WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTNH) – Travel this week is back up almost to where it was before the pandemic, and yet the TSA is still having trouble finding workers, especially now that the federal government has mandated that all TSA employees have to be fully vaccinated.

Like many people, you might be traveling within a day or two of getting your COVID booster shot, so you may not be feeling your best.

“We’re expecting 85,000 people to travel through a 10 day period,” said Alisa Sisic, Connecticut Airport Authority. “We have a lot of travelers who have not traveled in a long time, so we’re asking them to be prepared [and] so far that’s been working.”

There is extra stress this year. For one thing, you have to wear a mask in the airport, on the plane, the whole time unless you’re eating or drinking.

Helping the stress of travel at Tweed will be service dogs from the Yale Police Department and the Naugatuck Police Department, and puppies from Puppies Behind Bars. That’s a program that trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war vets and first responders, as well as explosive detection canines for law enforcement.

Avelo Airlines has teamed up with these agencies to bring some adorable comfort to travelers on Wednesday.

There were a lot of crowds at Bradley International Airport on Tuesday. Robert Franceskino is flying to a holiday dinner in Florida for the first time in two years.

“Two years at least,” he said.

At Bradley, the passengers tend to come in waves, but check-in was seamless. The airport says it’s a well-oiled machine waiting for the return to the pre-pandemic levels of travel.

AAA says Tuesday is the heaviest day for people catching flights while Wednesday afternoon and evening for Thanksgiving, the roads will see their peak.

“Traffic hasn’t been bad. I’m not looking forward to going back though,” said Gary Mitchell.

The White House is attempting to address the rocketing cost of gas, fueling some of the highest inflation we’re seen in decades. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday the release of the national strategic petroleum reserve. Still, Thanksgiving travelers will likely not see relief at the pump.

Some tips if you’re traveling for Thanksgiving are to leave early, arrive at the airport two hours before your flight, and if you’re driving on Wednesday, leave after 9 p.m.