Thanksgiving travel tips: Avoid checked bags, weather delays
It's one of the biggest travel weeks of the year in the US, with millions of passengers flying home to visit family for Thanksgiving (myself included). 聽Here are some of my favorite tips to make Thanksgiving travel a bit easier.
1. 聽Use TSA Pre-Check
If you don't already have it, it's too late for this year's Thanksgiving, but it's possible to receive clearance by Christmas. 聽TSA Pre-Check is that fast lane you see when you fly, the one where people's shoes stay on, their laptops stay in their bag, and they are through security in less than a minute. 聽TSA Pre-Check is also included in Global Entry, allowing you to skip the customs line when returning home. 聽It is also a free benefit of the聽. 聽With lines expected to be long this week at the airport, TSA Pre-Check can get you to the gate much faster.
2. 聽Allow Extra Time
With so many people flying this week, especially on Wednesday and Sunday, you've got to allow time to deal with the not-so-frequent flyers. 聽If you don't have Pre-Check, this means getting to the airport early, up to 3 hours early for some busier airports.
3. 聽Don't Check Your Bags
I will always suggest this, but this week especially, do not check your bags. 聽With the volume of bags increasing this week, the chance that your bag will be lost is greater. 聽At a minimum, it will take time away from your family waiting for your bags to come off the plane.
4. 聽Delay Mitigation
You can avoid delays by following weather closely in the days before your聽flight. 聽If there's a chance that your flight might be cancelled or delayed due to weather, consider changing your flight. 聽If you're already at the airport, and you're in a connecting city, be careful when delays or cancellations happen. 聽The hotels near the airport can fill up quickly with other stranded travelers!
What are some tips that you'll use this week to save time and stress at the airport?
