PEORIA, Ill. – Transportation Security Administration officials gave tips to travelers at Peoria International Airport on Wednesday on making the check-in process as smooth as possible.
While PIA may see a small fraction of that number, TSA Regional Spokesperson Jessica Mayle says an average of two million people per day will travel this holiday season.
With a lot of travelers to check-in, Mayle says they’re working on ways to speed up the process. She says one method involves the actual check-in.
“We have something called credential authentication technology, basically now your ID functions as your boarding pass in many airports. You no longer need to show your boarding pass separately when we validate your ID, it also validates that you’re flying out that day. So that’s fewer touch points and a quicker experience for passengers,” Mayle said.
Mayle says 3-D scanners have also been implemented in addition to traditional X-ray scanners, which aims to identify items better and reduce the number of bag checks. In addition, she says people can also save time by pre-checking before arriving at the airport, or arriving two hours before your flight if you need to check-in.
Another way passengers can speed up the process is by knowing what they can and cannot bring to the airport.
“Anything that can be used as a weapon is not going to be allowed on the plane. So, knives, blades, tools over seven inches, those are prohibited,“ Mayle said. “What we see the most are those oversized liquids, gels, aerosols. So big bottles of water, big bottles of shampoo.”
Mayle says liquids are limited to 3.4 ounces on a plane. She suggests placing large liquids in your luggage, especially if it’s a Christmas present.
If you’re bringing Christmas presents on a plane, Mayle suggests placing them in gift bags or unwrapped, in case officials need to inspect the item and not unwrap a present earlier than expected. She says people can also visit the TSA’s website to find out what can and cannot be brought onto a plane.
Overall, Mayle says people should approach the screening process with patience and kindness to make the experience easy for everyone.
