How to avoid airport security delays during the holidays

With thebusy travel season ahead, officials are asking travellers to plan ahead to avoid delays at airport security.

Dec. 20 will be the busiest travel day of the yearat Edmonton International Airport, which isexpecting 25,000 people to be flying that day and 50,000 othersdropping off orpicking up passengers,20-per-cent more than theusual volume.

"Give yourself plenty of time," saidChristine Langlois, spokesperson forCanadian Air Transport Security Authority.

"We all make better decisions when we have time in front of us and it's going to be much more relaxing. Frankly the worst that can happenis that you start your vacation a bit early," Langlois said.

There's anapp for that

The best way to prepareis to download the CATSA appavailable on both Android and Iphones, she said.

The app gives travellers a list of items they're permitted to take through security. It also allows the user to look up an item and check the airport regulations around it.

Liquids, aerosols and gels are typically limited to containers of 100millilitresor less for carry-on,Langlois said.

People also often have questions around cannabis, which is limited to30 grams, butprohibited when crossinginternational borders.

What happens when you have to forfeit something?

Travellers who have to forfeit items can choose to either check it or mail it to themselves, which is why it's important to budgetextra time for security before flights, Langlois said.

"People will choose to surrender [items] very often because they don't have enough time."

Often gifts leftbehindinclude bottles of alcohol, maple syrup and bath salts when exceeding the allowable amount. Also snow globes and tools,Langlois said.

"The number of snowballs in Edmonton,that's not something I've seen in other airports thisyear actually," she said.

Langlois' final tip is toavoid wrapping presents at home, because if security officials can't tell what an item is, they'll unwrap it.

"We might have to open your gifts and as much as we like unwrapping gifts, we much prefer not to unwrap yours."

So far, the Edmonton airport lost-and-found has collected6,970 items thisyear, enough to fill six large tubs eachday,according to spokesperson Chris Chodan.