Turkey Day traveler? Do as the experts say, not as I do

I had the worst airplane/airport experience in August and what's most annoying is that it's largely my fault.

With just carry-on luggage, I timed my arrival at O'Hare to be one hour ahead of the flight to Toronto. It worked perfectly until the airport transit system train was uncharacteristically late.

That started a chain of events leading to a rebooking and two hours in Terminal 1 angsting over my ineptitude.

On the way home, I gave myself 11/2 hours. Of course, it wasn't enough. Flight closed. Rebooked. Waited two hours. Thunderstorms moved in. Plane stuck on tarmac. Sat next to whiny businessman.

So with the mother of all travel days coming up this Wednesday, I offer expert tips to make your Thanksgiving journey misery-free.

The Air Transit Association projects a 4 percent dip in flying this year over the holiday period and AAA anticipates a 6.7 percent drop. That doesn't mean you can just mosey over to the airport any old time, Travelocity Senior Editor Genevieve Shaw Brown advised.

"Consumers will hear 'fewer travelers' and think, 'Oh, flights should be cheap and there will be extra room on the plane to stretch out.' That's not necessarily true. Planes are flying at or near-capacity," Shaw Brown said.

The lackluster economy is causing everyone to fly less resulting in airlines making capacity cuts. It means fewer flights, smaller aircraft and less seats, she explained.

Given those realities, "It pays to be overly cautious and definitely arrive two hours early, even if you've checked in or are not checking bags," Shaw Brown said.

So what's her flying routine?

Shaw Brown looks up her flight days before it leaves to see if departure times have changed.

She also checks in online before getting to the airport, which helps secure a preferred seat. "For me, it's a window seat at the front of the plane."

And no Shaw Brown voyage is complete without something to nosh on. She brings a sandwich from home and buys water at the terminal. "If you're delayed on the tarmac, you want to be the person with the food."

Other ideas?

• Bring important medication in your carry-on luggage.

• Listen to traffic before driving to the airport.

The good news is ticket prices are slightly lower this year, averaging around $361 for a domestic round trip, 6 percent less than last year, Shaw Brown said.

But car rental prices have risen because companies are cutting capacity. Reserve in advance to avoid an unpleasant surprise at the counter, she recommended.

Have kids, will travel

Pediatrician and child safety expert Laura Jana urges parents flying and driving or both not to sacrifice safety this Thanksgiving.

"The temptation is to do what people do with diets - make exceptions over the holidays," said Jana, a member of the Elk Grove Village-based American Academy of Pediatrics.

That means don't take more kids than there are seat belts in the minivan and don't leave the car seat at home because it's a nuisance on the airplane, she recommends.

Drivers should remember that "cars aren't meant to be entertaining," Jana said. "If the kids want to watch something, they can watch a video but you're not meant to be involved. With young kids, the temptation is to turn around or to hand them something. Don't do it." And remember, you can always just pull over.

A few other tips are:

• Booster seats should be used for kids until adult belts fit correctly - usually between ages 8 and 12.

• Before driving, check to ensure that loose items, which can become projectiles in a sudden stop, are secure.

• When flying, squeeze extra changes of clothes into the carry-on bag for kids in case of spills or worst-case bathroom scenarios.

• Take along healthy snacks, such as baked chips, fruit or pretzels. Cut food for young children into small portions to avoid choking hazards.

Flotsam and jetsam

• For Thanksgiving, Metra is scheduling additional early trains out of Chicago on Wednesday. Also, a special two-day pass for Thursday and Friday, similar to Metra's weekend pass, will be available. An adult fare is $5 for unlimited rides both days. Up to three children ride free when traveling with a pass-holder.

• Over the holiday, Amtrak is adding capacity to its trains leaving Chicago on Wednesday and Sunday. It's recommended to purchase tickets in advance by calling 800-USA-RAIL or visiting the Web site Amtrak.com.

• If you're still traveling between midnight and noon on Friday you have my sympathies and free coffee from McDonald's. The burger giant will give away free java at participating locations in the Chicago area and northwest Indiana.

• This fall, Pace considered two fare hikes on paratransit, the pickup service for disabled individuals. One increase was rejected as a result of a budget reprieve from the state. But on Nov. 15, fares did rise to $3 across the region for one-way trips.