The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million passengers from Tuesday through Dec. 2, a six percent increase from last year. DFW Airport expects 3.1 million travelers from Nov. 21 through Dec. 3, a 3.1 increase from last year.
"When you're coming to the airport, you must come early," says TSA's Patricia Mancha. "Start with an empty bag so you don't bring items you didn't know were in there."
Mancha says you can then repack the bag using TSA rules as a guideline.
Around holidays like Thanksgiving, she says TSA sees more cooking items like rolling pins or skillets. Those can be packed in a checked bag but not brought in a carry-on.
Mancha says agents also see more food at checkpoints. Turkeys, stuffing, and macaroni and cheese can be brought through security; cranberry sauce, gravy, and wine cannot. People can search a website before leaving home to check if they have an item that will not be allowed.
Mancha says potatoes offer a good look at the rules between a solid and liquid.
"You can bring all the potatoes you want in your carry-on," she says. "Once they become mashed potatoes, they're limited to 3.4 ounces."
TSA urges people to arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. Mancha says periods around holidays draw more families and inexperienced travelers who may not move as quickly through security.
As Christmas approaches, TSA knows more people will start traveling with gifts. Mancha urges people not to wrap items in case officers need to inspect them.
"Don't go through the expense or trouble of making something pretty because we will have to unwrap it," she says.
Outside of issues specific to the holidays, Mancha says passengers in Texas should also remember they cannot bring guns through a TSA checkpoint.
Texas allows people to carry guns without a license, but air travel is governed by federal law, and guns are not allowed through security. DFW Airport had the second most guns found at security in the country last year.
People can pack guns in checked luggage, but they must be in locked, hard-sided cases and declared to the airline.
Mancha says people can check the TSA website to find answers, and she urges passengers to know where they are going before leaving home, saying some people even show up at checkpoints to find they have gone to the wrong airport.
"TSA, airport, airline employees, they give up their holidays so you can spend yours with your family, so be kind," she says. "Know they are working hard to get you to your final destination."