Already passengers are flooding airports in the Thanksgiving rush to get to their holiday destinations. The Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday and the Sunday after are expected to be the busiest days.
200,108 people are expected to fly in or out of St. Louis Lambert International Airport during the Thanksgiving travel period. That's the highest number since 2018, which brought 202,146, according to TSA.
"We’re all running away,” Julie Noble said after she landed in St. Louis Tuesday evening from California.
There were long lines to get through security for those departing.
"I saw a bunch of people standing in line getting ready to leave so I'm like ‘oh I don’t' want to be there’,” Andrew Noble said.
He picked up his parents who are visiting him for the holiday.
"We flew right in. We got ahead of the storm apparently,” Julie Noble added.
A storm system was predicted to move from the southern Plains to the Northeast Tuesday and Wednesday, leading to some delays nationwide.
All over the country, TSA anticipates screening 2.6 million passengers every day this week.
Most travelers who are flying are doing so Tuesday and Wednesday.
Daniel Ryan did his best to avoid the height of the rush.
"You got to unless you got to work or do something else but traveling a few days before and after the holidays is always a smart idea,” he said.
His son turns 5 years old on Thanksgiving day. He's in town from California to visit grandma.
"Have some turkey and enjoy St. Louis,” Ryan said.
"It's holiday season. Everybody's happy,” added Myron Thomas who works for a local parking shuttle. "Weatherwise, it's great and people are happy coming and going."
He's ready for the crowds this week. "We’ll handle (it). We’re experts. We’re professionals."
While the travel rush is kicking off now, Sunday is expected to be the busiest.
The TSA expects it will screen 2.9 million passengers that day as everyone tries to make it back home.
"That's why we’re going back on Monday. We've learned. We have learned,” Julie Noble said.
Tuesday, some five dozen flights were delayed. There were no cancellations.
Airport officials said to check your flight status before you leave home and try to be inside the airport, not on the way or waiting for a parking shuttle, two hours before your flight leaves.