CLEVELAND (WJW) – As Northeast Ohioans prepare for the Fourth of July holiday, Transportation Security Administration officials at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport are preparing for what the TSA calls the busiest travel season. busiest ever, starting on Thursday and continuing until July 8th. .
“In Cleveland, the busiest time of day is early in the morning, between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.,” said Daniel Narowitz, deputy director of federal security for the TSA in Ohio. “Travelers departing on early morning flights should arrive at the airport early. Checkpoints open at 3am at the south checkpoint and 3:45am at the north checkpoint.”
The TSA says all Hopkins airlines can be accessed through each checkpoint.
Although they anticipate an increase in the number of travelers in the summer, the agency expects to maintain wait times of 30 minutes for regular passengers and 10 minutes for pre-check passengers.
To avoid delays at checkpoints, they are reminding travelers to have proper identification documents and follow all TSA rules about what you can and cannot bring, as stated on TSA.gov.
“Passengers are entitled to a one-quart bag with 3.4 ounces of any liquids, gels, aerosols or creams,” Narowitz said. “Firearms are never allowed at the checkpoint.”
“Sometimes I think people think, ‘Oh, it’s just a water bottle, it’s just a Swiss Army knife, how long does that take?’ Maybe for you, this doesn’t take long, but when one person does this, two people do this, three people, those times add up and affect everyone in line behind you,” said TSA spokeswoman Jessica Mayle.
They say it’s a good idea when packing your carry-on luggage to start by making sure there are no items from previous trips that could cause problems.
“This prevents you from going up to the checkpoint. We find a prohibited item, we say ‘whose is it?’ and you say, ‘Oh my God, I forgot I had that in my bag,’ really trying to save you from being at the checkpoint with an item you don’t want or need,” Mayle said.
As a reminder, remain calm while in line at the checkpoint, because unruly behavior can also cause delays for everyone.
“We’re looking at really busy times of the day, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., every second counts,” Mayle said. “We’re really trying to get these passengers through as quickly as possible, so the passenger has a huge responsibility.”
It is said that it is advisable to arrive at the airport two hours before your flight. This will give you plenty of time to check in and avoid too much stress.
