Kathy Stewart, wtop.com
WASHINGTON — Seeing friends and family for Thanksgiving is always fun, but the return trip can be a real pain.
Sunday will be the busiest day for return travel, says Orbitz air traffic analyst Chris Hill. He says they are not expecting the weather to be much of a factor, so expect on-time schedules. But make sure to plan again.
“There could be delays, on-average, of 10 to 15 minutes because of the higher traffic volume,” he says.
Hill advises allowing extra time to make it through security.
“There are going to be really long lines for security and for airport check-in,” he says.
For domestic travel, arrive at the airport two hours before check in and three hours for international flights. And remember Transportation Security Administration rules have changed. Children under 12 years old no longer have to take off their shoes.
Another way to save time is checking in online and printing out boarding passes from home.
Perhaps the biggest thing to watch out for is inexperienced travelers, however.
“We’re seeing a lot of travelers that travel on this holiday that don’t normally travel much throughout the year, so they’re not up to speed on all the security rules,” he says.
Other tips include removing laptops before getting to security and remembering the 311 rule: liquids and gels must be in 3 ounce containers and in a 1 quart clear plastic bag. Only one bag is allowed per passenger.
For those who miss flights, call the airline right away but expect sold out flights all day Sunday.