Arizona TSA official shares holiday travel tips for smoother experience

PHOENIX — The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has advice for holiday travelers to help make their flying experience run more smoothly.

“We recommend that people be organized,” said Patricia Mancha, TSA spokeswoman for Arizona. “When you get to the checkpoint, have your documents ready, have your tickets, have your ID – be ready to go.”

This comes as TSA expects travel volume to approach near pre-pandemic levels.

Mancha also advised travelers to empty out their pockets so lines through the security checkpoints can move more quickly. Also, be aware of what items are prohibited through the TSA lines.

She stressed anything that can be used as a weapon, including knives and stun guns, are not allowed inside a carry-on.

Travelers can take a firearm on a flight, but it must be unloaded in a locked, hard-sided container that goes inside luggage that’s checked in. Each gun must also be declared to the airline during luggage check-in.

When it comes to liquids, they must be no more than 3.4 ounces if travelers are packing them in a carry-on. The same goes for liquor, which Mancha noted TSA officers see a lot of during the holiday travel season.

“Also, during this time, people travel with presents or gifts – don’t wrap them,” she said.

“Make sure that you leave them unwrapped or bring a gift bag. Wait until after you get through security because your gift will be unwrapped so that the officers can see what’s in them.”

She also recommended travelers arrive at least two hours before a scheduled domestic flight and reminded them that the federal mask mandate for airports remains in place.

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