Long lines snake through terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson as Memorial Day traffic peaks

Long lines snaked through the terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday, the busiest day for Memorial Day weekend travel.

Security lines for the main checkpoint stretched through the domestic terminal atrium and began extending into baggage claim by 7:30 a.m.

Memorial Day weekend travel is in full swing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Security lines for the main checkpoint stretched through the domestic terminal atrium and began extending into baggage claim by 7:30 a.m. Friday, May 24, 2019. (Photo: Kelly Yamanouchi/AJC)

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Memorial Day weekend travel is in full swing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Security lines for the main checkpoint stretched through the domestic terminal atrium and began extending into baggage claim by 7:30 a.m. Friday, May 24, 2019. (Photo: Kelly Yamanouchi/AJC)

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Waits were as long as 30-45 minutes at the South security checkpoint early Friday morning, according to the airport’s wait time estimates. Friday’s peak departure periods at Hartsfield-Jackson are early morning and early afternoon.

Memorial Day weekend travel is in full swing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday, May 24, 2019. The TSA advises travelers to get to the terminal at least 2 hours and 15 minutes before a domestic flight departure. (Photo: Kelly Yamanouchi/AJC)

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Long lines make it clear that Memorial Day weekend travel is in full swing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning, May 24, 2019 (Photo: Kelly Yamanouchi/AJC)

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Delta baggage check lines extended along the outer wall of the terminal.

Long lines make it clear that Memorial Day weekend travel is in full swing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning, May 24, 2019 (Photo: Kelly Yamanouchi/AJC)

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An estimated 93,000 travelers are expected to pass through security checkpoints at the world’s busiest airport Friday.

Monday will also be crowded, with roughly 87,000 passengers expected at security checkpoints. Over the full Memorial Day travel period from Thursday to Tuesday, nearly 2 million passengers are expected to pass through the Atlanta airport.

Memorial Day weekend travel is in full swing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Security lines for the main checkpoint stretched through the domestic terminal atrium and began extending into baggage claim by 7:30 a.m. Friday, May 24, 2019. (Photo: Kelly Yamanouchi/AJC)

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The Transportation Security Administration is advising travelers to get to the terminal at least 2 hours and 15 minutes before a domestic flight departure.

Memorial Day weekend travel is in full swing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday, May 24, 2019. The TSA advises travelers to get to the terminal at least 2 hours and 15 minutes before a domestic flight departure. (Photo: Kelly Yamanouchi/AJC)

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Traffic on highways and roads may also be congested on the way to the airport.

TSA said travelers should get to the terminal 2 hours before their airline closes the airplane doors -- which is sometimes 15 minutes before the actual departure -- to allow enough time to get through the airport, clear security and get to the gate for boarding.

Airline and airport officials recommend getting to the terminal three hours before an international flight.

The Transportation Security Administration said it expects this summer to be its busiest on record nationally, with 263 million passengers expected at security checkpoints at the nation’s airports from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

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