Skip to main content

Labor Day weekend 2024: TSA predicts record airport traffic

Labor Day 2024 will cap record summer air travel figures

Airport terminal during sunrise
Jon Tyson via Unsplash

As the Labor Day travel period approaches, the TSA predicts record travelers at the nation’s airports. From Thursday, August 29, through Wednesday, September 4, the agency expects to screen more than 17 million people, setting a new mark for the end-of-summer holiday. August 30 is expected to be the most crowded, with 2.86 million passengers. Here’s what to expect and how to limit your wait at the airport. 

Summer air travel 2024: More passengers than ever

Crowd inside airport terminal
Phil Mosley via Unsplash

According to the TSA, this summer’s air travel stats are the highest ever recorded. Since Memorial Day, the agency has screened an average of 2.7 million people per day, for a total of 239.8 million. On July 7, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) set another record, screening 3 million people in one day. Compared to Labor Day 2023, the agency expects 8.5% more passengers, capping the busy summer.

Recommended Videos

To manage the crowds, TSA will staff checkpoints to meet wait time standards, which are 30 minutes or less in standard lines and 10 minutes or less in TSA PreCheck lanes. TSA suggests enrolling in the TSA PreCheck Trusted Traveler Program to lower wait times. That allows members to avoid removing shoes, laptops, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, light jackets, and food items. Additionally, the agency recommends arriving two hours before your flight. 

TSA Administrator David Pekoske commented: “I commend our vigilant workforce, from our TSOs 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.”

Mark Reif
Mark Reif is a writer from Stowe, Vermont. During the winter, he works as a snowboard coach and rides more than 100 days. The…
How to pack for a cruise (depending on your destination)
Let’s face it, one-size-fits-all packing doesn’t always work
Cruise ship into the sunset

If you’re about to start packing for a cruise, you can’t just throw in some essentials and call it a day. Where you’re sailing makes all the difference. I mean, what you’d pack for an Alaskan cruise is completely different from what you’d bring for a Caribbean cruise. The right packing strategy means you’ll be comfortable, prepared for excursions, and dressed appropriately for onboard events.

I’ll put myself out there and say it – a few years ago, I learned this the hard way. I packed for my Alaskan cruise as if I were heading to a mild spring getaway, and I spent the trip shivering on deck, completely unprepared for glacier hikes and misty mornings. Since then, I’ve fine-tuned my cruise packing strategy, and I’m here to make sure you don’t make the same rookie errors. So, here’s how to pack for a cruise, depending on where you’re headed.
For a Caribbean cruise, keep it light, breezy, and beach ready

Read more
Can you fly without an ID? Here’s the lowdown
You’re probably not expecting this answer
Man in an airport

We've all heard the golden rule of travel: ID in hand before you even think about heading to the airport. It's drilled into us as a must-do for getting through security and onto your flight. I remember just last year, I was rushing to catch an early morning flight, coffee in one hand, suitcase in the other, and it wasn't until I was practically at the security line that a little voice in the back of my head asked, "Wait, where's your ID?" My heart skipped a beat as I frantically patted my pockets and rummaged through my carry-on. 

Thankfully, there it was, tucked safely in my wallet. But that moment of near-panic got me thinking: what actually happens if you do forget or lose your ID on the way to the airport? Is it a complete travel disaster? Can you fly without an ID? That's the burning question we're tackling today. Let's unpack what you need to know if you ever find yourself in this situation.
The TSA's standard ID expectations

Read more
Travel tips: How to pop your ears (and keep them from getting clogged again)
Let’s tackle the frustrating problem of clogged ears once and for all
Man holding his ears

Have you ever had that plugged-up feeling in your ears? You know, when it happens mid-flight, during allergy season or after a nasty cold? That uncomfortable pressure can make sounds feel muffled and even throw off your balance.

I had one particularly awful flight where my ears wouldn’t pop for hours after landing. I didn’t realize how muffled my voice was until I caught myself yelling at the airline staff. It was rough, but it forced me to figure out the best ways to relieve ear pressure, and more importantly, how to prevent it from coming back.

Read more