COLONIE — Come early, have your bag packed properly and expect that you might need to unpack some items at the security checkpoint, more so than last summer.
That's the advice of Bart Johnson, who leads security for the Transportation Security Administration at airports across upstate, including at Albany International Airport.
Johnson said Monday during a press conference at Albany International that with the summer travel season arriving, air passenger traffic at the airport increases 10 percent, from 4,500 people a day to 5,000 people a day — all of whom must make their way through the TSA checkpoint.
That means the potential for longer lines and longer waits, although Johnson said Monday that TSA officers have been going through training for the summer season and the Albany checkpoints are fully staffed in preparation.
Johnson advises that travelers through Albany International should arrive 90 minutes ahead of time this summer, and they should pack their bags when empty, to ensure that they don't mistakenly bring items that are not allowed.
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For instance, while many children carry water bottles with them wherever they go these days, the containers have to be emptied before going through the TSA checkpoint, and there is a place to empty liquids at the airport for the convenience of doing so.
Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes must be 3.4 ounces or less, and all containers must fit inside a single quart-size plastic bag that has to be placed into one of the bins used to x-ray screen carry-on baggage.
