Boise Airport gets ready for the holiday travel rush. Here’s what you need to know
The rush of holiday travel has arrived at the Boise Airport, and officials are warning passengers of the do’s and don’ts of flying.
Travel volume in Boise the next two weeks is expected to be greater than it was during this time in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Transportation Security Administration expects the busiest days locally and nationally to be Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The next-busiest travel days are expected to be Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.
Officials recommend passengers arrive two hours before their flight at the Boise Airport, though more time may be needed at busier airports throughout the country. A pivotal way to avoid backed-up security lines is to think ahead, TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said at a news conference Monday.
“By not bringing those prohibited items, you’re going to ensure that you have a touchless experience at your checkpoint,” Dankers said. “That’s healthier for everyone. It really starts at home when you plan.”
Firearm found at Boise Airport
On Monday morning, a loaded 9-millimeter handgun was found in the carry-on luggage for a passenger traveling from Boise to Seattle. There was also a loaded clip in the luggage.
It was the 34th firearm TSA found at the Boise Airport this year, marking a 50% increase from 2020. In October, TSA announced it set a 20-year record in the number of firearms discovered nationwide in carry-on luggage. Firearms must be in checked luggage.
“All too often we are seeing guns both loaded and unloaded showing up in carry-on bags at Boise,” Andy Coose, TSA federal security director for Idaho, said at the news conference. “… We don’t want to see any more during the holiday period if at all possible.”
The fine for bringing a loaded firearm through security in a carry-on bag is more than $3,000, Coose said. It’s even more if there’s additional ammunition. This past weekend, Boise security officers found a stun gun and knives in carry-on luggage.
“Don’t have anything in the bag that they don’t want to have an issue with at the airport,” Coose said, “that might cause there to be a delay or not make their flight.”
Officials offer security advice
Coose said it’s important to check rules in advance on the airline’s website and the airport’s website. Masks, for example, are still required at all airports nationwide and on all flights. Coose mentioned possible fines between $500 and $1,000 for failing to wear a mask in an airport terminal.
“We are finding there may be some mask fatigue on the parts of certain individuals,” Coose said. “They got off of flights, they want to remove them before they leave the terminal building. That’s not OK.”
Foods that are solids can be included in carry-ons. Liquids, though, must be 3.4 ounces or less; otherwise, they must be checked.
One exception for the liquid rule is for hand sanitizer. Each passenger is allowed to bring one liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces in carry-on luggage. Passengers who bring this should be prepared to remove it from their carry-on during the screening process.
Dankers also recommended packing gifts in gift bags instead of wrapping them, or waiting to wrap them until passengers reach their destination. That’s because security officers may need to unwrap the gift if it could pose a security threat. If gifts are packed in gift bags, security officers can easily remove them from the bag, search them and return them to the bag once they’re deemed safe.
“As a matter of practical approach, if it’s something like socks or a shirt or something that you know doesn’t pose a security threat, you’re probably safe,” Dankers said. “But if you’re carrying things in there that might look a little suspicious or could be questionable in terms of security that might flag the technology, don’t wrap it. You’ll save yourself some time and I can tell you, a lot of aggravation.”
Items found that aren’t allowed in carry-on bags can either be put in a checked bag, returned to the passenger’s car or thrown away.
