LOS ANGELES, Nov. 21, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Airlines serving Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are predicting Thanksgiving 2003 will see nearly 775,000 travelers passing through the airport from Wednesday, November 26 through Sunday, November 30.
This holiday period's passenger volume is expected to be slightly below last year's 800,000 passengers and down from the record-breaking level of 925,000 passengers of Thanksgiving 2000. Despite the slightly lower passenger volumes, passenger terminals and aircraft will still be crowded, as the airlines expect high load factors on domestic flights of an average of more than 90 percent. The air carriers are scheduling 4.2 percent fewer domestic seats at LAX for this traditional U.S. holiday.
Wednesday and Sunday again will be the busiest days of travel at LAX. For some passengers who have not traveled since Thanksgiving 2002, this will be the first time they experience the 100 percent electronic screening of all checked baggage. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), now two years old, began 100 percent screening of checked baggage last Dec. 31, using large, van-size explosive detection systems and smaller, wanding electronic trace detection machines.
Airport officials recommend that passengers departing during LAX's daily peak travel periods of 6:00 am to 9:00 am, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, or 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, be in their airlines' ticketing lobbies two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
Many airlines have lowered the amount of weight allowable for individual bags checked by travelers. Travelers with oversized bags or baggage over the new weight limits will be subject to additional charges for items greater than the new limits. Passengers should call their airlines or check the airlines' Internet websites for information on allowable weights and applicable charges.
Airport officials predict parking will be available at all Central Terminal Area parking facilities, at Economy Lot B at La Cienega Boulevard and 111th Street, and at Economy Lot C at Sepulveda Boulevard and 96th Street. Rates for Central Terminal Area parking is $30 per day, $10 a day at Lot C, and $8 a day at Lot B.
Airport officials are recommending several "Smart Traveler" tips for holiday travelers.
Before arriving at LAX, passengers should remember:
-- Do not pack or bring prohibited items to LAX.
-- Leave gifts or large boxes unwrapped for inspection.
-- Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain
metal. Metal items may set off the alarm during passenger
screening.
-- Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on
baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage
undeveloped film.
-- Carry-on baggage is limited to one carry-on item plus one
personal item. This includes laptops, purses, backpacks,
briefcases or camera cases.
-- Place identification tags on and in all your baggage. Travelers
18 years and older require a government-issued photo
identification to receive boarding passes.
While at the airport, travelers should remember:
-- Passenger drop-off and pick-up only at terminal curbside is
permitted -- no parking or waiting curbside will be allowed.
Meet arriving passengers in the baggage claim areas on the
Lower/Arrival Level.
-- Do not bring drinks or other liquids to the security checkpoints
unless they are in re-sealable or spill-proof containers.
-- All metals should be placed inside your carry-on bag. This
includes jewelry, loose change, keys, mobile phones, pagers and
personal digital assistants.
-- Take laptop computers out of their carrying cases and place them
in a bin.
For more information:
There are a number of sources for up-to-date passenger service information:
-- Log onto the LAX Internet website at www.lawa.org. -- Call the LAX toll-free phone number at (888) 544-9444. -- Tune radios to AirRadio AM 530 for airport traffic information. -- Call the LAX General Information Operators at (310) 646-5252. -- Passengers with disabilities, medical concerns, or other types of special needs should visit the TSA website www.TSATravelTips.US, or contact your airline. -- Passengers with questions or complaints about security procedures should call the TSA Consumer Response Center toll-free at (866) 289-9673 or e-mail the agency at TellTSA@tsa.dot.gov.