As Super Bowl festivities wind down in New Orleans, the Transportation Security Administration is gearing up for a record-breaking exodus of fans from the city. On the heels of the big game, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is preparing to handle what might be the busiest day in its history, with TSA officers expecting to screen around 44,000 passengers on Monday. As documented in a recent Transportation Security Administration press release, additional personnel has been drafted to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible.
Preparing in advance, Transportation Security Administration has brought in an extra 100 officers to manage the crowds efficiently. The previous record at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was 34,000 passengers, set after the 2013 Super Bowl. Transportation Security Administration Federal Security Director for the State of Louisiana, Arden Hudson, has advised passengers in a statement to arrive early and be vigilant about the contents of their bags to avoid delays. "Passengers should be sure they are not carrying prohibited items before they enter our checkpoint," Hudson said, pointing out that most items not allowed in carry-ons can be transported in checked luggage, barring flammable, corrosive, or explosive materials.
Travelers are cautioned to check their souvenirs, ensuring items like hand grenade replicas, which cannot be taken on planes in either checked or carry-on bags, do not cause security hold-ups. Those returning with firearms are reminded to stow them appropriately in checked luggage, unloaded and in a locked hard-sided case, declaring them at airline check-in counters. Being aware of firearm laws at both ends of their journey is also a responsibility that falls on the traveler, given the legal discrepancies between jurisdictions.
For sports fans bringing home a piece of history, Transportation Security Administration recommends carrying Super Bowl programs through the checkpoint rather than checking them. In keeping with the technologically advanced infrastructure at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the agency has installed 11 Automated Screening Lanes (ASLs) to enhance the screening process. These lanes, not available at every checkpoint, feature multiple divesting counters, automated conveyors, and can automatically divert bags that may contain prohibited items, allowing other traveler's belongings to continue unaffected. According to Hudson, "Bins that are 25 percent larger than a typical bin and are able to hold a carry-on suitcase."
To help passengers manage their departure as efficiently as possible, the Transportation Security Administration has issued a 4-3-2-1 guideline. This entails arranging transportation and dropping off rental cars 4 hours before departure, checking bags with the respective airline 3 hours ahead, lining up at the Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint 2 hours prior, and being at the gate, ready to board, 1 hour before departure. Further tips highlighted in the Transportation Security Administration release recommend avoiding prohibited items at the checkpoint and preparing for screening by having a valid ID card readily available and adhering to the 3-1-1 rule for liquids, gels, and aerosols, which allows for items 3.4 ounces or less, stored in a one-quart-sized bag, one bag per passenger, without having to place them separately in bins at security.
