2007 holiday travel tips

INDIANAPOLIS—If you will fly into or out of Indianapolis International Airport (IND) over the next six weeks, pack a little patience in your carry-on bag.

Airports across the U.S. are likely to be as stuffed as a holiday turkey as millions of Americans board planes to spend the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays with family and friends.

Because of heavy passenger volumes, IND will be crowded and wait times for clearing security checkpoints could increase. If freezing rain, ice, or snow is predicted—whether in Indianapolis, your destination, or a connecting area in between—severe weather conditions can cause flights to be delayed or cancelled.

TRAFFIC IN AND AROUND THE AIRPORT

Holiday travel brings a huge increase in the number of vehicles traveling the terminal loop. According to the Airport Police Department (APD), on an average day traffic is heaviest around the terminal is heaviest between 1:30 and 5:30 p.m.

During peak travel periods, however, traffic volumes may be heavy as early as 5 a.m. and continue throughout the day and into evening. Drivers should be prepared for extended parking, drop-off, and pick-up wait times due to heavy traffic.

If heavy traffic is in danger of causing gridlock, APD will divert drivers and vehicles:

1. The left northbound lane of High School Road approaching the Airport Expressway between the Holiday Inn and the Radisson will be reserved for shuttle buses, vans, taxis, and limousines.

2. All other traffic will be directed onto the Airport Expressway. If you don’t have to return to the airport but only want to go north, take I-465 northbound. If you need to return to the airport, take the ramp onto I-465 northbound. Then immediately take the ramp back onto the Airport Expressway.

Pay attention to the digital road sign on the Airport Expressway for the latest airport parking and traffic news. Respect the placement of traffic cones. And if you are subject to traffic diversion, please be patient with the law enforcement and public safety officers responsible for managing the flow of vehicles entering and leaving the airport.

ASK SOMEONE TO DRIVE YOU

Current facilities provide enough parking to accommodate 10,000 vehicles, but these spaces can fill quickly:

• Parking garage: 1,800 spaces**
• Surface lot: 450 spaces
• Remote lots: 6,665 spaces
• Business class lot: 1,450 spaces
• Corporate Connection log: 550 spaces

** The first 30 minutes of garage parking is free; after that rates are $1.50 for each half hour or a maximum of $20 a day.

Parking suggestions and alternatives include:

1. Take advantage of the airport’s valet parking service on the upper level of the terminal drive.
2. Before driving to the airport, reserve Tiger Lot parking online at www.ind.com. Click the “parking” link at the top of the page, go to the section for parking lots, click Tiger Parking, and then follow the prompts. Spaces are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. A number of commercial park-ride-and-fly operations with shuttle service to the passenger terminal are located near the airport.

The safest way to avoid a time-consuming, row-by-row search for a parking spot is to ask a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker to drive and drop you at your airline’s curbside check-in counter. Taking a taxi or limousine is another option.

Please remember:

• Never leave valuables visible from inside a locked vehicle. If you must bring valuables to the airport and leave them in your vehicle, lock them in the trunk. Although airport police and security personnel regularly patrol all airport property, thefts can occur. Be sure to close all windows and lock vehicle doors.

• Never leave your car unattended or park in an area that isn’t clearly designated for public parking. If you do, it may be towed.

• If traffic cones block the entrance to the parking garage, the facility is full and no spots are available.

ARRIVE 90 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE

For stress-free air travel, allow plenty of time for parking, checking bags, obtaining boarding passes, and negotiating security checkpoints. Ask your airline for specific arrival time recommendations. Most passengers should arrive at least 90 minutes before scheduled departure times.

In addition, travelers can also check the real-time status of specific flights online, which is the quickest way to know if a flight is early, on time, delayed, or cancelled before coming to the airport:

1. Click “Check My Flight” from the airport’s home page at www.indianapolisairport.com. Then click arrivals or departures for the information about scheduled and estimated arrival times, gates, and flight status that is updated every 30 seconds.

2. Obtain real-time airport status and the latest information on flight delays in the U.S. from the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center. Their color- coded, state-by-state flight delay information is available at www.fly.faa.gov and includes delays ranging from 15 minutes, to 45 minutes, to more than 45 minutes, and airport closures.

3. IND subscribes to OAGflights.com, an online reference service listing departure and arrival times, airline and flight numbers, type of aircraft, and connecting airports. From “Check My Flight” at www.indianapolisairport.com, click the graphic labeled “OAG."

Other suggestions:

• Take care that bags are never left unattended, especially near critical areas like screening checkpoints. Unattended bags result in significant delays and missed flights for all passengers. When discovered, the area must be secured and K9 police determine if explosives are present.

