Thanksgiving travel tips for Idahoans
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Jennifer Auh reports on Thanksgiving travel. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com
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The Eve of Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year. While air travel may be down nationally just a bit from last year, the Boise Airport was still packed on Wednesday.
Experts said they expect more families to travel, and in turn spend more money this year.
In Boise, there’s a lot of holiday cheer going on, despite the sluggish economy and the high airfare. "We're flying to Denver, to see some dear friends of ours,” said one passenger.
Here are some travel tips:
- Confirm all travel reservations (flight, hotel, rental car, etc.) 24 to 48 hours in advance.
- Request special assistance if needed. If you require special assistance, such as a wheelchair, notify your airline in advance.
- Airlines suggest travelers arrive at least 2 hours early when traveling during the holiday season.
- Watch the weather both at your origin and destination. If bad weather is predicted, you may be able to make travel adjustments in advance.
- Check the Airport Website before leaving home and allow time to go to a “back-up” plan if your first choice for parking is filled.
The Boise Airport has a new parking option, the Economy Lot. "People have that opportunity to park at the economy parking lot over at Victory, use the shuttle and come straight to the curb," said Patti Miller, Boise Airport Spokeswoman.
A rising trend among travelers is an increased reliance on technology, such as smart phones to check on flights. There are even apps for that, like ‘FlightAware,’ which lets you closely monitor your flight status.
Airlines also suggest passengers to sign up for text notices, where people can receive updates on any flight delays or cancellations.
Here are some additional links with useful information. To learn more and be prepared for airport security go to the TSA website: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information
For current driving conditions on Idaho highways, call 5-1-1 or visit: http://itd.idaho.gov/NewsAndInfo/
As of now, the Boise Airport reports no major issues so far, and airport leaders told us there are no weather delays around our area.
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