It's "go time" for airports all across the country as Thanksgiving travel hits its peak

It's go time at airports all across the country as thousands of passengers make their way to Thanksgiving Day destinations.

TSA Regional spokesperson Jessica Mayle says most people expect there to be delays getting through security - but things should run pretty smoothly this week at places like Minneapolis-St. Paul International.

"Just don't want passengers to feel intimidated, sometimes when you walk in and you see that line," says Mayle. "We don't measure the number of people in line. We measure the time it takes to get through the line. Our standard is 30 minutes for standard passengers, 10 minutes for (TSA) Pre Check passengers."

Mayle says of course it will be busy, but not record-breaking, at least at MSP.

"We'll certainly look at sort of the volume of the week and, you know, I think the other thing is the airport can give you kind of stats on both inbound and outbound," Mayle explains. "And TSA really just looked at those numbers that we're screening. But you know, for a regular passenger, I think they're kind of just in the mindset of 'wow, is it busy today or not,' and these are going to feel like busy days for people. So just give yourself plenty of time."

Mayle says they'll need help from passengers to keep lines moving. That means have your ID ready, and remember you need a REAL ID or a passport for domestic flights now. She also says it is important to consolidate as much as you can into one bag while getting screened to speed up the process.

The TSA expects to screen some 18 million people over the next seven days, through next Tuesday, and officials promise they are ready for the crowds.

"For us this week is our Super Bowl. And I'm here to tell you we've got a great plan. We're past the lapse. Controllers are back at work. They're excited to be back on the job. They're excited to be compensated to be back on the job," says a TSA spokesperson who talked to CBS News.

The travel chaos during the government shutdown is now in the rearview mirror, and travelers who are taking to the skies are relieved.

"I thought my flight would possibly be canceled, and I also bought travel protection just in case it does," one traveler told CBS. "So yes, I was very concerned."

There are still the normal headaches. Storms in Texas Monday caused ripples around the country, with dozens of flights canceled and hundreds more delayed. The Upper Midwest, and in the Twin Cities, will see some significant snow Tuesday night which could slow things down a bit at MSP Airport and some smaller, regional hubs in the region.

There is also some major fog for airports in Des Moines, Milwaukee and Chicago early Tuesday.

Travel forecasts point to packed airports, roads and trains.

A week after lifting the unprecedented flight restrictions it placed on commercial airlines during the shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving in 15 years, with more than 360,000 flights scheduled between Monday and next Tuesday. That’s more than 17.8 million people who will be screened at airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday at a news conference that air traffic controller staffing levels have stabilized in time for what he says will be the busiest Thanksgiving on record for travel, while the head of the FAA reassured passengers that they can “fly with confidence” this week.

AAA projects 1.3 million more travelers will be on the roads than last year, pushing the total number of people traveling by car to at least 73 million.

You can’t control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are if a storm hits. If your flight is canceled or delayed, will you drive instead or postpone or cancel your trip? Knowing your options ahead of time can reduce stress if a storm leaves you stranded.

The Weather Channel offers a Thanksgiving weekly forecast highlighting major airports and highways that could be affected by bad weather — including snow, ice and rain — along with a free online tool in the Weather Channel app that shows how or if your travel route might be impacted.

Forecasters warned of flooding rain and the possibility of severe thunderstorms Monday from Texas to Arkansas and Louisiana into Mississippi. By Monday evening, more than 1,000 flights into and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were delayed and over 100 canceled, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

On Tuesday, the FAA's busiest day with more than 52,000 flights scheduled, forecasters say rain is expected in the Pacific Northwest and in much of the eastern U.S. Airports in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. could be impacted, according to the Weather Channel. Another winter storm in the central U.S. could also take shape late Friday into Saturday.

“The details will come into better focus over the next few days, but anyone traveling home after Thanksgiving should check in on the evolving forecast and be ready for changing conditions,” said Matt Sitkowski, science editor-in-chief at the Weather Channel.

Jacobson, whose research contributed to the design of TSA PreCheck, recommends starting your packing by unpacking.

Check every pocket in case TSA-restricted items, like full-sized bottles, were left behind from a previous trip. This simple scan can help you get through security faster, especially when airports are crowded.

If you’re traveling with gifts, Jacobson suggests wrapping them at your destination because TSA agents may need to open them.

When deciding which clothes and shoes to pack, James Belanger, vice president of meteorology at the Weather Company, said to check the “feels like” temperature for a better sense of the weather, especially for those not used to the cold.

And don't forget a REAL ID is required to fly within the U.S., or bring another accepted form of ID, like a passport or military ID.

People with iPhones can now also add their U.S. passport details to Apple Wallet, which can be scanned at participating airports if travelers don’t have a REAL ID. More than a dozen states already accept some form of a mobile ID at airport checkpoints, and travelers can go to the TSA website for more details.

Whether driving is your top choice or backup plan, AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz suggests checking your tires, car battery and fluids, then hitting the road with a full tank of gas as early as possible to avoid traffic. Last year, AAA said, it responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls during the Thanksgiving travel period to help drivers stranded by dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks.

According to an analysis by Google Maps:

— Traffic on Wednesday is expected to be 14% heavier than usual between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with peak traffic from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

— On Thanksgiving Day, the roads will be busiest between noon and 3 p.m.

— When it’s time to head home, avoid driving from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, when traffic is heaviest.

“...is an informed passenger,” Jacobson likes to say.

Download your airline's app to track your flight status, and check it regularly as your travel date approaches. That way, if your flight is canceled the day before, you can quickly look for alternatives.

Driving or flying, leave earlier than you think you need to. Knowing you won't have to rush to your destination can help calm any nerves, whether it's lingering anxiety from the shutdown or because you're traveling with young kids or someone who needs extra help getting around.

“These are some very simple things to think about, but they’re important things to think about,” Jacobson said.