More people in California will travel for Thanksgiving. How busy will

Californians are readying for a warm meal and time with loved ones as Thanksgiving approaches. However, many will first need to join the millions of travelers driving or flying to get to their holiday destination.

At least one airport in California is expected to set a record for Thanksgiving travel. The Ontario International Airport in Southern California is forecasting that there will be 225,000 travelers from Friday, Nov. 22 to Monday, Dec. 2. That’s 5.8% more travelers than last year.

The airport said the busiest days will be Sunday, Nov. 24, Monday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Dec. 1.

TSA projected that this will be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2, a 6% increase from last year.

Does that mean every airport is going to break records around Thanksgiving? That’s unlikely, said TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers in an interview with The Desert Sun. Regardless, every airport will be busy due to the holiday, and the combined busyness can lead to a record-breaking day, she said.

That record-breaking day may be the Sunday following Thanksgiving. TSA expects it to be the busiest day in its history, with 3.1 million people screened at airports nationwide, according to Dankers.

“What that tells me is that every airport is going to be busy on that Sunday after Thanksgiving — no surprise — and people should know that,” she said.

Approximately 9 million Californians will travel by car over Thanksgiving, according to AAA Mountain West Group’s holiday forecast, an additional 1.3 million travelers compared to 2023.

Californians hitting the road make up approximately 13% of the nearly 72 million people traveling by car nationwide, according to AAA.

AAA projects that this Thanksgiving will be the busiest on record nationwide, the Automobile Club of Southern California said.

How busy will other airports in California be?

Several California airports are projecting to see more travelers for Thanksgiving than last year.

Dankers said TSA projects to screen 48,600 passengers at the Palm Springs International Airport between Nov. 26 to Dec. 2, or a 7% increase from last year.

More in U.S.

San Diego International Airport forecasts as many as 460,000 travelers coming through the airport from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1. The airport said that’s as many as 76,000 passengers arriving and departing each day during that period, a 4% to 6% increase compared to last year.

Long Beach Airport estimates 130,000 will travel through the airport between Friday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Dec. 1. That’s an 8% increase from last year.

The San Francisco International Airport expects 6.3 million travelers through the airport between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, an estimated 15% increase from 2023 holiday travels.

4 travel tips to consider for your next flight

“Unpack your bag before you pack it,” said Dankers. This ensures you don’t arrive at the security checkpoint with a prohibited item you forgot was in your luggage.
Not sure what you can pack? The MyTSA app lets users search an item to see how to travel with it, she said. This time of year sees people travel with food. You can travel with turkey (yes, turkey), cake, cookies, bread, and pies as they’re all solid, said Dankers. Regarding liquids, remember you’ll be subject to 3.4 ounces or less if it’s in your carry-on bag.
Use TSA Cares. “Some people have a lot of anxiety when they travel,” Dankers said. “Some people have a special medical situation. Maybe you’re traveling with a medical device for the first time. This is big for families. Maybe they have an autistic child, and they’re concerned about the activity and the checkpoint causing their child to become upset.” Through the TSA Cares program, people can arrange assistance at the checkpoint or ask questions about what to expect at the checkpoint. Reach TSA Cares at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before travel.
Plan and allow yourself plenty of time, especially if you’re traveling in an airport you’re unfamiliar with, said Dankers.

One suggestion Dankers had was less of a travel tip but fitting for the season of gratitude. Say thank you to a TSA officer for their work.

“They knew it when they took the job (that) they work the holidays,” she said. “They work hard. They work long hours to make sure that everybody else can get to their destinations.”

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California airports forecast millions of travelers for Thanksgiving

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