Passengers advised to follow simple travel tips to reduce stress 

LANSING, Mich.— With industry forecasts calling for an increase in travel over the year-end holiday season to just shy of pre-pandemic levels, the Capital Region International Airport (LAN) is sharing travel tips to ensure Fly Lansing travelers’ trips go as smoothly as possible. 

“The airport’s team is looking forward to the holiday travel rush,” said Nicole Noll-Williams, president and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority (CRAA). “Following a few simple tips can help make sure your holiday travel through LAN is a stress-free experience.” 

Nationally, AAA officials expect nearly 113 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2, which is an increase of 3.6 million people over last year and closing in on pre-pandemic levels. In Michigan, AAA forecasts more than 3.5 million Michiganders will travel 50 miles or more away from home during the same time period, which is an increase of over 110,000 people from last year. While the majority of travelers are expected to drive to their destinations, the airport is still anticipating an increase in passengers over the holiday travel period. 

Friday, Dec. 23 and Saturday, Dec. 24 are expected to be the busiest pre-holiday travel dates for national and local travel, and Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2 are expected to be the busiest days for post-holiday travel. 

Weather is the primary cause of most flight delays and cancelations, which are determined by the airline directly, not the airport. With the forecast calling for a winter storm across much of the Midwest and set to hit Michigan Thursday and Friday, travelers should adjust travel plans if possible and can likely expect travel plans to be impacted. 

LAN recommends following several travel tips to make traveling over the holidays more manageable.  

• Head to the airport early and relax. Airport security screening lines are fast and efficient at LAN, but during peak periods travelers should arrive at least 90 minutes before a flight. Once you arrive at the airport, take a breath, relax and begin your vacation. 

• Check your flight before you leave. To save some time waiting, check your flight’s arrival/departure status prior to leaving for the airport. Weather delays and flight changes can change the course of your travel plans. If you are picking up family and friends from LAN arriving for the holidays, it’s also a good idea to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Flights may be on time, delayed or scheduled to arrive early. LAN travelers can check the status of flights at www.flylansing.com/flights. 

• Follow the 3-1-1 rule: Three-ounce bottles or less for all liquids, gels and aerosols, placed in a one-quart-size clear plastic zip-top bag to hold all small bottles, and one bag per passenger. Larger quantities of liquids may be packed in checked baggage. 

• Do not travel with wrapped gifts. It may seem like you’re saving time or money by planning ahead and wrapping any presents before traveling, but all items going on board an aircraft – including gifts – must go through TSA screening. If an item is wrapped and is flagged in the screening process, TSA agents will need to unwrap it to assess whether it’s safe to fly. 

• Have your ID ready. The security checkpoint at LAN is equipped with a credential authentication technology (CAT) unit. This touchless technology allows travelers to insert their ID into the CAT unit to be scanned, and it automatically informs TSA if the ID is valid and if the passenger is confirmed to travel on a flight that day. In most cases, passengers will not be required to present a boarding pass at the checkpoint. Travelers still need to check-in with their airline in advance and will still be required to present their boarding pass to the gate agent to be scanned by an airline representative before boarding their flight. 

• Dress smart. Wear comfortable clothing, dress in light layers and easy-to-slip-on shoes. Be prepared to remove coats, jackets, belts, jewelry, and shoes before screening. Don’t wear clothes with a high metal content and put heavy jewelry on after you go through security. TSA PreCheck members are not required to remove coats, shoes and belts. 

• Be prepared to remove personal items upon request. New state-of-the-art advanced screening technology installed at LAN earlier this year allows you to keep all electronics and liquids under 3.4 ounces in your bag during the screening process, regardless of TSA PreCheck status. This new technology provides 3-D imagery and allows TSA officers to manipulate the image on the screen to get a better view of a bag’s contents and often clear items without having to open a carry-on bag. But, be prepared to remove personal items upon request if a TSA officer is unable to identify personal items inside a carry-on bag. 

Additional security information and travel tips can be found at www.TSA.gov. 

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The Capital Region Airport Authority owns and operates the Capital Region International Airport (LAN), Mason Jewett Field Airport (TEW) and Port Lansing – a global logistics center and mid-Michigan’s only U.S. Port of Entry. The Capital Region International Airport is an important asset in the mid-Michigan community, driving $1 billion annually in economic impact with 700 people employed at the airport. The airport welcomes more than 352,000 visitors each year to connect throughout the country and the world. In addition to providing corporate and general aviation, the Capital Region International Airport moves 63.5 million pounds of cargo annually and is one of two airports in the state with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station. Port Lansing, mid-Michigan’s only U.S. Port of Entry and home to Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) #275 covering eight counties, also features a 48,000-square-foot cargo facility and container freight station, and 425 acres of ready-to-develop land. For more information, go to FlyLansing.com and visit the airport’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts.