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What Cleveland travel experts want you to know before hitting the road or catching your flight this holiday season

Thanksgiving travel is expected to return to near pre-pandemic levels, increasing by 13 percent from 2020.

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CLEVELAND — The holiday travel season is upon us, and more people are expected to take to the sky in the weeks ahead.

That’s why officials at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport teamed up with ODOT and TSA to share some travel advice during a press conference Monday morning.

AIRPORT ADVICE

Jessica Mayle, public affairs specialist for TSA's Great Lakes region, offered the following tips to help your air travel move a bit smoother:

  • Don't forget your mask and bring an extra one in case it breaks. 
  • You need to have your mask on for the entire experience from the time you arrive at the airport until you exit at your final destination.
  • Pack smart: Leave prohibited items at home. Mayle said that's what really slows the line down when they spot something in your bag that isn't permitted.

"I know that everyone is just trying to get to where they want to go. We want to get you there safely," Mayle said. "If you come in with the right attitude, give everyone a little space, I think it'll make the experience a lot better for you and everyone else.

Robert Kennedy, director of airports for the city of Cleveland, said this week will be the busiest week they've seen in the last two years.

"The first two days of this rush were above 2019 levels," he told 3News. "Our airline partners, TSA, all our partners here are taking all preparations and precautions to make sure you have a safe and healthy experience here."

ROAD ADVICE

Amanda McFarland with ODOT is urging those traveling by road to check OHGO.com for real-time traffic updates and construction delays.

She's also asking all drivers to follow the state's slow down and move over law, which requires you to adjust your speed and change lanes (if possible) when approaching a vehicle on the side of the road with its lights flashing.

RELATED: AAA: More than 2 million Ohioans expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday

Safety road messages themed around the holidays will also return to ODOT's road signs.

We streamed the entire press conference, which you can watch in full below:

Their press conference comes as travel experts predict that "Thanksgiving travel this year will return to near pre-pandemic levels, increasing by 13 percent from 2020."

Air travel is also projected to increase by 80 percent.

"Given the dramatic increase in Thanksgiving travel, this advice will be necessary to ensure travelers arrive at their destinations on time," officials said in a press release.

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