San Francisco airport expects big Thanksgiving travel rush

The big picture: Thanksgiving travel is expected to break records this year, with nearly 80 million Americans heading 50 miles or more from home to eat dinner for the upcoming holiday, according to AAA projections.

By the numbers: The busiest day of the Thanksgiving travel period at SFO is expected to be this Sunday, Nov. 24, with about 164,000 travelers.

• SFO expects to see 6.3 million travelers between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.
• That's a 15% estimated jump from last year.

Zoom in: Airport officials are advising passengers to arrive between two and three hours early and take public transit or rideshares to avoid congested parking garages.

• Keep in mind that the busiest times at the airport fall between 6am and 12pm.
• Pro tip: If you need long-term parking, make sure to book early since garage space is expected to be at or near capacity.

The latest: As of earlier this week, remote luggage check-in is now available from the long-term parking garage and rental car center.

• The free service allows passengers traveling domestically on select airlines to check in their bags and receive boarding passes outside the airport. They can then proceed directly to the TSA checkpoint once they get inside.

Between the lines: TSA guidelines require foods such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves to be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces.

The vibe: SFO will offer live music during the holiday season featuring local artists.