State Department terror warning impacts Thanksgiving travelers

State Department terror warning impacts Thanksgiving travelers

Travel alert leads to more-thorough screenings, potential delays over the holiday.

A State Department global travel warning issued following the attacks in Paris earlier this month is adding to the complexities faced by travelers during the holiday season.

USA Today reports that, according to the American Automobile Association, nearly 50 million Americans are predicted to travel over 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving. This is the largest predicted number since 2007. The recent decrease in gas prices are considered by experts to be a leading cause for increased travel.

However, the State Department’s worldwide travel alert has some travelers feeling cautious about traveling. The warning, issued after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, informs travelers that places where people gather, such as sporting events, airports, and theaters could potentially be terrorism targets. Travelers should expect longer lines when going through security screenings. The TSA has not commented further on any added security during the alert.

Early travelers are reporting enhanced, “businesslike” screenings, with the efforts not at all exclusive to American airports. Matt Reyes, a California resident traveling through London, was asked to remove a bottle of face wash from his carry-on. When in San Francisco, the same bottle was not a problem. The screeners in London cited the liquid explosives, thought to have been used by terrorists in the destruction of a Russian aircraft, as reason for concern over the face wash.

Indianapolis International Airport had bomb-sniffing dogs present Tuesday. The TSA expects to screen around 75,000 passengers at the airport from Wednesday through Sunday, a spokesperson said. As of Tuesday, passengers were moving quickly through airports with few delays despite the issued alert.

Be social, please share!

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail