Thanksgiving travel tips for the New Orleans airport

Travelers at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport should plan for a "very busy Thanksgiving holiday travel surge" this week, officials say.

Why it matters: Arrive early and pack your patience.

Driving the news: TSA estimates it will screen 30 million passengers nationwide for Thanksgiving.

• "We expect this holiday season to be our busiest ever," TSA administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.
• The three busiest days are expected to be Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, TSA says.

Extra time: Arrive at least two hours early to allow for parking, checking bags and security screening, officials say.

Parking: The lots at MSY are notorious for filling up during peak times. Check availability before you go via the airport's real-time tracker.

• You can reserve a spot in advance or look at off-property lots like USPark and Park 'N Fly.

Packing tips: Food items like wine, cranberry sauce, gravy and jelly must go in a checked bag, TSA says.

• But pies, cakes, mac & cheese, meat, seafood and spices are fine in your carry-on for domestic flights. See more food rules.

Meanwhile, if you are driving, gas prices are down from last month.

• The average price for a gallon of gas in metro New Orleans is $2.86, according to GasBuddy.

• Louisiana is the third-cheapest state for gas. Mississippi and Texas are the cheapest.

The big picture: An estimated 55.4 million Americans are expected to hit the road this week, the third-busiest Thanksgiving since 2000, according to AAA.

• Nearly 89% of travelers nationally will be driving, and another 8.5% will be flying.

Of note: Cruises made a "remarkable comeback" this year, AAA says, noting that Thanksgiving cruises are mostly sold out, "with many travelers looking to spend the holiday at sea."

Go deeper:

• More New Orleans travel tips from TSA
• More Thanksgiving travel trends from AAA