Travelers get a head start on the long Labor Day weekend | News

Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed across the US this Labor Day weekend as many Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the unofficial start of the season: by traveling.

After what has already been a record summer for air travel, the Transportation Security Administration predicted its agents will screen more than 17 million people during the holiday period that began Thursday and runs through next Wednesday, up about 8 percent. more than last year.

TSA anticipates Friday will be the busiest day. Still, in a sign that the summer travel season is winding down, the agency said fewer than 2 million passengers passed through airport security checkpoints on a single day this week — the first time that has happened since the beginning of March.

If you’re planning to be part of the crowds leaving the city for one last blast of summer, here’s a rundown of what you need to know.

How are the holiday trips going so far?

Busy as expected and flight delays were frequent.

Airlines had canceled more than 200 U.S. flights by late afternoon on the East Coast, a modest number by today’s standards. However, more than 4,500 flights were delayed, led by Southwest and American, according to tracking service FlightAware.

Many people seemed to have heeded the experts’ advice to get out as early as possible on Friday.

Lines of cars and passengers formed at Los Angeles International Airport before sunrise. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was buzzing early, but slowed by mid-morning and parking was still available.

Why travel on a holiday weekend?

Boston resident Dani Fleming flew across the country to visit her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. She arrived at the airport at 4:30am for her departure flight and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the lines moved both there and at San Francisco International Airport.

“The flight was easy. (I) slept a little bit, watched movies,” Fleming said. “It was a breeze.”