8 TSA Agent-approved Holiday Travel Tips

"Two TSA officers who work at the airport — Lead TSA Officer Daniela Guzman and Lead TSA Officer Justin Thompson — urged travelers to plan for heavier holiday traffic (arrive at least 30 minutes earlier) and to “listen to the TSA officer in your line; screening procedures are different depending on the equipment (including sniffer dogs) being used at that exact time.” On packing, Lead Officer Daniela Guzman warned against bringing wrapped gifts because, as she put it, “It feels horrible on our end because you took time to wrap that present and now we are taking time to unwrap it,” and both officers recommend travel-friendly alternatives like gift bags or fold-flat gift boxes that are easy to open for inspection. A TSA spokesperson, Lori Dankers, emphasized the liquids rule bluntly: “Oversized liquids are the number one prohibited items we see over the holidays,” and reminded travelers of the 3-1-1 rule — “3 ounces of liquid, one quart-sized bag, and one bag per passenger” — and to use TSA‑approved reusable travel bottles or pre-packaged kits to avoid confiscation. On clothing and screening speed, Dankers advised: “If you’re going to pick your outfit that day and you have the choice between regular pants and cargo pants, choose regular pants,” and officers recommend consolidating items into a single removable bag (a belt bag) rather than multiple pockets to avoid alarms and delays. On electronics and carry-on packing, Justin Thompson said: “We don’t physically need to see it, but it can’t have anything on top of it or below it,” — meaning laptop sleeves should be simple and not hold extra items — and he also noted a policy point for travelers showing appreciation: “As federal employees, we’re not allowed to accept gifts,” so the preferred channel is to submit compliments at TSA.gov or via screening-area QR codes. Finally, officers recommended using official tools and services such as the MyTSA App to check for delays and TSA Cares for passengers needing extra assistance." - Katie Jackson Katie Jackson Katie Jackson is a New York City-based writer who covers travel, food, and more. Her work has appeared in USA Today, The Sunday Times, Esquire, Outside, New York Post, and Travel + Leisure, among others. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines