Islands residents heading out for the holidays can expect the worst

The Transport Security Administration and United Airlines have both addressed what travelers can expect during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year period.

The TSA said it “has screened a record number of passengers this year and anticipates airport security checkpoints nationwide will be busier than ever this holiday travel season.”

TSA expects to screen 30 million passengers during the Thanksgiving period of Nov. 17 and Nov. 28, it said in a Nov. 13 release. More than 17.6 million passengers enrolled in

TSA PreCheck, 3.9 million more PreCheck members than this time last year.

TSA’s new screening units are “currently deployed at nearly 30 airports nationwide” or (in the U.S. mainland) using facial recognition technology and digital IDs, although standard machines are still in place at those airports.

TSA’s helpful travel hints advise that “gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves must be packed in a checked bag because they are considered to be liquids or gels.” Passengers can still hand carry cakes and baked goods, TSA said. That’s good news for Guam travelers carrying guzeria or bunelos to family stateside.

 
United Airlines said “it expects its busiest ever Thanksgiving travel season – with more than 5.9 million people flying during the Thanksgiving travel period.”

United is also reminding travelers of a variety of services to get them on their way during the holiday season. For more information, check www.united.com. Travelers will also experience United’s new boarding policy called WILMA and introduced on Oct. 26, which boards passengers with window seats first, then middle and aisle.

With a focus on service, United reaches out to passengers post travel, with its “Tell us how we did” survey.

Both TSA and United advise allowing extra time for departure.

Typically, the Antonio B. Won Pat Airport in Guam sees its own notable increase in outward bound passengers during the holiday season.  

For inbound arrivals to Guam during the holiday season, U.S. Customs and Border Protection wait times will vary according to the number of arrivals and the time of arrival and citizenship (to include green card holders).

For Nov. 12, between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. wait times for non-U.S. citizens (or tourist arrivals) varied between 61 to 105 minutes between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., and between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on that date between 64 and 90 minutes.

Wait times for U.S. citizens arriving in Guam on Nov. 12 did not exceed 27 minutes. The fuller the plane, the longer the wait according to U.S. CBP statistics. mbj