Thanksgiving travelers face intense security amid terror threat, are you planning on travelling this Thanksgiving holiday?

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 21:11:26 -0500

Americans trying to get out of town for Thanksgiving face more intense screening, longer security lines and a scary global warning from the State Department — but many say fears of terrorism won't keep them grounded.

"It worries everybody, but if you're confident and you have faith, what else can you do?" Hartford resident Wanda Valle told NBC Connecticut as crowds filled Bradley Airport for the holiday rush.

"Whatever is going to happen is going to happen."

The bombing of a Russian jet, the attacks in Paris and threats in Brussels had already put the world on edge. The State Department's Monday night alert — warning that Islamic militants are planning attacks in "multiple regions" — only added to the jitters.

A State Department spokesman said Tuesday the point of the directive was not to discourage travel but to encourage Americans "to be very prudent, very vigilant."

U.S. authorities note that there is no specific threat to transportation networks and that precautions to keep travelers safe are being stepped up.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs three of the nation's busiest airports and other travel hubs, said its police force is on "heightened alert" at all facilities.

"Actions include increased patrols and checks of bags, buses, trucks and trains at agency locations. Travelers also are reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to police or other authorities," the agency said.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration urged travelers to get to the airport two hours before a flight to allow extra time for screenings — and to keep their eyes peeled.

"We encourage travelers to be vigilant & report any suspicious activity to law enforcement," the agency tweeted Tuesday in response to a question about how seriously ticket-holders should take the State Department alert.

"If you see something, say something."

At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Minnesota, officials said bags and passengers would face extra scrutiny, resulting in longer lines.

"Even a few seconds per person is going to add up," airport spokeswoman Melissa Scovron told NBC affiliate KARE.

John Hobday of Minnetonka told the station he had already witnessed extra attention even before the holiday travel got under way.

"I was in Calgary over the weekend. I just noticed in customs, on the way in, immigration was asking more questions than I would normally be used to," he said. "Normally they would go through their paperwork and ask you something but this was, 'What do you do for work? and 'Oh, what background do you have for that? and 'Interesting, and that qualifies you to do this?'"

George Hobica, founder of the travel site airfarewatchdog.com, said it does not appear the security concerns have hurt business.

"We haven't seen any fire sales at all, at least in airfares," he said. "Airfares to Brussels and Paris have not gone down."

Hobica said many travelers were taking the latest in a long list of travel alerts in stride.

"I think we have to put this in perspective," he said. "The number of people killed in Baltimore from gun violence was over 300, but the State Department is not saying 'don't go to Baltimore.'"

Your Thanksgiving Travel Is About to Get More Intense

Americans trying to get out of town for Thanksgiving face more intense screening, longer security lines and a scary global warning U.S. authorities.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 24 at 2015 9:13 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 21:13:59 -0500

MSgt Curtis Ellis, my wife and I will travel to Atlanta to visit with my ninety year old mother, who's mostly confined to a high level assisted living facility. CPT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 24 at 2015 9:15 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 21:15:37 -0500

Nope but already shipped Jack Stack BBQ to my Crew so they don't forget about Dear Old Dad. I was just out there the end of Summer. I'm sure I'll come up with another good excuse to fly out to the Pacific Northwest Soon.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 9:22 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 21:22:06 -0500

Yep. Walking down the hall to the dining room.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 9:23 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 21:23:46 -0500

I saw this on the news a few nights ago. I will staying home and having the kids/grandkids over for dinner.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Nov 24 at 2015 10:01 PM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 22:01:25 -0500

We cannot give in to these thugs. Always be aware of your surroundings and stay safe. Travels have always been a part of my life and that will continue.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Nov 24 at 2015 10:03 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 22:03:29 -0500

The Mrs and I decided in 91 that when we came back to the States we were done with airports and flying....If we can't drive we don't go.....

Response by SN Greg Wright made Nov 24 at 2015 10:04 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 22:04:18 -0500

MSgt Curtis Ellis Nothing terrorists do will ever factor into any decision I make. Fuck them. I may wind up waiting in longer lines, but that wasn't me changing my life because of their actions.

But no...I'm not going anywhere this Holiday season. That'd require some semblance of a life lol.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2015 7:36 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 07:36:54 -0500

not by air ... for sure. I drive when is possible.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 25 at 2015 8:01 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 08:01:37 -0500

We are driving a couple of hours away. But as always I have a SideArm with me and we are ever vigilant.

Response by SFC Terry Fortune made Nov 25 at 2015 5:32 PM

SFC Terry Fortune — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 17:32:08 -0500

No plan on staying close to the house, but if I was traveling some where I more than likely be driving to that place.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2015 8:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 20:08:35 -0500

The media is always trying to scare the people. If you want to travel be vigilant but travel with confidence. This is America and ill be dam just because some news channel and this phony terror threat level says one thing that i will not move around my country as i please.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Nov 25 at 2015 11:16 PM

MAJ Alvin B. — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 23:16:02 -0500

Yes. However, I will be driving, so my concern will be traffic, vice airport security. Given the current situation, I am glad I am not traveling by air this weekend.

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Nov 26 at 2015 3:41 PM

SPC Byron Skinner — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 15:41:17 -0500

Sp4 Skinner. I will agree that TSA security procedures are time consuming and to some travelers personally invasive. I'm one of those people, because of my internet postings gets the full monte every I fly, I wear the fewest articles of clothing possible to make the anticipated full body search go quicker. It the price American must pay. Also the hard disc of my lap top is downloaded. The US doesn't have airliner falling out of the sky. To those who complain about this invasion of ones person and privacy, there are other forms of transportation besides air travel. In regards to Metro Liners flight 9268 that went down over the Sinai. Onboard explosives have been ruled out as have any attack by a SAM. I suspect that anybody on this web site could have come to those conclusions after looking at the two images of the downed airliner in a minute or two. Flight 9268 appears to have been the victim of a bad repair job from a previous accident, tail drag on take off, and poor routine maintenance and inspection. This reason of course is not good for the Russian tourist industry.