HOUSTON – More than 1.25 million people are expected to fly through Houston during the Thanksgiving weekend. Of them, 72,000 will go through Hobby Airport on Tuesday and Wednesday and 200,000 will travel through George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Officials recommended that people take time to inform themselves before coming to the airport in order to reduce holiday travel stress.
Here are five things to know about flying for the holidays:
Fly2Houston.com should be your first stop
Officials said the website for both airports is in one place at Fly2Houston.com, and it's especially useful for new travelers.
"On there is all the information to help make your trip go more smoothly," said Bill Begley with Houston Airports. "If you're departing arriving or even connecting. It has how many parking spaces and where those are at (and) how much those cost. It talks about valet parking. It talks about economy lots and the shuttles that will get you to the airport and the timing for it. It tells you how long it takes to go through the security (or) TSA checkpoint line."
You can find information about dining, TSA wait times, parking availability and more on the website. Officials said it is the epicenter of information.
"We have put in a lot of money for the website," said Begley. "It's focused on the passenger."
Arrive 2-3 hours before your flight
"I would come two hours at the very least," Begley said. "I would say more on busy days -- perhaps three hours."
Wednesday and Saturday are the busiest of the 10-day travel period.
TSA has changed its policies
You may notice that TSA officials will ask you to take more things out of your carry-on this time around. This year, the TSA announced that any electronic item larger than a phone should be taken out of carry-on bags at security. Not only do you have to take them out, you must put them in separate bins without anything on top or below them.
Fly2Houston.com helps you navigate airports
This year, the airports launched Bluedot Innovation technology, which is a locating service that allows passengers to find themselves and a location in which they are interested. Through the website, a blue dot will appear at your location, and will move as you move towards the destination of your choosing.
Back to basics
Have your ID and boarding pass readily available.
Check the website for your flight times.
Double check with your airline about weight and dimensions for your bags, and make sure they will fit in an overhead bin.
At security, all liquids must be under 3.4 ounces. If you're not a member of TSA Precheck, don't hesitate to take off your jacket, shoes and belts. Children under 12 can keep their shoes on.
"Pack your patience," Begley said. "If you're an informed traveler, it won't be too bad."