TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Holiday Travel Crunch Time: Expect More In Cars, Fewer In Air

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 23, 2008

Updated: 12/23/2008 11:32 am

TAMPA - Crunch time is here for travelers wanting to get home or get away from home for the holidays.

Tampa International Airport officials say that each day leading up to Christmas, there are as many as 25,000 passengers leaving and 25,000 passengers arriving.

Airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said those numbers are down by about 10 percent over last year.

"We're not as busy as last year," she said. "We know automatically we're off. The airlines have reduced their flights and the number of seats. Today, we are no busier than yesterday, but it's steady."

Still, the terminal is bustling because there are more people, she said. On a normal day, business travelers come and go by themselves, she said. Holidays are different.

"There are a lot more meeters and greeters," Geoghagan said. "The terminal is busier than normal. This is leisure not business travel."

Despite airline delays and cancellations in other parts of the country, there have been few delayed departures from Tampa International. On the highways, a surge of travelers is expected.

Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins said this morning that with gasoline prices down, holiday highway travel may be up and that 2.5 million motorists are expected to hit the pavement during the next week.

More people on the road will mean more crunched cars and injured people, even though the numbers of fatal crashes has decreased over the past two holiday seasons, he said.

Gaskins said that in 2007, there were 73 people killed on Florida's highways during the December holiday season. Thirty-five of those deaths involved alcohol.

"As part of the holiday enforcement this year," he said, "we don't have any checkpoints but we are doing DUI wolf packs" – special units that focus on aggressive or erratic driving.

It's all to keep people moving, he said, to keep them safe.

"I would expect heavier than normal traffic patterns," he said. "We are doing what we can to make a visible presence; to watch for DUI and speeders and aggressive drivers.

"Unfortunately," he said, "the reality is that we probably are going to see some fatalities."

IF YOU'RE TRAVELING BY AIR

TIA offers these tips for flying travelers this holiday season:

• Park in the economy lot. It is cheaper than long-term parking and there are thousands of covered spaces. A free shuttle to the main terminal is offered. The fee is $9 a day compared with $15 a day for parking in the long-term parking garage.

• Allow a good amount of time, about two hours, between arriving at the airport and you're your flight time.

• Tag your bags. Place identification tags inside and outside of your luggage and computer cases.

• If you carry a cell phone, identify a spouse, parent or close friend in the directory so that that person can be contacted if something happens to you or your cell phone is lost.

• Limit your carry-on luggage. Airlines are becoming more strict enforcing size and number of carry-on bags. Some airlines are charging for checked bags.

• Keep checked bags unlocked so that security can inspect them if needed.

• Wrap gifts when you get to where you're going. If security officers need to inspect a wrapped package, they will.

• Some prohibited on flights are firearms, large knives, pocket knives, pointed scissors, self-defense sprays and other potential weapons.

• Be prepared to be screened. Plastic bags containing liquid bottles must be removed from carry-on bags. To maximize efficiency at the security checkpoint, remove all metal and stow it in your carry-on bag.

IF YOU'RE DRIVING

The Florida Highway Patrol has come up with these tips for highway holiday travelers:

• Have a plan and let others know when you are leaving and when you plan to arrive at your destination.

• Have a cell phone with you if possible.

• Keep your car doors locked and windows rolled up.

• At stop signs or traffic signals, keep a safe distance from the car in front of you and leave room to get out in case you're boxed in.

• If you need directions, only ask in places that are well lit and busy.

• Do not pick up hitchhikers and try not to stop if you're blocked by someone standing in the road.

• Lock your doors whenever you leave the car.

• When you get out of your car, carry your purse and keep other valuables out of sight. Do not store valuables out in the open inside a parked car.

• If your car breaks down, pull off onto the shoulder and call for help. If a motorist stops to help, it's better to remain in the car, and ask him or her to get help. If you see a stranded motorist, don't stop. Instead, call for help.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT