A Tight Holiday Flight!

[3113]

The holidays are gearing up, and if you're flying, you'd better get to the airport 2 hours early.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The first stuffing that millions of Americans will encounter over the U.S. Thanksgiving Day weekend will likely be on an airplane.

While there won't be any more food on flights, there will be many more people -- and their luggage -- crammed on planes.

Planes will be flying fuller than ever during this holiday weekend, likely leading to long lines at security and plenty of lost bags.

"We have projected that this will be a record," said David Castelveter, a spokesman for the Airline Transport Association (ATA).

ATA expects a record 25 million people will board U.S. airline flights during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, 3 percent more than last year.

It looks for flights on most days during the holiday weekend to be more than 80 percent full, and more than 90 percent full on the peak days of Sunday and Monday as Americans flock home. Robust travel demand last holiday season kick-started the industry's recent recovery, allowing airlines to raise fares and post profits after years of losses.

Carriers such as AMR Corp's American Airlines, UAL Corp.'s United Airlines and Continental Airlines have continued to raise prices, which are on average about 10 percent to 15 percent higher than a year ago, said Terry Trippler of travel club myvacationpassport.com.

But the higher fares have done little to deter travelers.

"The turnaround began a year ago, and it's continuing," said Trippler. "It all looks rosy for the airlines."

The crush of traffic -- plus security measures that ban liquids and gels of more than three ounces in carry-on bags -- will likely mean longer waits at the airport. Last year, the average wait to get through security was 20 minutes. This year, that is expected to jump to 45 minutes at some airports, said Amy Ziff, editor-at-large of travel Web site Travelocity.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration will have its screeners working more overtime, and some airports have added additional security lanes. Still, Ziff and other experts advise travelers to budget at least two hours to check in and get through security, because missing a flight may mean missing the holiday.

"There isn't a spare seat necessarily if you miss your flight to catch the next one," said Ziff. "You might miss your turkey feast."

I wonder if Xmas will be the same.

Anyone flying or already flown? Happy travels back if so. And I hope the holiday feast and family are worth it.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I won't be flying anywhere over the holidays.

However, I thought the current wisdome was to get to the airport three hours early?

 

[3113]

However, I thought the current wisdome was to get to the airport three hours early?

Given this situation, I certainly would. No seats available on the next flight if you miss yours? Yikes! You bet I'm going to be 3 hours ahead of schedule.

I've also heard tell (and correct me New Yorkers if I'm wrong here) that New York Airports flight time listings indicate the time that they're closing the doors. At my airport, for example, if the ticket says, "10:30 flight," then that mean they start boarding at 10:10 and keep boarding till about 10-15 minutes after 10:30. But apparently in New York, 10:30 means that they STOP boarding at 10:30. You're either on, or not, no leeway or wiggle room.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Never been to the airport.

 

[tanyachrs]

Three hours? I'm not sure life is as bad as all that. I do a lot of travel and too much of it is a headache but not because I miss my flight because I'm not at the airport early enough. One hour for domestic, two for international. If security has a meltdown and no one can get through, the planes wait. I know this from multiple, personal experience (unfortunately). It's much more likely you'll be waiting for the plane than that you'll miss it.

I'm afraid not many flights take off on time anymore so a huge number of connections are missed. Plan on it and it won't bother you so much.

Bring food. They don't feed you and sometimes the long hours of waiting are spent strapped into a seat on an airplane that isn't moving.

Bring water. You can buy it once you're through security or you can bring an empty water bottle and use the water fountain to fill it on the other side.

Take off your shoes and your wrist watch and your belt and your earrings. Hell, strip naked. It's not worth being wanded - double check yourself before you walk through. Plan ahead so you're not holding up the line while you do this.

Try to remember that everyone else is missing their connection too. There are always one or two people on a plane that's an hour late trying to push their way to the front with loud interjections about missing their flight. As though we aren't all missing our flight. Keep a sense of humor.

Have a cell phone. Tell the person picking you up to check the internet before leaving the house. Call when you miss your connection.

You'll get there. Eventually.

 

[tanyachrs]

At my airport, for example, if the ticket says, "10:30 flight," then that mean they start boarding at 10:10 and keep boarding till about 10-15 minutes after 10:30. But apparently in New York, 10:30 means that they STOP boarding at 10:30.

As far as I'm aware, 10:30 universally means the flight stopped boarding at about 10:20. If the flight is delayed for some reason that could obviously change, but they're aiming to have the plane taxi away at 10:30 and that means they've got everyone strapped in with the door shut by 10:25 at the latest.

If your airport grants you extra time it's either because they're chronically late or because it's small enough that it'll be a major inconvenience if they don't get you on the plane and you're essentially holding everyone else up.

 

[3113]

Take off your shoes and your wrist watch and your belt and your earrings. Hell, strip naked. It's not worth being wanded - double check yourself before you walk through.

If you're naked, won't they use the wand to search elsewhere?