Holiday Travel Tips - Surviving The Holiday Airport

Thanksgiving is upon us and statistically it is the busiest travel time of the year. So many people clamoring to make it home to family and back again on Sunday. The day before Thanksgiving is a busy day indeed for airlines, and with the holiday travel season here, we wanted to provide some invaluable tips for making airline travel less stressful.

If you’ve got a flight this week and specifically Wednesday, you’re joining a bit less than 3.6 million people taking to the skies. A bit more than 3.6 million will fly Sunday. All told, airlines expect to fly more people this Thanksgiving season than they did during the same period last year. But if that number scares you, be happy you're not driving. Approximately 42 million people will be driving.

To make matters worse winter storms often cause delays, canceled flights and bad tempers.

According to travel experts, the best day to travel for Thanksgiving is actually the day of. If you can’t get a jump start on your vacation, consider leaving the morning of Thanksgiving, when most have already reached their final destination and most airlines offer reduced fare options.

All airlines suggest customers arrive hours before their scheduled boarding time during regular travel periods in order to allow an adequate amount of time to get through security. While the normal time frame, a minimum of two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights, will usually ensure you don’t miss your flight, it is recommended adding extra time to allow for the expanded number of passengers traveling around the Thanksgiving holiday.

Not only will carrying on your luggage save you time at the airport, it will also ensure that you have the essentials handy in the case of an emergency. During the holiday season (especially during a winter storm watch) it isn’t uncommon for flights to be canceled or heavily delayed. Having your basics such as a change of clothes, medications and toiletries handy (remember: only liquids and gels in 3.4-ounce containers or smaller allowed), will make airport delays all the more bearable.

Speaking of weather-related delays, checking and double-checking your airline reservations will only ensure a more stress-free holiday travel experience. Checking in online 24 hours before your flight, and reconfirming your seat reservation, is a smart plan of actions if you’re planning to get out of town for Thanksgiving Day.

Not only will preparing for the security screening process, such as remembering to place liquids in plastic baggies, taking off your shoes and jackets, and placing metal and other objects in bins help, but utilizing the TSA’s pre screening process can also add less time to your travel time. Passengers 12 years of age and under and 75 and older, known travelers or active duty service members are allowed to apply for the TSA Pre check process to potentially avoid the pat-down process.

All of us hope you have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. 

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your business and leisure travel needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc.
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
602-843-5100
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