MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Memorial Day weekend journey is formally underway in Alabama.
Frequent fliers like Jimmy Rhodes are making Montgomery Regional Airport their go-to gateway for his or her vacation vacation spot.
“This being my thirtieth flight this 12 months out of MGM, I’ve gotten to know the TSA brokers fairly effectively,” Rhodes mentioned, including he prefers flying out of Montgomery to worldwide locations like Spain over the stress of a two-hour drive to Atlanta, plus an extended time from check-in to the gate.
Airport officers anticipate round 2,700 vacationers in the beginning of the height summer time journey season, about 17% extra passengers than this time final 12 months.
“Lots of people really feel like you possibly can breeze by way of our checkpoint, which you’ll,” mentioned Brittney Jones-Dabney, communications director for Montgomery Regional Airport. “However be mindful we do have extra passengers flying this weekend, so give your self additional time.”
Vacationers are urged to reach at the very least two hours earlier than departure.
This vacation season may even be one of many first that TSA begins imposing the federal Actual ID requirement, which mandates a star on the higher nook of driver’s licenses for airport safety clearance.
“If you happen to don’t have it, you possibly can make the most of a passport,” Jones-Dabney mentioned. “We’re actually encouraging folks to have that as a result of if not, you’ll expertise delays or extra safety procedures.”
Nationally, almost 40 million People are anticipated to journey at the very least 50 miles by automotive over the lengthy weekend, in keeping with AAA.
AAA spokesperson Clay Ingram suggested drivers to journey outdoors of peak site visitors durations, restrict distractions, and construct in relaxation breaks to keep away from fatigue.
“You’ll be able to simply sort of begin daydreaming a bit bit. You’ll be able to lose your focus after some time,” Ingram mentioned. “Driving is simply as harmful as consuming and driving, and simply as harmful as distracted driving. That stage of hazard is just about equal throughout the board.”
Whether or not by street or air, officers say planning is essential to a clean and secure begin to summer time.
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