Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is busy at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport as they continue to screen thousands of passengers with an increase fast approaching during the end-of-year travel period.
"The good news is that the throughput is back to where it was before 2019. In fact, it's higher than what it was in 2019," reports Bart R. Johnson, TSA's Federal Security Director for Upstate New York.
"Back in October in Upstate New York, that's when we see the highest throughput rates in October. Buffalo here, they almost broke 10,000 passengers, which is huge, and it's good, the economy's back. And that's going to be happening here once again, over the Christmas vacation. So it behooves the traveling public to get here at the airport at the checkpoint two hours ahead of time."
The most common thing that slows a traveler down at a TSA checkpoint is having a prohibited item in a carry-on bag.
"When you pack, make sure that you start with an empty bag. Don't start with a bag that you're not sure what's in it, because that's where things could go bad," Johnson reminds. "One of these officers right here, grabbed two handguns. Someone, about two three weeks ago, brought a loaded handgun to the checkpoint, so that's really bad because they don't know where their handgun is. What it does is shut down the checkpoint, everything comes to a stop. Everybody is inconvenienced."
That person was a TSA PreCheck passenger, so he had his PreCheck privileges revoked.
Other than weapons, another common slowdown of the TSA line is oversized liquids. Remember that any liquids, gels, aerosols and spreadables are limited to 3,4 ounces in one clear quart-sized bag in carry-on bags.
Make sure you finish your coffee, water or energy drink before you get checked in line and pack larger shampoo, toothpaste, sunblock and harigel in a checked bag. If you travel with a knife, please pack it in your checked bag.
As many people are giving gifts this holiday season, it would be best to bring the presents in bags or boxes and not wrapped. If the present were to sound an alarm, they would have to remove the wrapping paper to get to it.
The TSA has a variety of tools at your disposal for any questions you have such as free myTSA app or you can send them a Facebook or X (Formerly Twitter) message at @AskTSA.
