Holiday bustle shifts into high gear

Standing out in his Army fatigues among the civilians at O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 3, Pfc. Phillip Marshall scanned the busy crowd of travelers for a familiar face.

Despite fog rolling into O'Hare on Friday that messed with numerous travel plans, Marshall's journey from Fort Bliss, Texas, was uneventful.

His one concern was, "I haven't bought any presents yet."

But fiancee Andrea Shaul didn't care.

She threw herself into Marshall's arms, and he gave her a bear hug. The two were headed back to Indianapolis.

Similar human dramas played out at O'Hare on the second-busiest day of the holiday season against a backdrop of lines, security checks and delays. Because of the weather, as of late afternoon Friday more than 200 flights had been canceled at O'Hare with waits reaching two hours.

Chicagoan Jennifer Fite's trip to Austin nearly hit a major snag when the carrier for her Jack Russell terrier, Cora Mae, didn't meet with her airline's approval.

"It's been stressful. We almost didn't get on," Fite said.

An emotional appeal to the supervisor in charge brought a reprieve for Fite, and from then on, it was smooth sailing.

"My presents have been shipped ahead. We have no laptop, no makeup. I didn't want to deal with any of it," Fite said.

For the most part, security checkpoints at O'Hare and Midway saw no significant delays, TSA spokeswoman Lara Uselding said. Waits were no longer than 12 minutes at O'Hare and 20 minutes at Midway.

While many travelers are following carry-on regulations banning liquids and gels in containers less than 3 ounces and requiring unwrapped gifts, "we still do see passengers who are not as accustomed to security since 9/11," Uselding said.

"The business travelers and frequent fliers zip right through," she said. "They know to take their shoes off and have their laptops out."

That was the case for Brenda Caneva, who was returning to San Diego after a few days in town for a band convention. Her Macy's bag contained a blanket and Christmas ornament, all unwrapped.

"We decided not to risk it," she said.

About 230,000 travelers were expected to head through O'Hare on Friday, said Chicago Department of Aviation spokesman Greg Cunningham. In total, 3.2 million people are expected to pass through O'Hare and Midway in the period that began last Thursday and ends Dec. 31.

To soothe harried passengers, the city provided free gift wrapping and entertainment ranging from jazz to strolling carolers.

"When you go through the airport, your main focus is to get to your gate and to get there in time. We try to provide a stress-free atmosphere," Cunningham said.

Aurora residents Cathy Sheil and her son, Dylan, 5, arrived at the airport in the late morning and experienced few holdups on their way to Dallas to see her parents.

"It's really surprising," Sheil said. "We just drove on up here and within minutes we got help" at the ticket counter.

And her gifts for carry-on?

"Unwrapped, of course," Sheil said. "We travel frequently, and you just want to make sure you do the right thing."

Flight tips

To speed you on your way through the airport this holiday season, remember:

• Call your airline in advance to ensure your flight is on time. Arrive at the airport two hours early.

• For carry-on, liquids and gels must be in bottles 3 ounces or less in a 1-quart-size, clear bag.

• All carry-on gifts must be unwrapped.

Source: TSA, Chicago Department of Aviation