TTF '07 Airport Update: LAX, ORD, LAS, DFW (3:30PM EST)Editor’s Note: Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force will be stationed at 10 of the nation's top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 20-21. To view up-to-the-minute flight status and security wait times from your mobile device, go to mobile.travelocity.com.
Things continue, for the most part, to run smoothly in Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Dallas this afternoon. If you’re flying from Chicago to Vegas, though (or vice versa), make sure to check the FAA website for delay estimates before you leave for the airport, as those flights are behind schedule. Here’s the rundown on wait times (fun tidbits and all) in each of these cities’ airports:
Los Angeles (LAX)
Check-in and security waits at LAX are both running from about 5 to 35 minutes, but lines curbside and at check-in kiosks are nearly non-existent, so you know what to do! Print your boarding pass at home, or use one of the savvier check-in methods when you arrive, and you should be through to your flight in no time. LAX is also seeing a lot of dogs in sweaters pass through today (although Sarah Michelle Gellar, our correspondent’s latest star sighting, didn’t have one). To expedite the process of traveling with a pet, contact your airline before you leave for the airport to reserve a spot for your little guy, and make sure your carrier adheres to your airline’s pet policies. Do a quick check of the weather before you leave, too; pets aren’t allowed to travel in extreme weather conditions (85F is the maximum temperature and 45F is the minimum).
Security: Security waits are 20 minutes or less in all terminals.
Check-in: In Terminal 1, US Airways’ lines are less than 5-minutes long; Southwest’s lines are 10-15 minutes. In Terminal 2, Northwest’s check-in lines are running 30-35 minutes (this includes a second line to drop off your checked bags for x-rays). In Terminal 3, Frontier, Alaska, ATA, Horizon, and AirTran lines are taking less than 5 minutes; Midwest’s lines are taking 5-10 minutes. And in Terminal 4, the American Airlines terminal, you’ll wait 20-25 minutes at the counter, or less than 5 minutes at a kiosk or curbside! First-class and business-class lines are short across the board.
Parking: Parking is still available, and traffic is flowing smoothly. Morning fog has lifted for a smooth ride to the airport.
Delays: There are no delays reported.
Chicago (ORD)
Chicago is still seeing its share of fog, but flights are delayed no more than 10 minutes. As at LAX, your best bet for check-in is to take advantage of kiosks and curbside check-in. Our correspondent reports seeing bays of 7 to 10 check-in kiosks wide open! Terminals, especially the international Terminal 5, are picking up, but there are no long waits to report.
Security: Security waits in Terminals 1 (United, Lufthansa, All Nippon), 2 (Air Canada, Continental, Northwest, United), and 3 (Alaska, American, Delta, Spirit) run from 3 to 5 minutes. In Terminal 5, security for international flights is less organized and is running 5-10 minutes.
Check-in: Terminals 1 and 2 have check-in waits of under 5 minutes; Terminal 3 has open kiosks but a counter wait of 15 minutes; and Terminal 5 (international) has a wait of 5-10 minutes.
Parking: Parking is available.
Delays: There are no significant delays.
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member bananasaregreen
Las Vegas (LAS)
McCarran waits are not long at all, and checking into international flights in particular (mostly to Mexico) are smooth sailing. Parking lots are open, taxi queues are moving, sequined outfits are making a comeback. Other than some delays to and from Chicago, it’s a good day to head to Vegas. If you are headed for a Vegas-Chicago flight, check with the FAA for specific updates and estimates.
Security: There is a 10- to 15-minute wait at security lines.
Check-in: Passengers are checking in in less than 5 minutes, and kiosks are open.
Parking: All parking lots are still open.
Delays: There are delays of up to 1 hour flying to Chicago, and up to 2 hours arriving from Chicago on all airlines.
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
The sun is shining on Dallas outside and inside the airport this afternoon. Wind has died down, there are no new cancellations, and lines remain short. Even though traffic is picking up there, check-in and security points are still manageable.
Security: In Terminal D, the wait is 10-15 minutes at Gates D23-D40, where volume is picking up. The rest of the terminal is seeing waits of less than 5 minutes. Wait times in Terminal C are 5-10 minutes.
Check-in: Terminal D: 10-15 minutes. Terminal C: 5-10 minutes.
Parking: There is plenty of parking remaining.
Delays: There are no significant delays or cancellations to report.
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Comments
I'm in Terminal B in front of the United counter right now and we're still pretty steady. No lines of any length at security or at the counters. There are a few travelers hanging out in the lounge area waiting to pick up loved ones. I'll check back in next hour with the latest. Oh, and no celebrity sitings from DFW either!
Parking seems to be under control as well. The weather has been unbelievably good all day today. No after effects from yesterday morning's software glitch that halted all traffic for a very brief time. It seems as if we got all the bugs worked out early this year which is definitely good. Oh, and the Roaming Gnome says "Happy Thanksgiving" to all of ya'll. He's not a big fan of turkey actually.