Thanksgiving is just about here, and Piedmont Triad International Airport is ramping up its operations to handle one of its busiest travel weeks of the year. The airport is usually a breeze to fly in and out of; however, during heavy travel times, even those flying in and out of the fairly low-key airport may need to make some changes.

If you’re among the hordes of people taking to the skies this holiday, you need to pack some patience and plan ahead.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, this year’s Thanksgiving rush could set records, with 18.3 million travelers expected to pass through security checkpoints nationwide between Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Monday, Dec. 2. That’s a 6 percent jump over last year and part of a larger trend that has seen air travel rise by 17 percent since 2022.

Also, this week, there has been a shortage of air traffic controllers, which has made flight delays more common.

Locally, PTI is seeing a surge in passenger traffic. The airport reported a 5 percent increase in available seats and 10 percent more flights this month when compared to November 2023.

PTI officials anticipate that more than 40,000 passengers will pass through the gates during the Thanksgiving travel period.

To help keep your holiday travel stress-free, the airport is sharing a few helpful tips:

  • Check your flight status: Stay in the know by confirming your flight details before heading out.
  • Arrive very early: Airlines recommend arriving two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international trips. Some carriers have stricter check-in deadlines, so be sure to double-check the rules.
  • Be TSA-savvy: Save time at security by following TSA guidelines. If you’re not sure what’s allowed in your carry-on, the TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” website will let you know.
  • Park smart: PTI’s multi-level parking garage offers 2,000 spaces right across from the terminal. Economy surface lots are also available for long-term parking just a short walk away.

Or don’t park at all; consider taking an Uber.  Recently, there’s been a massive wave of car thefts from airport parking lots.  ABC News reported this week that one airport alone had 50 cars stolen.  Also keep in mind that, several years ago, there was a lot of vandalism on cars parked at PTI.

The busiest travel days of the holiday this year are expected to be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after.

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