Reduce stress of holiday travel
BY D.R. STEWART World Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
11/21/12 at 3:05 AM
Frequent travelers know the routine, but holiday travelers should remember a handful of travel tips that can cut wait times and reduce stress during hectic periods at the nation's airports, officials say.
Although the Thanksgiving holiday travel period began Friday, the busiest travel days are expected to be Wednesday and Sunday, when more than 90 percent of the airline seats are expected to be full, industry officials said.
Especially at the holidays, travelers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before their flight's scheduled departure.
Before leaving for the airport:
- Pack liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.2 ounces in checked luggage.
Liquids and gels in containers 3.2 ounces and smaller may be packed in carry-on bags if:
- All containers fit into one quart-sized or smaller zip-lock bag, and
- Passengers carry only one zip-lock bag.
- Passengers should remember they may carry one bag on board that fits in the overhead bin or under the seat, plus one personal item. Personal items include purses, briefcases or laptops. A list of permitted and prohibited items is available at the Transportation Security Administration's website at www.tsa.gov.
- Travelers should pack valuables, such as cameras, jewelry, documents, prescription medicine and car keys in carry-on luggage and keep it with them at all times.
- Label suitcases on the exterior and interior with the passenger's name and cell phone number.
- The TSA recommends that passengers do not travel with wrapped packages. To determine if the contents of a package are a threat, a security officer may need to unwrap and inspect the item.
At the airport, passengers can minimize wait times by:
- Using self-service check-in machines at airline ticket counters. The machines allow passengers to print boarding passes, check luggage, select or change seats and purchase upgrades.
- Having a government-issued photo ID or passport and boarding pass readily available and by wearing slip-on shoes at security checkpoints. All shoes and jackets must be removed and screened. All laptops, portable DVD players or large electronic items must be removed from their cases and placed into their own bin. Passengers are advised to place keys, cell phones, pagers and loose change in their carry-on bags before entering the security checkpoint line.
Original Print Headline: Reduce stress when flying during hectic holidays
D.R. Stewart 918-581-8451
don.stewart@tulsaworld.com
