The day before Thanksgiving was mostly smooth all morning long at Miami International Airport as travelers got into and out of town ahead of the holiday.
Lines at some security checkpoints were long Wednesday, though at one for the American Airlines terminal there was an average of about a 20-minute wait.
"I've been through Miami before so I kinda knew what to expect," out-of-town traveler Pam Bower said. "Busy and slow."
VIDEO: Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Planner
Some passengers said they were expecting a nightmare at MIA Wednesday but were pleasantly surprised, considering it's the busiest travel time of the year.
"So far, so good. It's not been too bad," Bower said. "We got checked in real quick out front and I'm hoping this'll go a little quicker."
The American Automobile Association estimates that 43 million people will be traveling during the holiday. MIA is expecting 888,000 people to pass through its airport.
"It's Thanksgiving weekend so we figured it would be a mess," traveler Alexandra Forlenza said. "It was really organized."
South Florida Airports Brace for Holiday Travelers
"It's busy but normal. It's not too bad," Dan McKerracher said. "It's busy though."
The biggest tip for air travelers to get where they're going hassle-free: arrive at least two hours before your domestic flight's scheduled departure and at least three hours if you're flying internationally.
Jessica Victores and her friend told NBC 6 South Florida they were flying to South America for a camping trip this Thanksgiving.
"I decided to give up Thanksgiving for a year, save some turkeys," she said.
