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The turmoil caused by the longest government shutdown on record may still be fresh in travelers’ minds this Thanksgiving, but experts say the usual holiday preparations of winter weather, heavy traffic and crowded airports could help ease those jitters.
Airport and airline operations expert Sheldon H. Jacobson said, “I think closures at this time are history for air travel. Airlines understand this time of year very well. They know exactly what they need to do.” “The real challenge is to ensure that passengers can help themselves.”
Here’s a guide to touring during the busiest travel week of the year:
How busy can it get?
Travel forecasts point to packed airports and roads.
A week after the unprecedented flight restrictions imposed on commercial airlines during the shutdown were lifted Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving week in 15 years, with more than 360,000 flights scheduled between Monday and next Tuesday. That’s more than 17.8 million people who will be tested Transportation Security Administration,
aaa Projects will put 1.3 million more passengers on the roads than last year, bringing the total number of people traveling by car to at least 73 million.
Winter weather
You can’t control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are when a winter storm hits. If your flight is canceled or delayed, will you drive or postpone or cancel your trip? Knowing your options ahead of time can reduce stress if a storm leaves you stranded.
James Belanger, vice president of meteorology at The Weather Company, recommends checking the forecast frequently when planning your trip.
The Weather Channel offers a Thanksgiving weekly forecast that highlights major airports and highways that may be affected by inclement weather – including snow, ice and rain – as well as a free online tool that shows how the weather could affect your travel route.
On Tuesday, the FAA’s busiest day yet, with more than 52,000 flights scheduled, forecasters say rain could cause problems across much of the Pacific Northwest and eastern US. airports According to the Weather Channel, impacts could occur in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, DC.
What to Pack (and What to Leave)
Jacobson, whose research contributed to the design of TSA PreCheck, recommends starting your packing by unpacking.
Check each pocket to see if any TSA-restricted items, such as full-sized bottles, were left on a previous trip. This simple scan can help you get through security faster, especially when airports are crowded.
If you’re traveling with gifts, Jacobson suggests wrapping them at your destination because TSA agents may need to open them.
When deciding what clothes and shoes to pack, Belanger says to check the “feels like” temperature to get a better sense of the weather, especially if you’re not used to the cold.
And don’t forget that flying within the US requires a REAL ID, or you’ll need to bring another accepted form of ID, like a passport or military ID.
People Those with iPhones can now also add their US passport details to Apple Wallet, which can be scanned at participating airports if travelers do not have a REAL ID. More than a dozen states already accept mobile ID in some form at airport checkpoints, and travelers can visit the TSA website for more information.
road trip ready
Whether driving is your top choice or a backup plan, AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz suggests checking your tires, car battery and fluids, then hitting the road with a full tank of gas as quickly as possible to avoid traffic. Last year, AAA said, it responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls during the Thanksgiving travel period to help drivers stranded due to dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks.
According to an analysis by Google Maps:
-Traffic is expected to be 14% more than normal between 10 am and 4 pm on Wednesday, with peak traffic between 1 pm and 3 pm.
– On Thanksgiving Day, roads will be busiest between noon and 3 p.m.
—When it’s time to go home, avoid driving between 12 noon and 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday, when traffic is heaviest.
best traveler
“…be an informed traveler,” Jacobson likes to say.
Download your airline’s app to track your flight status and check it regularly as your travel date approaches. This way, if your flight gets canceled a day before, you can look for alternatives immediately.
When driving or flying, leave earlier than you think. Knowing you won’t have to rush to your destination can help calm any jitters, whether it’s anxiety built up due to a shutdown or you’re traveling with small children or someone who needs extra assistance.
“These are some very simple things to think about, but they are important things to think about,” Jacobson said.