ARLINGTON, Va. --If spring break travelers thought that the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) terminal seemed crowded last month, their perceptions were accurate.
Two days last month made it into the top five days for the number of individuals screened at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints.
TSA officers screened 41,377 people on Friday, March 22, the second busiest day ever at the security checkpoints. They also screened 41,156 individuals on the previous day, Thursday, March 21, which was the fourth busiest day at the checkpoints.
“Our officers have definitely noticed an uptick in checkpoint volume,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “March saw spring break travelers arrive in force, and all the while our officers continued to remain focused on the mission. It is also worth noting that we are appreciative of travelers who arrive at the checkpoint prepared to go through the screening process.”
Busiest checkpoint volume days at DCA
|
Rank |
Date |
Checkpoint volume |
|
1 |
10/7/2005 |
43,336 |
|
2 |
3/22/2024 |
41,377 |
|
3 |
6/17/2016 |
41,220 |
|
4 |
3/21/24 |
41,156 |
|
5 |
4/12/2019 |
41,021 |
A busier checkpoint is exactly why travelers should plan to arrive at the terminal well before their flight. More travelers means that it will take just a little longer to park a car, return a rental car, check bags and all of that is before getting to the security line.
“To ensure the best travel experience possible, passengers should plan to arrive to the airport two hours prior to their scheduled departure,” Busch added.
Travelers should arrive at their checkpoint prepared to go through the security screening process. That means to have ID and boarding pass out and ready for the TSA travel document checker. It means placing items from pockets into carry-on bags while in the security line. It means removing your mask to enable the credential authentication device to snap your photo to match it to your ID. And it means knowing with certainty that you do not have any prohibited items among your carry-on items.
Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).
Travelers can also enroll in the TSA PreCheck® program, an expedited screening program enabling low-risk travelers to enjoy a secure and efficient screening experience at more than 200 U.S. state and territory airports. TSA PreCheck passengers travel with ease and may keep their shoes, belts and light jackets on and are not required to remove laptops, 3-1-1 liquids and food items from their carry-on bags at the checkpoint. About 99 percent of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes in dedicated lanes at airport checkpoints nationwide.
A TSA PreCheck enrollment center is conveniently located inside the terminal on the ground floor near baggage claim carousel 6.