Master the Thanksgiving Traffic Rush: L(L) Shows You How
Master the Thanksgiving Traffic Rush: L(L) Shows You How
By Laura Donovan
Thanksgiving jetsetters and train passengers: Are you stoked to travel around the busiest travel day of the year? Yeah, we didn’t think so.
Here at the Levo (league), we have made dozens of long distance flights to see family members, lived all over the world, and encountered more travel travails than we’d like to admit, so we’ve mastered the art of dealing with airlines, vehicles, and trains during such a chaotic period of time.
We’re also all too aware that it doesn’t take much to slip into crankiness at an airport or train station. As a Thanksgiving traveler, you’ll feel the urge to sulk, glare at the guy to your left who has a staring problem, and scold the pair of screaming toddlers behind you in the security line— but remember to be your highest self and show you can have an amazing attitude at an otherwise annoying moment. Besides, you’re going somewhere cool, be excited about that! To minimize the stress of traveling on Thanksgiving and make the experience a fun and memorable one, we’ve compiled our suggestions for facing travel season with patience and a smiling face.
Join a Frequent Flier Program: ASAP
Some people are partial to StarAlliance, some to Delta, and so on and so forth. You can sign up for credit cards that have great bonus programs for your frequent flier program, and that ensure you get upgrades, extra legroom, and access to airport lounges (it may sound silly, but they make a world of difference when you’re flying). The point here is to pick one and try to fly it as often as possible so that you can start getting rewards, which can come in the form of cutting in line, upgrades, extra legroom, companion tickets, free booze, &c. We’ll tackle the airline game in depth another time, but you can literally (almost!) sign up at random and be ensured a better flying experience in the future. Without hinting too much, we’re partial to United and Alaska.
Arrive at the airport two hours before your flight
No matter how fashionably late you usually are when you travel, on Thanksgiving you need to get to the airport well before your plane’s scheduled take-off to have time to check luggage, coast through security, hop on the bus or rail to the terminal, and grab a bottle of water before boarding starts. With so many nightmarish delay-related possibilities in the atmosphere, you can’t go wrong with extra time to spare at the airport, especially if you’re traveling with friends or family members. Don’t let the crowds slow you down, either. San Francisco International Airport spokesperson Michael McCarron told the Examiner on Thursday that he expects to see more travelers at the airport this Thanksgiving (if he’s speaking on a national level, he’s wrong, but expectations color reality, so keep it in mind). Be prepared for the parade of anxious people and arrive at the airport early so you don’t have to worry about missing your flight. If you’d rather take the security line pat-down than use the full body scanners that caused such a stir last year, you’ll want to allow yourself more time at the airport for the extensive search procedure.
Tag your bag
If you’re checking bags at the airport or train station, clearly label each one with your full name, phone number, and address so there’ll be no confusion in the event that your bags are misrouted or lost. Several airlines have paper tags at their respective flight information desks, but if you want something a little more reliable, purchase sturdy tags elsewhere beforehand (side note: these are way more stylish). Even if you’re not checking luggage, you’ll want your name on the bags in case you accidentally leave them in the restroom or on a lounge chair.
Take advantage of in-flight Wi-Fi
Internet on the plane = best thing ever, especially for young professionals who could use the air time to get work done. Plus, g-chatting with friends thousands of miles in the sky is just cool. It’s a little steep at 15 bucks a trip, but hey, if we owned Gogo Inflight, we’d charge twice that. Before you head out for your flight, keep your fingers cross that you show up to an airport that provides free Internet access. San Francisco is a favorite because American Express sponsors free Wi-Fi for everyone.
Arrive at the train station a half hour before departure
If you travel by way of rail, you know that it’s unnecessary and even a little silly to get to the train station more than a half hour before its departure. Thanksgiving is the exception to that rule, as a high volume of people will be booking tickets for the holiday and cramming into train cars. Last year, Amtrak reportedly saw record passenger numbers— 700,000, to be exact. Considering few Amtrak stations actually have decent seating, that’s a lot of crowd control you’re going to need to do. Get to the train station 20-30 minutes early to locate your terminal, be one of the first folks in line, and have your pick for seats. If you’re carrying a large suitcase, you’ll want an area with lots of room for your belongings. Also, don’t carry a large suitcase. You probably don’t need it.
