JWA jams begin today

Officials suggest arriving 2 hours before departure; this will be a busy holiday season, they say.The amount of passengers traveling through John Wayne Airport is expected to double over the Thanksgiving holiday, with a noticeable increase beginning today.

As the airport braces for a steady rush lasting through the holiday season, officials say airport security is ready as ever to handle the crowds.

“The men and women that work for our agency are always on the highest state of alert,” said Nico Melendez, regional spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration.

The security administration -- which staffs all airport security checkpoints and baggage screening -- ensures that they will have adequate staffing to handle increased holiday traffic, Melendez said.

Last year, nearly 129,000 passengers traveled through John Wayne Airport during Thanksgiving weekend. Although airport officials haven’t made any projections, this year the numbers could be even higher, said airport spokeswoman Jennie Wedge.

“We’ve seen just increased travel this year in general,” Wedge said.

People are starting their Thanksgiving vacations earlier this year, and the busy travel time is now extended, Wedge said.

“More people are departing the week before, the Friday before the actual holiday to just expand their vacation,” Wedge said.

The busiest travel days are predicted to be Wednesday and Nov. 27, but a higher than normal amount of travelers are expected from today to Nov. 29.

Airport employees will have an increased presence during the holiday, assisting travelers and monitoring airport lobbies to keep people moving, Wedge said.

The airport will also increase shuttle runs between the terminal and the Main Street parking lot to accommodate more passengers, Wedge said.

Though avoiding crowds may be impossible this holiday season, passengers can take steps to make the travel experience as smooth as possible.

Arrive at the airport two hours before your flight, no matter what time you’re traveling, Wedge said.

The closer to Thanksgiving day it is, the more likely that airport parking lots will be full, Wedge said.

The Transportation Security Administration is offering these tips for travelers to get through security screening efficiently:

* Don’t travel with wrapped gifts.

* Don’t pack fragile or valuable items in checked baggage.

* Undeveloped film should not be packed in carry-on baggage because screening equipment can damage the film.

* Passengers must remove outer coats and jackets before proceeding through the metal detectors.

* All firearms and ammunition must be declared to airline ticket agents and properly stored in checked baggage.

* Passengers traveling with children should discuss airport security procedures with their children beforehand.

* Remember to put identification tags in and on all baggage, including laptops.

* Double check the contents of luggage to ensure that no prohibited items were inadvertently packed.

* Do not over-pack bags.

* If you choose to lock your luggage, use a TSA-approved lock so that TSA security officers can inspect your luggage if needed.