As the holiday season draws closer, airports and roads around Michigan are gearing up for a surge in traffic. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) has issued travel advice for those flying out during this peak period. The Transportation Security Administration's Federal Security Director for Michigan, Reggie Stephens, suggests arriving "two hours early. For international flights, three hours early," reports CBS News Detroit. With Standard wait times reaching 25 minutes, and 8 minutes for PreCheck, last year, delays are a tangible concern for those rushing to make their flights.
This coming holiday marks what Expedia predicts to be the busiest and most expensive days to fly. DTW is expected to see an influx of over 40,000 travelers, with Sunday's numbers anticipated to jump to 48,000. "We’re going to Mobile, Alabama to see our grandparents," Maia Houston told WXYZ, acknowledging her early arrival played a role in beating the holiday rush. Meanwhile, the McKeller family's preparation involved waking up at 1:30 a.m., as "It’s a little stressful making sure that they have all their stuff. Making sure that we all go together and keep together as a family," Stephen McKeller explained.
A different mode of travel is being undertaken on Michigan's roads, with an expected 2.3 million residents traveling this Thanksgiving weekend, a slight increase from last year. The least congested day for driving is predicted to be Thanksgiving Day itself, while the busiest traffic can be anticipated on Saturday and Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m., as covered by WOODTV. Ford Airport is also managing a 5% uptick in holiday passenger numbers from last year, with recommendations to arrive two hours before departure.
Moreover, Ford Airport's communications and events associate Heidi Groenboom advises travelers of particularly heavy times: "Some of the busier times are that morning rush for those 6 a.m. flights, and then mid-afternoon to the evening dinnertime hours," she told WOODTV. With ongoing renovations, the airport has reopened one lane near the passenger drop-off area to mitigate congestion. In accordance with TSA guidelines, Stephens recommends that travelers bringing Thanksgiving sides review the rules for food items. He points out that items like gravy and cranberry sauce, unless in small quantities, will not be allowed through the screening checkpoint.
