Holiday Travel Tips

Already this week bad weather and technical problems have delayed flights in cities throughout the country, according to CNN, and chances are it will only get worse.

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The multitude of cancelled and delayed flights throughout 2007 will not slow airplane travel, however. On the contrary, the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) says that air travel will be up 4 percent during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday season. That’s 27 million people moving through America’s airports between Friday, Nov. 16 and Tuesday, Nov. 27.

“In the event of system delays, we know that customers expect and deserve timely and accurate information—and ATA member airlines have all redoubled their efforts to deliver that information,” said ATA CEO James C. May in a press release. He cited a number of new and enhanced services such as more travel information via websites. May urges travelers to “plan ahead and arrive at the airport plenty early.”

Much frustration can come from delays at security checkpoints. Here are a few things you can do to help speed the security process:

• Organize your carry-on bag in easily identifiable layers—a layer of clothes, then electronics, more clothes, and then a layer of other items like toiletries.
• Wear easy-to-remove shoes.
• Carry current government-issued photo ID.
• Have your boarding pass and ID ready for inspection when you get to the checkpoint.
• Place all metallic objects in carry-on baggage before arriving at a security checkpoint.
• Place in a X-ray bin shoes, suit jacket, coat and bulky sweaters.
• Place any oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in a separate bin. iPods and other smaller electronics can stay in your carry-on bag.
• Follow the “3-1-1 rule” for liquids. This means that all carry-on liquids must be in a three-ounce or smaller bottle, and be placed in a one-quart clear zip-top bag. Only one bag is allowed person and you must put your one quart baggie in the bin to be x-rayed, or put all liquids in your checked bag.
• Remember that gift items can fall under the 3-1-1 rules or be or be on the prohibited items list.

Visit the Transportation Security Administration for more guidelines.