• Have your boarding pass and a valid government-issued photo ID (i.e., driver’s license, passport, or military ID) in hand before you reach the security checkpoint.

• If you are traveling with children, explain to them in advance that they will have to part with their favorite stuffed animal, doll, or other item for a few moments while it moves through the screening equipment.

SAVE TIME: KNOW HOW AND WHAT TO PACK

Not sure what should go into carry-on bags and what is best stowed in checked luggage? Review TSA’s list of permitted and prohibited items at www.tsa.gov before packing, especially the 3-1-1 rule for liquids, gels, and aerosols such as lotions, shampoos, and sprays in carry-on bags: All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a three (3) ounce or smaller container. These containers must be placed in a one (1) quart, clear plastic zip-top bag. One (1) bag per passenger.

Zip-top bag must be removed from carry-on and placed in a bin for separate screening. (Pack it last so it will be on top of other items and easy to retrieve at the checkpoint.

• Know your airline’s policy on luggage size, weight, and number of checked bags allowed per passenger. Typically, airlines assess additional charges ranging from $25 to $100 for overweight bags. One piece of carry-on luggage and one personal item (such as a handbag or laptop computer) per passenger is allowed. Each must fit underneath the seat in front of your or in the overhead bin.
• Put identification tags inside all checked luggage and on carry-on items, including laptop bags. Avoid over-packing because over-stuffed bags are difficult to close when opened by security personnel.
• Always carry prescription medication in your carry-on bag; do not pack in checked luggage.
• Never pack fragile or valuable items in checked bags; if you must travel with these types of items, keep them near you in a carry-on bag. Airlines are not liable for photographic equipment, computers, and any other electronic equipment nor are they liable for jewelry, cash, legal documents, furs, works of art, medicines, and similar valuable items.
• All laptop computers, video cameras, and electronic devices carried on the plane must be removed from their cases and placed with the case in a screening bin.
• Consider shipping, packages, and baggage to your destination before you arrive. Seasoned travelers find shipping items in advance a small expense for avoiding long check-in lines and lost baggage.
• Don’t wrap holiday gifts. Any packages triggering an alarm will be unwrapped and inspected by security agents, so do your wrapping after arriving at your destination.
• If you must lock your luggage, use TSA-approved locks on checked bags.
• Leave prohibited items at home. If you must travel with guns, knives, sharp objects, martial arts or self-defense items, explosive materials, flammable items, tools, and similar items, ensure they are properly packed according to the guidelines posted on TSA’s Web site at www.tsa.gov.

DRESS THE PART

Metal in your clothing may set off the walk-through metal detector. Pack coins, keys, jewelry, belt buckles and other metal items in your carry-on bag. Remember that your shoes must be removed and screened by TSA, so slip-on style loafers or other shoes will help make the process quick and easy. You will also need to remove blazers, suit coats, sports jackets, heavy cardigan-style sweaters, and hooded sweatshirts in addition to winter coats for separate screening.

BE PREPARED FOR DELAYED FLIGHTS

Weather-related delays and cancellations in across the northern tier of the U.S. can impact travel across the entire country. If snow, ice, or severe weather conditions cause flight delays or cancellations, travelers can be delayed for a several hours or even overnight. Delays at O’Hare Airport in Chicago often have major impacts on scheduled flights in Indianapolis.

1. Travel experts recommend flying as early as possible in the morning—before delays occur and snowball through the afternoon and into the evening.
2. Parents traveling with small children should pack plenty of snacks, small toys or games, blankets, books, and other things to help pass the time if flights are delayed.
3. If severe conditions make it impossible for planes to depart and passengers must remain at the airport overnight, Starbucks is open 24-hours each day and there are vending machines throughout the concourse areas. Retail concessionaires open in the morning between 4:30 and 5 a.m

SNOW AND ICE ON THE AIRFIELD

Like a small city, the Indianapolis International Airport never sleeps. Regardless of the time or day of the week, hundreds of essential airport, airline, parking, law enforcement, fire and rescue, and other personnel are on the job. Often, the biggest challenge they face is the weather.

30 pieces of equipment keep runways and taxiways clear, including machines that can melt 300 tons of snow an hour. During a “typical” snow emergency, 60 operations personnel are on duty.

Salt is not permitted on the airfield because it corrodes aircraft aluminum; glycol is the de-icing chemical used on aircraft. Potassium acetate is used on airfield ramps, aprons, and other surfaces.

Indianapolis International Airport has received several winter safety awards from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), including in 2002-03 when Indianapolis received 50.5 recorded inches of snow.