TSA offers tips for air travelers as more take to the skies

As more people are taking to the airports to travel, TSA is offering some tips to get you through the lines at RIC safely and efficiently.

PANDEMIC WINDS DOWN -- T--SAOFFICIALS AND RICHMONDINTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WANTPASSENGRSE TO BE AWARE SOMECHANGES AND BE PREPARED FORLONGER WAIT TIMES THROUGHSECURITY .CBS SIX'S CAMERONTHOMPSON JOINS US LIVE TOEXPLAINTHOSE DETAILSOFFICIALS SAY OVER THE LAST FEWMONTHS -- SIGNS AT RICHMONDINTERNATIONAL AIRPORT -- ALONGWITH THE ONESFOR ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES--HAVE BEGUN POINTIGN TO ARETURN TO PRE- PANDEMIC TRAVEL.FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, SAMETIME PERIOD LAST YEAR WE HADJUSTOVER 13- THOUSAND PASSENGERS FORTHE ENTIREMONTH.THIS LAST APRIL, WE HAD209-THOUSAND PASSENGERS.BUT WITH THE RETURN OFPASSENGERS -- COMES THERETURN OF LONGER SECURITY WAITTIMES -- AND OFFICIALS WANT TOALERT PEOPLE TO WHAT'S CHANEGDSINCE THEY MAY HAVE LAST FLOWNAND HOW TO HELP SPEED UP THEPROCESS.CHIEF AMONGTHE TIPS -- ARRIVE EARLY --ESPECIALLY IF YOUR FLIGHT IS INTHE MORNING --PREFERABY LTWO HOURS, BUT ATLEAST 90 MINUTES AHEAD OF TIME.ONCE AT THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT,FICIOFALS SAY THERE'S A VARIETYOF NEW SYSTEMSIN PLACE TO HELP PREVENT THESPREAD OF COVID- 19 -- INCLDUINGPLEXIGLASS, TSA AGENTS WEARINGGLOVES AND MASKS -- ANDTOUCHLESS CHECK-INS WE DON'TTOUCH YOUR ID.ALL WEDO IS ASK YOU TO PUT IT ON TO AREADER AND THEN YOU JUST TAKEYOUR MASK AND DROP IT DOWN ALITTLE BIT SO WE CAN COMPARE THEIMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S LICENSE.OFFICIALS ASK PEOPLE PACK SMARTWITH THEIR CARRY ONLUGGAGE AND AVOID PUTTINGANYTHING THAT COULD TRIGGER ANALERT SUCH AS TOO MANYLIQUIDS.OR CARRYING AFIREARM -- A TREND THAT DOUBLEDNATIONWIDE LAST YEAR.FEWER PASSENGER, SIGNIFICANTLYFEWER PASSENGERS BUT IT DOUBLEDTO 10PASSENGERS PER MILLION.MEANWHILE, WHEN ASKED ABOUTNATIONAL STORIES OF TSA STAFFINGSHORTAGES CONTRIBUTING TO WAITTIMES -- RICHMOND OFFICIALS SAYWHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO HIREMORE OFFICERS -- IT'S NT OAT THEPOINT THEY'RE CONCERNED ANDHAVE OFFICE STAFF HAVE HELPEDOUTON THE NON- SCREENING ROLES.AND FINALLY, OFFICIALS WANT TOREMIND EVERYONE THAT WHILE MASKMANDATES HAVE BEEN DROPPED INVIRGINIA AND OTHERTA STES --YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO WEARONE WHEN FLYING -- AND THATWILL BE IN PLACE UNTIL AT LEASTSEPTEMBER 13TH.IF YOU FORGOTONE AT THE CHECKPOINT -- YOU'LLBE OFFERED ONE -- AND IF YOUREFUSE, YOU WON'T BE ALLOWEDTHROUGH SECURITY.WORKING FOR YOU AT RICHMONDINTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CAMERONTH