The holiday travel season is here. Millions of Americans are expected to hit the road or take a plane to see friends and relatives. There are tips to make it easier.
The latest projections have more than 122 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period from Saturday, Dec. 20, to Thursday, Jan. 1, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
This year’s travel forecast is a 2.2% increase over last year.
In the Quad Citians, thousands of people will be traveling this season. The Quad Cities International Airport (QCIA) recently shared tips for travelers. They include:
Who handles what?
Airports and airlines may seem like one and the same, but they operate independently from each other. Knowing where to turn can save time and stress.
Airlines handle:
- Lost, delayed, or damaged luggage: Consider placing a tracking tag inside your checked bag so you can monitor it from your phone.
- Flight changes: Selays, rebooking, cancellations and notifications are managed by your airline. Make sure you download their app and have notifications turned on to get the most current information, and to quickly access customer support.
- Aircraft deicing: Airlines operate their own deicing trucks and crews. Deicing liquid is time sensitive. When snow or freezing rain moves in, it can be a race against the clock. Be patient, there is communication behind the scenes to ensure everyone’s safety.
- If your flight is delayed or canceled, only your airline can rebook or assist with luggage transfers.
The airport handles:
- Runways and taxiways: Keeping surfaces cleared, treated and safe is a 24/7 job managed by rotating crews who start removing snow or ice almost as soon as it starts falling. We’re constantly gauging the weather forecast and current conditions to report critical information to air traffic control.
- Snow and ice removal in parking lots and sidewalks: We use a combination of third-party companies and airport staff to clear surfaces around the airport. As you can imagine, with hundreds of cars parked in our lot it can be difficult, but we do our best and will help you to your vehicle if needed.
- Safety and security: Airport police officers also serve as firefighters and first responders. And, they’re here to help you! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to stop an officer in the terminal or call dispatch at (309) 757-1739. However, if you’re experiencing an emergency, call 911.
Be sure to pack smart
TSA is solely responsible for screening passengers and luggage for any prohibited items. They have a ton of helpful resources, from their social media channels to a huge database on their website. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure you have a current accepted form of I.D. otherwise you may be required to undergo additional screening.
- If you’re traveling with gifts, pack anything valuable or irreplaceable in your carryon, and leave them unwrapped.
- Keep medications in a carryon or personal item like a purse or backpack in case you experience any delays or cancellations. Your checked luggage may not be returned to you for several days if major storms cause major disruptions.
- Bulky sweaters, presents and full-size toiletries can very quickly add up on the scale. Checked luggage must be 50 lbs. or less, so weigh bags at home before coming to the airport. If you need to double check or transfer items, the airport has two repack scales in the ticketing lobby you’re welcome to use!.
Expect weather impact
Even if weather in the Quad Cities is clear, weather elsewhere can impact your flight. Nationwide storms can create:
- Downline delays: Simply put, the finely tuned and complicated network that moves planes and crews across the country can quickly get disrupted causing delays or cancelations.
- Crew timing issues: Pilots and flight attendants must meet federally required rest periods for the safety of everyone on board. Weather delays (and delays in general) can cause crews to ‘time out’ meaning the airline needs to find another available crew or wait until the original crew has met the rest requirements and can fly again.
- Congested airspace: Ground stops, or temporary holds on allowing planes to land at a certain airport, may happen due to incoming weather or increased air traffic. These are dictated by air traffic control and, as with all flight operations, safety is the primary focus.
In addition, if you need help, ask, At any given time, airport staff us available to answer questions about parking, mobility assistance or simply where the nearest restroom is.
Keep an eye out for our customer care team in the ticketing area or near our golf carts. Or, people can call dispatch at (309) 757-1739. During extreme weather, the airport may offer rides to your vehicle, help with digging out or give your car battery a jump.
