By Briana Vannozzi
Correspondent
Expect to see plenty of security as you travel during the holiday week. The Port Authority is beefing up police presence at airports, terminals and crossings due to the State Department’s travel warning in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.
Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson for TSA, said “We have a pretty robust security system. It includes multiple elements of and layers of security both seen and unseen and all that is in place for the protection of the traveling public.”
At Newark Liberty International Airport today travelers went about their usual routine. Lines moved quickly and the shadow of a global travel alert had passengers on guard, but at ease.
Mark Scott, a traveler from Treasure Island, Florida, said “A lot of officers, military, guards in the subways a lot and in the streets. Which is good.”
Rich Katz and his granddaughter just got in from Norfolk, Virginia. “The security guards were being more aware of what was going on, going through the Xray machine, normal routine but a little bit more intense.”
Did he mind going through the longer lines? “Absolutely not, not if its for safety, absolutely not.”
The alert is in effect through the end of February. While the TSA declined to divulge any specifics, a spokesperson did say it goes beyond the visible.
Farbstein continued, “once someone is on a plane they don’t usually think about the TSA, but we have federal air marshals on aircrafts, we have trained thousands of pilots to be what we call federal flight deck officers which means they are armed and in the cockpit.”
Its expected that 25 million people in the U.S. will fly during the Thanksgiving holiday, most domestically according to Airlines for America. And about a hundred thousand New Jerseyans will take to the air according to AAA.
The TSA will have its work cut out. The agency screens nearly 2 million passengers on a daily basis and on the days leading up to Thanksgiving that number is expected to increase by nearly 40 percent. It’ll stay that way through the first week of December.
“Typically people try to get to the airport hour or so before flight, we recommend people get to the airport at least 2 hours ahead of time,” Farbstein recommended.
Meanwhile, on this busiest travel day of the year, the union representing airport workers took the opportunity to draw attention to their call for higher wages. Airport workers in 12 cities across the U.S. held demonstrations today.
Kevin Brown, the State Director for 32BJ SEIU said “these workers are having a tough time on 10 dollars an hour. They can’t think about having such a wonderful meal as some families who are doing better can. So we went on a 24-hour fast at airports around the country to draw attention to the fact that people who are really suffering.”
With the many worries facing americans this holiday season, most say they’ll keep plans intact.
“Well, you have it on your mind, especially listening to all that’s happening in the world and here, but you just have to try to forget it, especially before Thanksgiving. Not going to stop you. No its not.” Augusta Kemeny, from Norway. The perspective shared by many.