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TSA expecting record number of Spring Break travelers at Charlotte Douglas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Spring Break is right around the corner, and that means airports will be packed with millions of extra fliers.

Channel 9 anchor John Paul John visited Charlotte Douglas International Airport Friday morning and got a look at the items TSA agents say will slow down security checkpoints.

Officials showed Channel 9 knives, swords, a table leg and even a bottle of Wild Turkey, all items that were brought through checkpoints at the airport before TSA agents stopped them.

Airport officials know that this year will be busier than last year's Spring Break. Channel 9 has already seen the crowds growing over the last few weeks at Charlotte Douglas.

Agents are expecting a record number of passengers to travel through the air this year, and they don't want a repeat of the long lines that frustrated passengers last year. TSA explained to Channel 9 there efforts after getting pressure from Congress.

Mark Albert is a travel expert with voyagereport.com. He said Congress put pressure on the TSA after seeing the long lines in Charlotte.

“(The) TSA is under incredible pressure to get it right this year. Last year they came in for a lot of criticism, long lines in Charlotte and nationwide. They were criticized by lawmakers including Sen. Thom Tillis in NC, who said the attitude of the screeners on the ground has to change.”

“There was certainly some pressure,” said Mike England with TSA. “People weren't happy with the lines. I think the bottom line is we've taken steps since then to mitigate those issues and make sure they don't happen again.”

Every one of the items listed above have the potential of not only slowing down a checkpoint, but in some cases, shutting down a checkpoint, which will add more than 20 minutes to traveler’s wait, in turn creating longer lines.

Channel 9 has reported that the TSA has a new pat-down procedure that they say is a lot more intimate with travelers. Anyone can be chosen for the random pat-down and it could slow the process through security checkpoints.

The new procedures were put into place after agents missed weapons in security tests.

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