flying during holidays?

[mkymouse4ever]

Anyone ever fly before a major holiday? Tell me it won't be as bad as I think it is. We will fly Wednesday before thanksgiving Out of O'hare (chicago). Afternoon flight.

Help, I need some encouragement. mky

 

[Hannathy]

Sorry but that day will be an absolute madhouse!!, and an afternoon flight so anyone who can sneak out of work early will be there. Go early and if you are flying back the Sunday after Thanksgiving that is even worse.

 

[bavaria]

this year I flew (for work) on Dec 23, 27, and 31st.

The biggest issue was the volume of infrequent travellers (I think that I was the only business traveller on those days!) who had no clue how to manage airline travel, and were unaware of security regulations.

At IAD I had a family with giant bottles of Mountain Dew in their carryons in front of me in the security line, who couldn't fathom why they were not allowed.

Give yourself extra time to deal with the masses who are not as familiar with the travel process. Check out the www.tsa.gov for the latest updates and be familiar with the restrictions before you fly.

 

[bavaria]

oh, and that Dec 31st flight? It was from Denver, after one of the blizzards.... again, not a nice scene.

 

[Jestocost]

We will fly Wednesday before thanksgiving Out of O'hare (chicago).

On a good day O'Hare is a madhouse. The day before Thanksgiving? Bring your patience and allow for extra delays at every step of the way.

 

[bavaria]

I disagree that O'Hare is a madhouse on a good day - I fly out of there, or connect there, about twice a month.

If you check in online and pack as per the regulations, O'Hare can actually be quite a pleasant experience.

When weather delays hit, it's the passengers who start behaving badly who make it a madhouse

 

[Starr W.]

this year I flew (for work) on Dec 23, 27, and 31st.

The biggest issue was the volume of infrequent travellers (I think that I was the only business traveller on those days!) who had no clue how to manage airline travel, and were unaware of security regulations.

At IAD I had a family with giant bottles of Mountain Dew in their carryons in front of me in the security line, who couldn't fathom why they were not allowed.

Give yourself extra time to deal with the masses who are not as familiar with the travel process. Check out the www.tsa.gov for the latest updates and be familiar with the restrictions before you fly.

Very good advice, as it is the infrequent flyers that tend to back up everything. Sunday morning before Thanksgiving, 2 with full size bottles of shampoo & stuff in gallon bags(thought it just needed to be in a ziploc), luckily TSA at Detroit Metro put a couple of people out front of the screening line to check everyone's ziploc's(even had a supply of qtr ziplocs with them). So it didn't slow down the line very much.

NWA was really cracking down on overweight checked bags, guy in front of us at the luggage check in the parking garage had to pay almost $200 for 2 bags.

Plan on extra time and make sure you are at the airport in plenty of time before your flight.