Airport braces for the holiday surge

Alicia Robinson

Airport officials braced for holiday crowds exceeding last year’s

166,000 Thanksgiving travelers, but John Wayne Airport was pleasantly

slow Tuesday afternoon.

About 20 people waited outside to check bags, and another 20 stood

in a fast-moving line at a security checkpoint.

Doris Foulds of Fullerton found a minute to relax on a bench with

her boyfriend, Ralph Bravata Jr., while she waited for her flight to

Phoenix.

“It’s not bad at all,” Foulds said of the uncrowded airport. “I

don’t expect any problems.”

The peace is likely to evaporate today. On a typical day, about

25,000 travelers use John Wayne Airport. In 2003, officials reported

more than 33,000 travelers the day before Thanksgiving. “Thanksgiving

is the busiest travel weekend for John Wayne Airport, and it’s the

busiest travel weekend for all U.S. airports,” airport spokesman

Justin McCusker said. “Traffic at the airport has definitely picked

up since last Friday and should remain high through next week.”

John Wayne doubled its baggage-screening stations earlier this

year, adding two more at each end of the airport, and opened a

three-gate temporary terminal at the north end of the airport. Both

of those expansions helped decrease wait times during the busy summer

season.

“That was not only critical during our busiest period during the

year,” McCusker said. “That was also to keep in mind what we knew we

would have going into Thanksgiving and the December holidays with the

uptick in travel.”

Last year he advised travelers to arrive 2 1/2 hours before their

flights. With the added checkpoints this year, McCusker is suggesting

a 1 1/2 -hour lead time.

Travelers on Tuesday didn’t seem harried. Susan Holtz and her

husband, Bob, weren’t grouchy despite having to change from a morning

to an afternoon flight and return home to San Diego for their

passports. They didn’t realize they needed the passports to go to

Vancouver, British Columbia, Susan Holtz said.

She wasn’t apprehensive about traveling at such a busy time,

because she expected the long lines to start Wednesday, she said.

Some travelers, like Kerri McNamara of Lake Forest, would rather

use John Wayne Airport than Los Angeles International Airport. “I

prefer to fly out of here,” McNamara said. “It’s more convenient.”

To help holiday travel run smoothly for all passengers, airport

officials offered the following suggestions.

* Arrive at least 1 1/2 hours before departure time to allow time

for parking, check-in and security screening.

* Passengers are allowed to bring one carry-on bag and one

personal item such as a purse, briefcase or diaper bag through the

checkpoint. Other bags must be checked with the airline.

* Do not wrap gifts, because they may be searched for security

reasons.

* Check with your airline for the most current flight information,

and confirm reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (714) 966-4626.