the TSA was pretty good at its job.

The TSA is experimenting with new scanning cameras that can detect concealed explosives on travelers as they walk by. The TSA, along with local law enforcement, is testing the new devices at a busy metro station in Los Angeles and in railway hubs in Washington, D.C.

Flying somewhere this summer? You won’t be alone. Airlines for America (A4A), the trade group representing the biggest U.S. airlines, predicts some 246 million travelers will take to the skies this summer, which would be a record and represent an increase of 3.7 percent over last year. A4A says airlines added roughly 116,000 seats per day to accommodate the surge in travelers.

Following recent reports that the TSA might cut back on passenger screening at smaller airports, the agency has declared it will, in fact, continue screening procedures after all. It could, however, expand the use of screening dogs in some airports.

You might be able to skip two steps in the trudge through airport security soon, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a plan to test new scanners that could allow flyers to keep their liquids and laptops in their carry-on bags.