Most of the 27 million expected to fly this holiday season fit into some kind of travel profile. The business person travels light with little or no baggage and whizzes through security. Traveling families have lots of snacks, baggage, and toys for the kids.
The infrequent traveler may be restless, thinking he's got all the new security requirements down pat, but never quite sure. That's the kind of traveler that Kristie Van Auken, marketing director of Akron Canton Airport, especially enjoys serving. And she says, they come out in droves during the holidays, adding maybe 20 percent to Akron-Canton's daily average of about 4,000 passengers.
Kristie Van Auken: This is a great time of year for us. It's very fun because it's usually that person who doesn't travel that often who comes out and gets to experience the airport for the first time.
If you're traveling out of Cleveland Hopkins International, you'll encounter substantially larger crowds. Airport director Ricky Smith says between last Monday and next, about 300,000 passengers will fly through Hopkins.
Ricky Smith: So that's roughly 35,000 passengers a day.
Smith's biggest tip to travelers is to be prepared. Check out TSA's website and print your boarding pass out before you get to the airport. Call the airlines or check their website to make sure your flight is on-time.
And, you've probably heard it before, but just in case you haven't, the new security rules require that all carry-on liquid or gel containers must be 3.4 ounces or less and have to be in a quart-sized clear plastic bag. There are exceptions for medications and infant formula or breast milk. But, Hopkins security spokesman Doug Koman says make-up, bottled water and Grandma's homemade pumpkin pie have been taken away from passengers unaware of the rule.
Doug Koman: If it's something that could be spread or poured it's probably not gonna to clear the checkpoint.
Koman suggests shipping the pie, or making or buying it once you get to your destination. And no, the airport workers don't eat pumpkin pies. Those are discarded, along with everything else.
And, if you are traveling with the kids, business traveler William Faraci urges parents and family members to be mindful of others.
William Faraci: I love kids, but they're all over the place. And you if wanna get some rest on the airplane that could be the worst thing.
Chris Schweisthal, who flew into Cleveland from Minneapolis with his family on Monday, has this word of advice for everyone: consider why you're traveling in the first place.
Chris Schweisthal: We live in a culture that we move so fast we forget to slow down enough to think about all the blessings that we have in life, instead we focus on sometimes the negative.
In other words, relax and enjoy your trip.
Tasha Flournoy, 90.3.