Brace for crowds, travelers: This weekend is poised to set yet another record for travel in the U.S. as millions of travelers head out for their Fourth of July trips.

Airports and planes will be filled to the brim as the calendar turns to July and summer travel demand finds a new gear. More Americans are traveling than ever before, smashing previous daily passenger records and it's expected to happen again on Friday, when the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects more than 3 million passengers move through U.S. airports for the first time ever.

What will sharing the skies with 3 million or more fellow travelers mean for you? Airlines and airports alike swear they're ready to handle the record-setting crowds, but it still pays to be prepared.

Here's what to expect and how you can get ahead.

Prepare for Crowds, Arrive Early We've said it before but we have to say it again: This will be the busiest stretch of travel yet.

AAA predicts nearly 71 million Americans will travel over the coming week or so for the Fourth of July a substantial increase from last year and even over 2019 before the pandemic.

At airports, the TSA is expecting to handle 32 million travelers from Thursday through July 8 up 5% from a year ago. But travel records are nothing new at this point.

The TSA's data shows that five of the top 10 busiest days in travel history have been recorded in June 2024 and nine of all 10 have come within the last year.

“We expect this summer to be our busiest ever and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. We are ready, along with our airline and airport partners, to handle this boost in passenger volumes.

Whether you're heading to the airport Friday or not until next week, give yourself plenty of time. It's better to have more time at your gate – or to relax in an airport lounge– than risk missing your flight and ruining your trip.

Read next: Get Into an Airport Lounge Faster with These Tips!

Airport security checkpoints inevitably get backed up during busy travel periods – and having TSA PreCheck or CLEAR isn't always a guarantee for a speedy trip through security. To be safe, add at least 30 to 45 minutes to your typical airport routine.

Is TSA PreCheck not showing up on your boarding pass? Here's what you can do

Travel with Only a Carry-on Bag Save yourself even more time at the airport by packing in just a carry-on bag. Queues to check or drop off luggage have been a major pain point lately, and Fourth of July weekend will be no exception.

Especially during peak travel seasons like summer, opting not to check a bag means you won't have to wait in line to drop it off, wait for it at baggage claim, or worry about the airline losing your luggage. Plus, by packing in just a carry-on bag, you can easily check in for your flight online. Then, just pull up your boarding pass on your smartphone and head straight for the security line.

Not convinced you can fit it all in one suitcase? Follow our tips forhow to pack a carry-on bag for any trip.

Watch Your Airline & Track Your Flight Fortunately, the recurring airline meltdowns we suffered a few summers ago seem to be a thing of the past but you never know.

Schedule changes and bad weather can strike without warning. When you're traveling over busy periods like the Fourth of July, it pays to be vigilant.

We're more than ready, Delta CEO Ed Bastian promised in an interview with CBS, saying the almost equally busy Memorial Day travel weekend proved the airline industry is up to the task this weekend.. COVID was pretty bumpy, getting the airlines back up but our team is back, they're stronger than ever.

That's why you should start keeping tabs on whether there have been any changes to your reservation ASAP. Downloading your airline's app to monitor your flights is a must, but one tool is even better to track your flights: Flighty Pro. You'll get instant push alerts about any schedule changes, delays, or cancellations to any flights in your queue.

Read our full review to see why the Flighty Pro app isour favorite travel tool right now!

It also pays to monitorFlightAware.com‘s daily dashboard of delays and cancellations to scope out your airline in the days leading up to your departure for potential warning signs. If you're flying on Monday and FlightAware shows your airline is struggling on Saturday and Sunday, there's a good chance those disruptions are going to continue.

If the worst happens and your flight is delayed or canceled, don't just stand in a long line to speak with a gate agent or employees at check-in. Call up your airline while you wait andslide into their DMs on social media, too. If you've got airport lounge access, it's also worth heading to theDelta Sky Club, American Admirals Club, or United Club to see if a lounge agent can help you.

Remember: If an airline cancels (or significantly delays) your flight, you can cancel your reservation and get a full refund– not just a voucher or credit that expires in a year, but your money back. You can use that money torebook a last-minute flightto get where you need to go or pocket it for a future trip.

Plan Ahead for Summer Travel Even if you're not planning to travel until later this summer, there are still things you can do now to make sure your trip goes smoothly.

Book your flight for as early in the day as you can. Data shows the earlier your flight departs, the better odds you have of getting on and off the ground on time. That's because airlines' (or airports') problems can stack up throughout the day, resulting in disruptions in later flights. Monitor your flight and rebook if the price drops.We're seeing flight prices, especially domestically, drop as summer closes in. Now's the time to set a Google Flights price alert for your flights (if you haven't already) so you can rebook and save. Sign up for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR. TSA PreCheck and CLEAR are two programs that make the process of getting through airport security faster and far less stressful. And they can be invaluable during busy travel periods like the summer months. See all our tips to travel like a pro this summer!

Bottom Line Heading to the airport soon? You won't be alone not even close.

The Fourth of July travel weekend is underway, and it's expected to continue smashing records as summer travel demand just keeps surging. That's a recipe for some longer lines, full planes, and more issues at airports all around the country.