MINNEAPOLIS — With the busy Thanksgiving travel week well underway, Wednesday is expected to be a particularly packed day at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Airport officials say more than 32,000 people are expected to pass through TSA security checkpoints on Wednesday at MSP. The busiest times are expected to be between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and also between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
As usual on a busy holiday weekend, airport officials say it's a good idea to arrive early: two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
There will be extra staff around MSP on Wednesday to make sure things run smoothly.
"Please realize that the people that are working here whether it's security or the flight crews, they're working on a holiday and please be nice to them," said Marty Robinson, TSA Federal Security Director for Minnesota. "They're here to make sure your travel experience is good and it'd be good to take care of them."
Security experts also say travelers can make sure they don't hold up security lines by carefully checking their luggage for any prohibited items.
Of course, it's not just airports that are expected to be busy for the Thanksgiving weekend; AAA expects 49 million people will be driving this weekend. The busiest times on the road will be between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
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