Flyers at Pittsburgh International Airport among millions traveling for Memorial Day weekend
TSA agents are expecting one of the busiest weekends of the year, as Memorial Day approaches, with nearly 54,000 flights scheduled nationwide. Meanwhile, record-breaking numbers are projected on the roads, with gas prices better than years past.
As they prepared to board their flights Friday morning, flyers at Pittsburgh International Airport were ready to kick off the summer travel season and the long holiday weekend.
'We are going to JFK right now, and then flying to Barcelona later today,' said Nicole Mozena of Carnegie.
'I am going to North Carolina to visit my friend and my goddaughter and her son,' said Allison Mercurio of New Castle.
From Thursday, May 22, through Wednesday, May 28, TSA expects to screen about 18 million passengers and crew. Since implementing REAL ID on May 7, 93 percent of passengers have it ready to go, or another form of acceptable ID.
'I normally use my passport, but I did get the REAL ID this year,' Mercurio said.
'I got it a few years ago when my license was expiring, so I thought, why not just get ahead of it?' Mozena said.
When it comes to drivers, AAA predicts more than 45 million people will hit the road this Memorial Day weekend, traveling more than 50 miles - an increase of more than 1.4 million travelers compared to last year.
While there could be congestion on the roads, it's good news at the pump.
The national average this Memorial Day weekend is $3.19 for a gallon of regular unleaded, compared to $3.59 this same time last year, according to AAA.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
TSA tells Americans their Costco cards won't fly at airport security despite love for hot dogs
The Transportation Security Administration clarified this week that a Costco membership card is not sufficient to present at airport security. "We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not," the TSA wrote on Facebook Wednesday. The reminder comes less than a month after the U.S. began requiring a Real Id driver's license when flying domestically May 7. Real Id Is Here: 5 Things To Know Before Flying Aside from REAL IDs, which have enhanced federal standards, domestic flyers can also use their passports or another federally-approved form of identification like Defense Department-issued IDs (but not a Costco card). "Department of Defense IDs for active and retired military continue to be an acceptable form of ID at TSA checkpoints following the implementation of REAL ID last month," the TSA wrote on Facebook Thursday. Read On The Fox News App REAL IDs were available for years before the requirement went into effect after a 2005 law passed based on recommendations from the 9/11 Commission report. Airline Passenger Shocked When Agent Rejects Checked Bag For 'Bizarre' Reason With many procrastinating until shortly before the deadline, DMV centers were inundated with long lines in April and early May, and there was confusion about what forms of identification, such as a passport, birth certificate or Social Security card, were acceptable at a DMV to secure a REAL article source: TSA tells Americans their Costco cards won't fly at airport security despite love for hot dogs
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
TSA tells Americans they can not use their Costco membership card as an ID
The Transportation Security Administration clarified this week that a Costco membership card is not sufficient to present at airport security. 'We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not,' the TSA wrote on Facebook Wednesday. The reminder comes less than a month after the US began requiring a REAL ID driver's license when flying domestically May 7. Aside from REAL IDs, which have enhanced federal standards, domestic flyers can also use their passports or another federally-approved form of identification like Defense Department-issued IDs (but not a Costco card). 'Department of Defense IDs for active and retired military continue to be an acceptable form of ID at TSA checkpoints following the implementation of REAL ID last month,' the TSA wrote on Facebook Thursday. 3 The TSA told Americans that their Costco membership card was not an approved form of identification at the airport. andy – 3 The REAL ID requirement took effect on May 7. DHS 3 'Please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not,' the TSA wrote on Facebook. AFP via Getty Images REAL IDs were available for years before the requirement went into effect after a 2005 law was passed based on recommendations from the 9/11 Commission report. With many procrastinating until shortly before the deadline, DMV centers were inundated with long lines in April and early May, and there was confusion about what forms of identification, such as a passport, birth certificate or Social Security card, were acceptable at a DMV to secure a REAL ID.
Fox News
4 hours ago
- Fox News
TSA tells Americans their Costco cards won't fly at airport security despite love for hot dogs
The Transportation Security Administration clarified this week that a Costco membership card is not sufficient to present at airport security. "We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not," the TSA wrote on Facebook Wednesday. The reminder comes less than a month after the U.S. began requiring a REAL ID driver's license when flying domestically May 7. Aside from REAL IDs, which have enhanced federal standards, domestic flyers can also use their passports or another federally-approved form of identification like Defense Department-issued IDs (but not a Costco card). "Department of Defense IDs for active and retired military continue to be an acceptable form of ID at TSA checkpoints following the implementation of REAL ID last month," the TSA wrote on Facebook Thursday. REAL IDs were available for years before the requirement went into effect after a 2005 law passed based on recommendations from the 9/11 Commission report. With many procrastinating until shortly before the deadline, DMV centers were inundated with long lines in April and early May, and there was confusion about what forms of identification, such as a passport, birth certificate or Social Security card, were acceptable at a DMV to secure a REAL ID.
