TSA Prepared for a Busy Holiday Travel Season

TSA Prepared for a Busy Holiday Travel Season

SA highlights state-of-the-art X-ray scanner in use at MFR security checkpoint

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is anticipating that security checkpoints locally and nationwide will be busy during the upcoming holiday travel season. TSA at Rogue Valley International - Medford Airport (MFR) is prepared for the expected surge in holiday travelers who will depart the airport in the coming weeks.

The busiest times at the TSA security checkpoint at MFR are 3:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The busiest days to travel are Thursdays and Fridays as well as Sundays and Mondays. The flight departure schedules are set up by the airlines, and are considered peak flying times. The security checkpoint at MFR opens daily at 3:30 a.m.

Currently, departing passenger volumes at MFR are 97% of 2019 levels. TSA anticipates that departing passenger volumes locally will exceed 2019 levels on some days leading up to Thanksgiving and immediately after the holiday. The same will be true for the end-of-the-year holiday travel season.

Travelers departing MFR will see a computed tomography (CT) scanner in use to screen carry-on luggage in the checkpoint. The CT unit applies a sophisticated algorithm as it generates a 3-D image of the contents of a traveler’s bag. A TSA officer can manipulate the 3-D X-ray image to allow for a better view of the bag’s contents, resolving potential security threats on-screen and ultimately reducing the number of bag checks that are required. In addition, travelers can leave everything in their carry-on bag, including electronics, travel-size liquids and food as it is screened through a CT scanner.

While TSA concentrates on security, here are five things travelers can do now to be prepared for the screening experience during the holidays.

COVID-19 protocols are still in place, so do not forget to wear a mask. The federal requirement to wear a mask anywhere in the nation’s transportation system remains in effect through January 2022. Travelers are required to wear a mask anywhere in the airport and while onboard an aircraft. Travelers will be asked to adjust their masks to verify their identity when providing their photo ID and boarding pass at the entrance to the checkpoint. TSA recommends packing a few extra masks in the event in case a mask gets dirty during the trip.

Enroll in TSA PreCheck® now to expedite security screening and reduce touchpoints. Travelers who are enrolled in TSA PreCheck do not have to remove their shoes, belts, lightweight jackets, electronics larger than a cell phone or their bag of travel-size liquids and gels during screening. Not only is that convenient, but it also reduces touchpoints when transiting the security checkpoint.

If you enroll by mid-November, you will likely be eligible for TSA PreCheck by Thanksgiving. Learn where the closest enrollment center is and start the enrollment process at www.tsa.gov/precheck.

Use gift bags instead of wrapping paper. Wrapped items will be screened just like any other item. If a wrapped item alarms the security screening technology whether in carry-on or checked luggage, a TSA officer may have to unwrap it to determine what the item is and confirm it does not pose a security threat. Consider traveling with unwrapped items or placing them in a gift bag for easy access and resolution.

Make a plan for traveling with special holiday foods and drinks. We know that many passengers like to travel with special foods and drinks to share with friends and families during the holidays. Remember that not all foods are suitable for carry-on luggage. If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it AND the quantity exceeds 3.4 ounces (which is 100 ml), pack it in a checked bag. For example, cranberry sauce, jams and jellies as well as gravy and wine in quantities larger than 3.4 ounces should go in a checked bag. Cakes, pies and casseroles can travel in carry-on luggage, but may require some additional screening.

Download the free myTSA app and follow TSA on social media. The free, downloadable myTSA app is a trusted source for last-minute travel questions. It provides travelers with 24-hour access to the most frequently requested airport security information. It also features a searchable “Can I Bring” database where you can type in the name of an item and the app will let you know if you should pack it in your checked or carry-on bag. The app is available from the App Store or Google Play. 

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”