Gobble-Up These Thanksgiving Travel Tips

(ARA) - Thanksgiving is considered the heaviest travel weekend of the year. While long lines and delays are often inevitable, there are a few easy things you can do that will help you and your fellow travelers get to that turkey dinner on time.

1. Be flexible when booking.

When planning your Thanksgiving travel, choose off-peak days. Based on air itineraries booked on Orbitz over the last three years, Wednesday and Sunday of the long Thanksgiving weekend are typically the two busiest travel days. Airports are clogged and the lines are long. Instead try an early flight Thanksgiving morning. And whichever day you must travel, taking an early flight ensures that if you miss your flight or it is cancelled due to weather, there is still a good chance you can get to your destination the same day.

2. Take advantage of technology.

Before heading to the airport, log-on to your computer and take advantage of tools that are available to help you save time. Some weather and travel sites offer features and information such as airport delays and departure/arrival forecasts that provide round-the-clock updates on weather and flight delays in major cities around the globe.

Sign-up for alert systems that travel Web sites may offer. For example, when you book your flight on Orbitz.com, the company provides a Care Alert service from their mission control center that proactively monitors and alerts travelers about flight delays, weather conditions, gate changes and airport congestion.

And to avoid the long lines at the check-in counters, make sure you print your boarding pass before you leave home and either carry-on or check any baggage you might have at the skycap kiosks.

3. Prep yourself.

People who set off the metal detectors at airport security checkpoints add valuable minutes to the line and can cause even more headaches to fellow travelers. When traveling this Thanksgiving, be sure to take off all metal items and place them in your carry-on luggage before you approach the security checkpoint. If carrying a laptop, take it out of its case and of course, be sure to take off your shoes and that heavy winter coat!

And just in case you get stuck at an airport, make sure you put everything you’ll need for the next 24 hours in your carry-on — including clothing, medication and toiletries — as you may not have access to your checked baggage.

Don’t be a turkey this Thanksgiving – follow this simple travel advice and enjoy your holidays somewhere other than the airport.

Courtesy of ARA Content