Pack a plastic bag in your carry-on
Before undergoing TSA inspection, place all your liquids into a Ziploc bag so you won’t have to worry about the procedure while you’re frantically trying to rip off your shoes and jacket in front of the scans. Many security areas provide large plastic bags for such materials, but your best bet is to take care of all that ahead of time. Remember to include deodorant, perfume, lotion, sunscreen, and lip gloss in the baggy so airport personnel don’t have to open up your luggage for further inspection.
Carry on your essentials— a cell phone charger, medications, and snacks
If you’re checking bags, be sure to keep all the important things with you on the plane. Medicine, fancy jewelry, and your cell phone charger should stay with you at all times. Mary Poppins wannabes like me may want to throw napkins, a spare change of underthings, a toothbrush, mini-toothpaste, and floss in their purses in the event of an emergency.
Bring a pair of socks
Some people love traveling in flip-flops, which are easy to remove at the security gate and shorten the unpleasant TSA checkpoint process. The downside of this practice is that once you remove your flip-flops, you’re barefoot. To avoid walking on the gross floor without protection, have an extra pair of socks on hand. Seriously. Do it both for yourself and those around you. Last year, the Sun Sentinel reported that Palm Beach International Airport management seriously considered changing the security checkpoint carpets due to bad odor, which was a result of so many barefoot walkers stepping through the area.
Try not to check bags
With work demands or a busy academic schedule, you’re probably not going to be spending too much time away from your home base for Thanksgiving. In that case, you may be able to fit all your travel necessities into a carry-on bag. With all the mayhem that is Thanksgiving travel, the last thing you need is a misplaced bag, so lower the likelihood of this happening by clinging to your bag. According to a 2007 New York Times report, one in every 138 checked bags went unaccounted for in the first nine months of the year. The odds of you owning that piece of luggage may seem unlikely, so if you really have to check your bag and are willing to wait for it at baggage claim, make sure it’s carefully labeled and doesn’t contain anything you cannot live without.
Drink Emergen-C before the trip and stay hydrated
Protect your immune system, down some Emergen-C, drink water, and use hand sanitizer so you’re in the best possible shape to fend off germs. A fellow passenger could pass on the illness to you, and the last thing you want is to catch a bug right before the holidays.
Be flexible and friendly
Earlier this year, I approached a TSA employee with my ticket in hand and a smile across my face. “You’re so happy, how do you do it?” he asked. Truthfully, a warm demeanor is the best thing to bring to an airport. With so much tension in the air, you may as well try to lighten the mood with a sunny aura and positive outlook on the circumstances. You’ll pleasantly surprise strangers, especially since everyone tends to be on edge during Thanksgiving weekend. Understand that you’ve entered a crazy environment, try to find humor in it, and be considerate of everyone in sight. Having missed tons of connecting flights, slept in airports, and gone days without a shower as a result of holiday travel madness, I know firsthand how awful the experience can be, but remain upbeat and everything will be easier to endure. Kindly get up from your seat if the person by the window needs to use the restroom or roam the hall to stretch his/her legs. You’re all in this together, so charm everyone with your sweet personality and million dollar smile.
Delays happen. Adjust your expectations accordingly
When it comes to weather, anything can happen around Thanksgiving. Snowflakes, high winds, or fog can delay flights, so accept the possibility of arriving at your destination late. With 23.2 million passengers said to take flight next week, the chances of a plane coming in behind schedule are high and likely. Have a book or your laptop on hand to keep you occupied in the event of this kind of problem.
Car travelers may think they’re getting off scot-free by opting to transport themselves during Thanksgiving, but traffic may be inevitable. Last year, USA Today reported that the worst Thanksgiving travel delays take place on highways. Wake up bright and early, fill up on gas before you hit the road, and groove to your favorite songs on the radio as you drive to your intended spot. Indianapolis roads were predicted to be most congested from noon to 8 p.m. last year, so leave your home long before midday to beat the rush.
Plan out your outfits before you travel
This is a great way to avoid over-packing, and you’ll also know what you have on hand for specific outings. For Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll want a nice, family-friendly outfit. If you plan on bar hopping with childhood buddies, one or two fun ensembles would be useful to pack. An expert on cross-country travel, our very own Amanda Pouchot creates excel spreadsheets for her outfits and packing lists, and you could benefit from following her lead!
Laura Donovan is a staff writer and editor for Levo.
