Cleveland Hopkins braces for busy holiday travel stretch

By the numbers: Hopkins officials expect more than 550,000 passengers during the travel period that began Thursday.

• That's up 4% from last year.

Zoom in: Hopkins recommends travelers arrive at least two hours before their flight's departure time.

• The busiest day is expected to be Dec. 28, with Dec. 26 and 27 not far behind. Peak times are from 5-7 am, 11 am-1 pm and 4-6pm.

Travel tips: Remember the 3-1-1 liquids rule is still in effect, which applies to items like jam, sauces, wine and snow globes.

• Hopkins recommends not traveling with wrapped gifts. If they trigger an alarm, security will unwrap them.
• And don't forget the airport's new Hangout Pass, which allows approved non-ticketed guests to accompany loved ones to the secure side of the airport from 7am-10pm.

One more thing: Get a valid ID sooner, rather than later.

• Starting Feb. 1, 2026, TSA will start fining $45 if you don't have a REAL ID, but travelers can still use a passport or another acceptable form of ID to fly domestically.