Holiday flying calls for special attention to detail
This year, Bob Hunt's holiday plans are up in the air. And he's not happy about it. It isn't that Bob doesn't have any place to go. It's just that he'll be flying Christmas Eve and he's dreading it.
"The last time I flew in December, I spent eight hours on the runway," said Bob. "I vowed I would never go through that again. I can just imagine spending Christmas Day on an airplane. I would rather skip the holiday, but my family wants me home."
Bob isn't the only one who worries a White Christmas is more like a white-out Christmas when it comes to travel.
When my nephew Tom planned a trip to meet his parents in Phoenix, Ariz., for the holidays, he arrived at Detroit Metro in plenty of time for his Christmas Eve flight. The weather was clear and he thought he was home free. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't clear in New York, which is where his flight originated. Tom made it to Branson in time for Christmas dinner, but not in time to hang the stocking with care. The airline couldn't book a flight for him until Christmas Day. And because the delay was weather related, he had to pay for a hotel room.
This may be the season for peace and good will toward men, but that usually doesn't apply to air travelers.
"Everybody has short fuses this time of year," said retired San Francisco agent Tom Benjamin.
Tom remembers one passenger who took a swing at him. Apparently the passenger arrived at the gate after the plane had started taxiing from the gate. He insisted Tom request the pilot to return to the gate. When Tom refused, the man decked the halls with Tom. The man spent Christmas in the big house instead of his own.
It's not just the fear of flight cancellations because of weather that raise the stress level. Holiday travelers often face airport ticket lines and security lines longer than the ones at Walt Disney Word's Space Mountain. And navigating the highways to get to and from airports might take longer than the actual flight.
Crowded airplanes and airports leave passengers significantly strained. And, curiously, airline employees have a high rate of illness over the holidays, which leaves airports significantly understaffed. The pressure isn't conducive to anything merry.
If you do have to travel over the holidays, here are some don'ts that can help ease the pain.
• Don't drive. Airport parking lots fill up early, as do the highways. Use public transportation or phone a friend. Give yourself plenty of time. It's better to sit at your gate waiting for your flight than sit on the highway missing it.
• Don't wrap presents. Security agents love to open ribbons and pretty packages. If you're bringing wrapped gifts, put them in your checked luggage.
• Don't be insecure about security. Be prepared. Remove coats and shoes before you reach the front of the security line. Pack all your carry-on liquids in 3-oz containers. Place them in a one-quart bag and remove it from your carry-on bag. And make a list and check it twice before you leave the security area to be sure you have all of your belongings.
• Don't assume anything. Airports often change departure gates and departure times. Check the monitors often and make sure you're at the right gate.
• And most important, don't leave your sense of humor at home. Travel often takes unexpected turns. Treat it as an adventure.
Whatever happens, you can still enjoy a Christmas goose. That beats allowing yourself to lose control and cooking your own goose.
Gail Todd, a free-lance writer,worked as a flight attendant for more than 30years. She can be reached via e-mail at gailtodd@aol.com.