Holiday air travel gets ready to take off
Airlines predict the busiest Thanksgiving air travel period ever starting today and urge passengers to follow new security procedures to minimize airport lines.
Airports, airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are taking extra steps to remind passengers that they can carry limited quantities of liquids, gels and aerosols on flights. The policy, announced in September, has confused many travelers and lengthened lines at airports across the USA.
Lines could get worse on the travel period that runs through Nov. 28, when 25 million U.S. passengers are expected to fly, up 3% from last year.
Major airports with the worst security lines during last years 12 day Thanksgiving travel period were Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Orange County, Calif., Atlanta, Orlando and San Diego, according to a USA TODAY analysis of TSA data. Each year, the 12 day period runs from the Friday before Thanksgiving to the Tuesday following the holiday.
The real key here at Thanksgiving is all the first time travelers,said Gregory Principato, president of the Airports Council International trade association. We have a large number of people who get to the (security) checkpoint unaware of new security rules.
Airports are running radio ads, posting billboards and deploying workers in terminals to notify travelers of the security rules that took effect after British authorities foiled a plot in London in August to bomb U.S. bound airplanes using liquid explosives.
Passengers must pack all carry on liquids, gels and aerosols in a single quart size plastic bag. Containers holding liquids can be no larger than 3 ounces. Larger quantities of liquids may still be packed in checked luggage.
Pactiv, the company that owns the Hefty bag brand, plans to give away more than1 million 1 quart bags to more than 20 airports. The bags meet TSA requirements.
This is not complicated, TSA chief Kip Hawley said.
Hawley acknowledged that the new policy has confused some screeners, who have incorrectly told travelers what they can and can not bring on airplanes. The TSA is giving screeners additional training to clarify the rules.
The TSA has added temporary screeners at Las Vegas, Miami and Kennedy airports, as well as 30 other airports where busy travel is expected.
James May, CEO of the Air Transport Association, which represents major U.S. airlines, said airlines are adding employees at check in counters.
Courtesy of grouptravelblog
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