TSA Warns Travelers to Prepare for Sunday, Nov. 30, Expected to Be One of the Busiest Days in History

This week is expected to be the busiest travel week of the year at U.S. airports, as the holiday travel season kicks off for Thanksgiving.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said on Friday that it expects to screen more than 17.8 million people from Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Tuesday, Dec. 2, a tick higher than the same period last year. While some days will be calmer at airports than others, the TSA is warning about one day in particular that travelers should prepare for.

The TSA is projecting that more than 3 million travelers will pass through security checkpoints on Sunday, Nov. 30, which would make it one of the top 10 busiest days in TSA history. The top nine days have all screened 3 million and above (eight of those have come in 2025 alone). Last year’s Thanksgiving Sunday, on Dec. 1, 2024, saw 3.08 million passengers, the second highest in history.

The Top 10 Busiest Days in TSA History

1. June 22, 2025 – 3,096,797
2. December 01, 2024 – 3,088,836
3. July 20, 202 – 53,043,973
4. July 06, 2025 – 3,041,954
5. July 27, 2025 – 3,017,861
6. October 10, 2025 – 3,017,612
7. July 07, 2024 – 3,013,622
8. May 23, 2025 – 3,010,183
9. July 13, 2025 – 3,007,773
10. August 01, 2025 – 2,999,166

This will be the first Thanksgiving holiday season with the TSA’s new REAL ID rules in effect, meaning many travelers might be flying for the first time since the rule went into effect. The TSA is warning all travelers to bring a REAL ID, passport, or another acceptable form of ID, and to have it ready at security.

The agency is also advising all travelers to enroll in TSA PreCheck, which allows children under 17 years old to join an adult for free.

A Plea for Civility

At the same time the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is warning about crowds this week, it is also continuing the kickoff of its “The Golden Age of Air Travel” campaign, aimed at shaming poorly behaving passengers—a population that has increased particularly post-pandemic.

In a video shared last week, the Department of Transportation (DOT) showcased the difference in behavior between air travelers a few decades ago and those who have gone viral recently. According to the DOT, since 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has seen a 400% increase in in-flight outbursts.

“The campaign is intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel,” the TSA said in the campaign’s release. “This won’t just make the travel experience better for the flying public — it will ensure the safety of passengers, gate workers, flight attendants, and pilots.”