San Jose International airport expects a spike in travel for Memorial Day weekend

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Transportation Security Administration says up to 3 million travelers might pass through airport checkpoints on Friday alone.

“It’s been a year and a half since I've been in this airport and it’s definitely busier than what I am used to," Paul Michelson traveling from Oregon said.

Memorial Day weekend travel started on May 23rd and lasts through the 31st. The T-S-A says that more than 2.5 million passengers are traveling through checkpoint compared to last year's near 2.4 million.

That's why some passengers chose an early flight to beat the rush.

“That’s why I came a little bit earlier to catch my flight and I don’t want to miss that," Shalia Fields traveling to Puerto Rico said.

According to SJC the expected busiest day is projected to be Friday with around 21 thousand passengers to be scanned at checkout.

Aside from arriving early, the SJC official says that there are other ways to prepare.

“We also advise passengers to consult the TSA pre-check or clear programs that are destined to speed up security control," Ana State from SJC media said.

The traffic won’t only be happening at airports but also on the roads. A-A-A has estimated that 38.4 million people will travel by cars over the course of the weekend.

“There’s definitely more traffic on the roads but in the airport it wasn't too bad," Michelson said.

It’s important for those traveling to double check your airlines to make sure there aren't delays.

Domestic travelers should arrive at the airport two hours prior their flight. International travelers should arrive three hours prior to departure.