Now that the turkey is carved and dishes packed away, many travelers are heading home.
- TSA prepares travelers for new safety procedures
- Anything larger than a cell phone to be removed from baggage
- MCO expects 142,500 passengers to pass through on Nov. 25
And in the midst of packed and frenzied airport travel, TSA wants passengers to be prepared for new screening procedures.
“Once it gets implemented across all airports in the United States, I think the process is actually going to be easier for the customer," said Steve Hanson, the Deputy Federal Security Director of Orlando.
"You’ll have a uniform process, regardless of the airport you’re in.”
The new rules stipulate that anything larger than a cell phone be removed from baggage during the security screening process.
Hanson said that it's all in the name of safety: TSA wants to ensure nothing’s hidden in the device.
“We have a very sophisticated enemy who would like to do harm," he explained of the agency's ever-changing policies.
The agency said that while it may slow lines initially, as TSA trains its agents and relays the information to passengers, eventually things will speed up.
Some passengers, like Thomas Glidewell, said that despite inconveniences, he understands.
“You gotta adapt, it’s a necessity. The bad guys adapt, the security people looking out for them have to adapt," he said. "It doesn’t bother me."
On Friday, Glidewell, his wife and two children arrived at Orlando International Airport after a whirlwind holiday trip to Walt Disney World.
“I didn’t know about the new rules until just now," Glidewell said, clutching the family's boarding passes. "We’ll find out how it goes."
Luckily, the Glidewells didn't have to wait for more than 20 minutes in line.
“The security, I thought it was going to be worse," he said.
The new electronics screening procedures are being rolled out incrementally across the country.
Orlando and Tampa International airports are about two-thirds done with training, but passengers may see the procedures already underway.
In tandem, TSA is testing out new CT machines in Phoenix, AZ, hoping to produce higher quality, 3-D images from the screening process.
“It’s taking the same technology we use to scan checked baggage and putting it on the check points," said Hanson. “It’s going to increase our ability to detect the threat, but two, it’ll speed up the process.”
Saturday will be the busiest day of the Thanksgiving holiday travel time.
According to Orlando International Airport, they expect over 142,500 passengers to pass through on Nov. 25.
With more than 43 million annual passengers, MCO is the second busiest airport in Florida and the 13th busiest in the country.