Hartsfield-Jackson International

Airport officials are in full holiday mode to get passengers to their

seasonal destinations this week.

Officials are hopeful that

the recent decrease in summer wait times will translate to the holiday

season, but remind passengers that the Thanksgiving holiday travel period

is the airport's busiest time.

Airport public relations manager

Lanii Thomas said many passengers arrive home on the Monday after Thanksgiving

and passengers should allow at least an extra 30 minutes for their arrival

time.

"As people make their

way back and forth this holiday season, we anticipate seeing significantly

more air travelers this Thanksgiving," Aviation General Manager Ben

DeCosta said this week in a press release. The heaviest travel days are

expected to be today, with more than 233,000 passing through the gates,

and Sunday, with 249,000 passengers returning home.

"The surge in passenger

volume is great news for the airline industry. We look forward to a very

brisk holiday travel season," said DeCosta, who expects the airport's

federal screeners to be particularly busy during the next few weeks.

Airport officials and the Transportation

Security Administration offered several tips this week for passengers

traveling during the next six weeks:

- For domestic flights,

arrive a minimum of 90 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

- Carry photo identification.

The name on your ticket must match your ID.

- Wait until you reach

your destination to wrap presents. Wrapped gifts may be opened and inspected

in some cases.

- Pack all film inside

your carry-on bags, as checked baggage screening may damage film.

- In the event of inclement

weather, call your airline ahead of time to determine the status of your

flight.

- Remember to remove all

knives, scissors, corkscrews, and blades of any type or size from your

carry-on baggage. Such items should be packed with in your checked baggage.

These items are not permitted in the sterile area of the airport or on

board aircraft.

- Avoid wearing clothing,

jewelry and accessories that contain metal. These items may set off the

alarm on the metal detector.

- Place identification

tags in and on all of your baggage.

- Carry-on baggage is

limited to one bag plus one personal item per passenger. Personal items

include a purse, briefcase, laptop computer or backpack.

- If you have a medical

condition that requires you to carry a needle or syringe on your person

or in your carry-on baggage, you must have the medication that requires

such injection on your person. The medication must be packaged with a

pharmaceutical label or professionally printed label identifying the medication.

- Only ticketed passengers

are allowed past the security screening area. Persons wishing to greet

travelers should meet in the baggage claim area or in the airport atrium

area.

- Call ahead to make advance

arrangements with your airline if you require special assistance, such

as a wheelchair.

- For current parking

availability, use one of three options: Call 1-877-ATL-PARK, tune in to

Hartsfield-Jackson's parking radio network AM 830, or visit www.atlanta-airport.com.

- Use the airport's

hourly parking when picking up or dropping off passengers. Unattended

vehicles parked at curbside will be ticketed and towed.

- Look for an airport

customer service representative wearing a teal green jacket to answer

any questions you may have.