TSA expects its busiest Labor Day ever — here's how to prepare

If you plan to travel this Labor Day weekend, you are far from the only one.

On Wednesday, the Transportation Security Administration announced it is preparing to screen more than 17 million passengers between Thursday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Sept. 4 — if those numbers come to fruition, it could potentially be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record.

This latest forecast follows several recent record-breaking travel periods for the TSA. During the busy 2023 holiday season, the TSA set a single-day record for the number of passengers screened on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with 2.9 million passengers passing through its security lanes. It surpassed that number Sunday, June 23, when it screened nearly 3 million people in one day — shortly afterward, it again blew past the 3 million threshold July 7.

Based on its predictions, the TSA isn’t expecting to top 3 million travelers this Labor Day, but that doesn’t mean the airports won’t be booked, busy and bustling with travelers.

Here’s what you need to know before you head to the airport this Labor Day weekend.

When and where are people traveling?

The TSA predicts Aug. 30 will be the busiest travel day of the holiday, with an expected 2.86 million passengers. Overall, the agency expects an 8.5% increase in passengers compared to the same time period in 2023. Keep in mind that the TSA has already screened 239.8 million people since Memorial Day weekend — an average of 2.7 million per day.

“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 press release.

Based on flight search data from the online travel agency Expedia, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando are among the most popular domestic destinations for passengers, while Cancun, Paris and London top the international list.

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In terms of lodging, Expedia saw the highest year-over-year increase in interest in spots such as Indianapolis; Cape May, New Jersey; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and South Lake Tahoe, California, on the domestic front. Places like Tulum, Mexico; Mallorca, Spain; and the island of Curacao were among the most popular places abroad where users were hoping to find lodging.

Labor Day weekend also marks the beginning of “shoulder season” for many destinations. This quieter time between summer and the holidays can be a great time to travel if you’re hoping to enjoy both lower prices and fewer crowds.

Expedia found that the week of Sept. 1 is the cheapest time for domestic flights this fall, with average flight prices clocking in at nearly $100 less than what they would cost during the busy summer months, based on historical data.

Similarly, trip planning company Hopper recently released a fall travel report showing travelers can save more than $100 on air travel this fall versus booking domestic flights during peak summer months. That savings increases to more than $300 for destinations in Europe.

If you want to book an economical, last-minute Labor Day getaway, plan your trip just after the holiday when everyone else is headed home.

Tips for navigating the crowds

If your trip is already booked, there’s not much you can do to avoid the crowds entirely. But there are things you can do to navigate the airport quickly, efficiently and comfortably.

Arrive early

If you like to slide up to the airport an hour or less before your flight leaves, let us be the first to warn you that the TSA recommends travelers arrive at least two hours before a flight’s boarding time for domestic trips and three hours early for international journeys.

This ensures you have enough time to park, check your bags if necessary, navigate the TSA checkpoint and walk to your gate. And, if you decide you need a snack or drink before your flight, you’ll have plenty of time to stock up on refreshments.

Have a backup plan

As inconvenient as they are, delays and cancellations do happen, and the saying “prepare for the worst, but expect the best” applies here.

If you are facing a delay or cancellation, hundreds of other passengers are likely in the same boat. This means there will probably be a (very) long line at your airline’s customer service desk. Before your trip, download your airline’s app on your phone so you can easily contact a customer service representative or reschedule your travel plans yourself. This is usually quicker than waiting in line to speak with someone at a desk.

You can also use the airline’s app to search for alternate flights. You can even do this before disaster strikes, so you have a few backup flights in mind if you need to rebook.

Get through airport security faster

According to the TSA, you can usually expect to wait 30 minutes or less in a standard TSA screening lane, but the standard wait time for the TSA PreCheck lane is 10 minutes or less. Plus, if you enroll in TSA PreCheck, you don’t have to take off your shoes or take out your liquids or laptops at security. If you aren’t yet enrolled in TSA PreCheck, we have a handy list of which airlines and airports participate in the program and everything you need to know before you apply.

Once you are enrolled in TSA PreCheck, you must add your Known Traveler Number to your booking in order to use the service at the airport. Then, make sure you see the PreCheck symbol displayed on your boarding pass when you check in for your flight. If you don’t see it, you will need to contact the airline you are flying with before heading to the airport.

A five-year membership to TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85, depending on the provider you enroll through. If you travel internationally often, however, you may want to opt for Global Entry, which costs $100 for five years (starting in October, Global Entry will cost $120). A TSA PreCheck membership is included with Global Entry, so you can enjoy both programs if you opt for Global Entry.

You may also want to consider a Clear membership. Clear is an expedited security program that verifies your identity using biometric data (an eye or fingerprint scan). This removes the step of having to show your ID to the TSA officer and lets you skip to the front of the security line (either the front of the TSA PreCheck screening line for those with Clear and TSA PreCheck or the standard TSA screening line for those without). A Clear membership costs $199 annually. If you don’t want to pay the full cost, there are also ways to get a discounted Clear membership.

Have the right credit card

All of the aforementioned programs carry a fee, but if you have the right credit card in your wallet, you can reduce your out-of-pocket cost to $0.

Many credit cards now include a statement credit for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee as part of their benefits (up to $100), meaning you can be reimbursed for the fee after you apply. Several of these cards also offer additional perks at the airport, including lounge access, free checked bags, priority boarding, seat upgrades and more. These include:

Similarly, certain credit cards offer a statement credit for an annual Clear membership:

The information for the American Express Green Card, the Centurion Card from American Express and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

Regardless of where you are headed this Labor Day weekend, the most important thing you should pack is your patience. The TSA continues to see record numbers of travelers during traditionally busy times like holiday weekends and summer vacation, but coming to the airport prepared — with things like TSA PreCheck and a solid contingency plan — will help you navigate this Labor Day with ease.

Related reading:

TSA expects its busiest Labor Day ever — here’s how to prepare

When and where are people traveling?