Mother Nature (mostly) cooperates during travel rush

33 min. A. Pawlowski , NBC News contributor Airports are filling up, out-of-state license plates are everywhere and good luck finding an empty seat on any airplane.  Welcome to the Thanksgiving travel rush!  More than 43 million Americans will take a trip of 50 miles or more away from home between Wednesday and Sunday, AAA projected. Almost 24 million will fly, with planes expected to be close to 90 percent full on the busiest traveling days, which include Wednesday and the Monday after Thanksgiving, according to Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. carriers. Are you on the road or in an airport today? Tell us how your journey is going on our Facebook page. The weather is cooperating for most of the country, except the Pacific Northwest, where it has been stormy and rainy all week, and the Chicago area, where dense fog enveloped the city, forcing flight cancellations and delays at O'Hare and Midway airports. Expect lots of company at gates and concourses, too, especially at Chicago's O'Hare International and Los Angeles International, which will be the busiest U.S. airports this Thanksgiving week, Orbitz said. Another reason to take extra care if you're passing through them today? Both are also the country's most stressful airports, according to a recent survey of business travelers.  The TSA is fully staffed and ready for the annual spike in passengers, said TSA Administrator John Pistole. He encouraged travelers – especially those who rarely fly – to visit the agency's website so that they are aware of some of the new procedures put in place earlier this year, such as those allowing children and passengers 75 and older to leave their shoes on at security checkpoints. "Give yourself enough time. Expect delays because people love to travel for the holidays," Pistole said. If you're flying with food or gifts, the TSA also has some reminders to avoid unpleasant surprises at the security checkpoint. You can bring pies and cakes, but be aware they are subject to additional screening. Wrapped gifts are not prohibited, but officers can ask you to open a package to take a closer look at the contents so the TSA recommends passengers wrap gifts after their flight or ship them ahead of time. Thanksgiving is also the busiest travel period of the year for Amtrak, which has borrowed passenger rail cars from its Canadian counterpart to make 300 additional seats available on trains running in the Northeast Corridor. Stay safe and happy travels. Tags: Tips , thanksgiving , holiday-travel , airports , highways , aaa