The Long Trip Home

Holiday Travel Delays Expected Through Monday





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 (AP)



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(CBS) Americans took to the roads and the sky for the Fourth of July weekend, with tens of millions traveling over the long weekend.

For some, the weekend isn't quite over, no matter what the calendar may say, and according to Tom Parsons, CEO of bestfares.com, says long delays are expected at airports throughout the holiday weekend, straight into Monday. He suggests allocating more time for travel on those days.

"If you are flying into an airport, be sure to see what kind of lines are there because that may give you a good indication of what to expect on the return," he explains. "Monday afternoon and Tuesday onwards look like this will get back to normal."

If you know you are traveling out of a busy airport, you can do a few things to make your trip flow more smoothly.


Here are some tips on how you can avoid air travel snafus:

  • Make sure you have the proper documentation.
  • Don't bring a snack to eat on the way - this causes a delay at security.
  • Pack light to get through security.
  • Try to avoid having to go to the main ticket counter.
  • Use electronic ticket machine if possible

As far as being concerned about the possibility of a terrorist strike during the holiday, Parsons says to be on your toes, especially if you are visiting a tourist area, a national monument or cities like New York, Washington, D.C. or Orlando. And though the government has increased security after Sept. 11, he says there is still much work to be done.

"They still need to hire a lot more people and that seems to be what they are doing now. Everybody from the airlines and airport and security checkers, they want to streamline the process and move us through quickly and with the right amount of security," he says.

Here is what Parsons suggest you do to avoid a long security checkpoint delay:
  • Carry very little in your pocket.
  • Don't carry a laptop.
  • Don't put sensitive things in your carry-on luggage.
  • Have fewer carry-on items.

Some 32 million Americans choose a car for travel this Independence Day weekend holiday. "This is the largest number of people to travel for this holiday since 1995," says Robert Sinclair of the American Automobile Association. That is up 1.4 percent from last year.

If you are driving, here are a few things Sinclair says you can do to make your road trip easier and hassle free:
  • Check your battery - make sure terminals are cleaned off.
  • Check tires to make sure they are properly inflated and don't forget the spare.
  • Take car to a mechanic and have a load test performed.
  • If you are stuck in traffic, turn off as many electrical accessories as possible.
  • Check your belts and hoses. They can become dry and degrade and crack and leave you on the side of the road.
  • Buckle up! Wear the seat belt.
  • Carry a cell phone, but don't use it while driving.

And here are his suggestions to avoid heavy traffic on interstates:
  • Leave early/Return early.
  • Don't travel late at night.
  • Have a map and directions with you.

The government has implemented checkpoints over bridges and tunnels since the attacks of Sept. 11. So expect some delays.







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