By the numbers: Thanksgiving holiday travel on Delta

Delta expects to welcome 6.5 million customers this Thanksgiving holiday travel period, up 5% from one year ago. Here's a rundown of pro tips, fast facts and nice-to-knows about how Delta people will connect you with the people and places you love during your Thanksgiving holiday:

• Four key tips to keep in mind:
  • Stay updated: Use the Fly Delta app to manage your travel and check in 24 hours before your flight. Save time at the airport, keep an eye on flight notifications, get your digital boarding pass and more.
  • Pack thoughtfully: Remember to take anything you might need on board, like medication and travel documents, and keep it in your personal item or carry-on. Lithium batteries are prohibited in checked baggage.
  • Arrive early: Give yourself plenty of time - three hours prior to departure time is generally recommended - to ease through the airport including security checkpoints and get to your gate.
  • Stay connected: Fast, free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles is on more and more aircraft flying across the U.S. this Thanksgiving. Signing up for SkyMiles is also free - take advantage and quickly sign up before your trip here: Join SkyMiles®

• 540,000 daily customers on average that Delta expects to fly to and from their Thanksgiving destination between Nov. 22 and Dec. 3.

• 5,000 peak-day Delta and Delta Connections departures that 100,000 Delta people are focused on safely and reliably operating - working in airports, on aircraft and behind the scenes.

• Seven airports (ATL, DTW, DCA, JFK, LAX, LGA, SLC) where Delta customers can use Digital ID to breeze through TSA's Touchless PreCheck lanes at security checkpoints.

• 1.5 minutes saved on average for Digital ID customers who take advantage of the Digital ID option to check a bag.

• 28 in-house meteorologists advising Delta's operations teams to stay ahead of mother nature and help keep the airline moving safely and reliably.