Traveling over the holidays can be notoriously busy, so here are some time-saving tips:
- Save time by printing your boarding pass at home
- Roadways in front of the terminals get very busy due to the number of people picking up and dropping off travelers during the holidays, so consider saving yourself some hassle by parking in a short-term ramp when sending off or welcoming your loved ones
- Know your airline’s luggage weight and size restrictions
- Leave early. During peak travel times expect long lines during security check-in
- Remember the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for non-exempt liquids in carry-on bags: You can only pack 3-ounce bottles or less for all liquids, gels, and aerosols; they must be placed in a 1-quart-sized, clear, plastic zip-top bag; only one such bag is allowed per Be sure to take your quart-sized bag of liquids out of your carry-on bags to be screened individually
- Avoid peak travel During the holidays the peak travel dates change each year depending on which days the holidays fall. You can generally guess which dates will be the most expensive and busy for travel (consider which travel days would allow you to maximize long weekends without taking too many days off work as that is probably when everyone else will want to go)
- Know your Checking alternate airports is a good idea but at this time of the year it can really make a difference. At no time can the alternate airport pay off better than during the holiday rush. You can benefit on almost every front – parking, rental cars, traffic – all of which save time and money. Keep in mind that smaller airports see fewer flights and typically fewer delays which is a great time saver during the busy holiday travel season
- Travel early or late in the day. Generally airports are least congested early in the morning, making delays far less likely for morning flights and usually unclog as the afternoon and evening peaks pass
- Do not wrap gifts, especially if you intend to carry them on the Even in checked baggage there is a chance they will be unwrapped for inspection by security personnel. Consider gift bags instead of wrapping paper as you can easily remove the items from their bags if required and you won’t have to do a last-minute wrapping job at your destination
– Diane Kaiser, JETPUBS Inc.