Pittsburgh Airport Faces Potential Record-Setting Traveler Numbers

PITTSBURGH, PA — The mad dash to Thanksgiving dinner has begun and it could be a record-setting one at Pittsburgh International and other airports across the country.

The Transportation Security administration is projected to screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday to Monday, Dec. 2, representing a volume increase of approximately 6 percent from this time last year. TSA projects the three busiest travel days will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday.

For those packing for a trip, the TSA advises starting with a completely empty bag to ensure there are no objects - such as guns, knives or water bottles - that could cause headaches at the airport security checkpoint.

Travelers who are uncertain as to whether an item should be packed in a carry-on or checked bag should go to the TSA website, which has a handy "Can I bring?"feature in the top right-hand corner of the homepage.

Thanksgiving is a unique holiday in that many travelers will be taking food items for the dinner. The TSA also offers numerous food transport tips.

If you are flying on American Airlines, be aware: American has been rolling out an alert system that identifies people trying to board the plane before their boarding group has been called. The system emits a beep when a traveler attempts to prematurely board a flight.