Welcome to The Window Seat: a blog for every traveler.
Why The Window Seat? Because if you're a traveler, it's how you take in the world around you. And because it's the best seat in the house, the one with the most captivating view - and that is precisely what this blog is about. Sharing travel perspectives and experiences.
Posted in: Thanksgiving '07
Calling all Thanksgiving travel warriors!
You braved the crowds, went shoeless through the x-ray machines, ate the airport food, and spent untold hours doing sudoku in the stratosphere--all for some cranberries, turducken, and a lipstick print on the cheek from Grandma.
Since we were so busy at the nation’s top airports reporting on travel conditions last week, now it's your turn. We want to hear your stories, so please tell us how it all went.
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member MilwVon.
The Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving are traditionally the two busiest travel days of the year, but if Wednesday indicates what is to come today, then holiday road warriors can expect smooth travels at the nation’s top airports.
As part of Thanksgiving Task Force, I camped out at Los Angeles International (LAX) to monitor holiday crowd conditions earlier this week, and what I observed surprised me. On both Tuesday and Wednesday, ticket counter and security lines operated with few hiccups, despite the increased traffic on those days. Although the sheer number of families traveling was evidence that the holiday travel rush had begun, even Thanksgiving Eve was slower than expected with security lines between 10-15 minutes most of the day.
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 movile device, go to mobile.travelocity.com.
Yes, it's that time of year when I start thinking about mash potatoes and gravy, turkey and stuffing, pumpkin pie and whip cream and that means it's also time for the biggest annual event we do. Our annual Thanksgiving Task Force! If you're new to The Window Seat you may be wondering just what exactly is Travelocity's Thanksgiving Task Force? Well, it's the most comprehensive and informative place to get information on holiday travel.
We'll have spotters stationed in ten of the nation's busiest airports reporting back with information on travel delays, airport security, and the mood of travel this year. The Window Seat bloggers will be posting hourly updates to provide travelers with real-time information on how things are progressing. Regardless of if we're stationed at an airport you (or someone you're dinning with) is flying through, the blog will offer copious holiday travel tips and advice relevant for all.
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 movile device, go to mobile.travelocity.com.
For me, the Thanksgiving travel season officially started today, and it's evident that it began for many other holiday travelers as well. I'm no stranger to this busy season, so I did my best to anticipate and thwart off any problems that could arise ahead of my travels. Expecting holiday crowds at SFO, even on a typically uneventful Sunday, I scheduled my Super Shuttle pick-up a little earlier than normal. I also packed light and strategically, only taking one carry-on and a laptop bag to ensure that my luggage wouldn't be lost.
Editor’s Note: It’s “holiday week” on The Window Seat, and our editors get into the spirit of the season with a series of articles exploring the many facets of this busy travel period.
T'is the season for me to get up early. Today I was on the Today Show advising people on how to make their thanksgiving and holiday travels easier. According to the Air Transit Association there are going to be 27 million people traveling over the next twelve days, that's up 4% over last year. As you can imagine there are going to be some seriously big crowds at the airports this year. (And you thought it was crowded last year!) Last month Amtrak reported record high travel for the railroad this year. Seats can be hard to find on holidays no matter what mode of transit you're taking and this time of year the highways are packed too. The good news is with a little preparation all of your travels can be made a lot easier.
Editor’s Note: It’s “holiday week” on The Window Seat, and our editors get into the spirit of the season with a series of articles exploring the many facets of this busy travel period.
At this point, my fiancé expects the call. The moment I hear the muffled announcement saying my flight is delayed, I hop on the horn to ask him, “Where should I eat”? He dutifully begins to Google.
I can’t bear to while away three hours of my life in an airport Starbucks. The entire time I’m sipping my pumpkin latte with extra whip, all I can think about is that one terminal over there might be a local barbecue shack I’m missing out on.
Here’s a list of the best local food in U.S. airports for all the like-minded foodie travelers. Bookmark this page and fly with confidence that this year you won’t be forced to choke down an insta-burger at a national chain.
Home for the HolidaysEditor’s Note: It’s “holiday week” on The Window Seat, and our editors get into the spirit of the season with a series of articles exploring the many facets of this busy travel period.
To so many Americans, Thanksgiving means being together with friends and family which, in turn, means traveling to see those people. As one of the busiest times of the year for the travel industry—somewhere around 25 million people will fly next week—Thanksgiving can strain more than your belt. So what to do when trains, planes, and automobiles seem to be more trouble than they’re worth? Well, my answer is “stay home.” Of course, I have it easy: when I go home for the holidays, I walk there. You don’t need family in The City though to enjoy all that it has to offer.
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo Member Jose Kevo
Editor’s Note: It’s “holiday week” on The Window Seat, and our editors get into the spirit of the season with a series of articles exploring the many facets of this busy travel period.
We all have favorite movies that we answer when people ask, and favorite movies that are for more private consumption. For me, that movie is Home Alone. And the dorkiest reason why I love New York is that, during the holidays, the city is very reminiscent of the sequel to that movie—which I also love.
So I was relieved to discover that other people appreciate how Home Alone 2: Lost in New York lends itself to tourism and that organized tours of Central Park actually market sites from the movie as part of their itineraries.
Whether your idea of a holiday classic is It’s a Wonderful Life or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, here’s a rundown of ways you can celebrate the holiday season on celluloid—and get out of town:
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member RoBoNC
Editor’s Note: It’s “holiday week” on The Window Seat, and our editors get into the spirit of the season with a series of articles exploring the many facets of this busy travel period.
When a giant cargo ship crashed into the San Francisco Bay Bridge and spilled 58,000 gallons of oil into one of the nation’s top tourist attractions last week, the volunteer response was so overwhelming that wannabe do-gooders had to be turned away from the oil-slicked beaches.
The busiest travel time of the year may be best known for frosty snowmen and red-nosed reindeer, but--as the Bay Area so amply demonstrated--‘tis also the season of giving. A Travelocity poll shows 11% of travelers planned to volunteer during their vacations in 2007. Also known as voluntourism, these trips can run the gamut from working with orphaned children in Ghana, to saving Costa Rican sea turtles, to just cleaning up a local park.
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member Jose Kevo.
Editor’s Note: It’s “holiday week” on The Window Seat, and our editors get into the spirit of the season with a series of articles exploring the many facets of this busy travel period.
As the shopping frenzy ensues on Black Friday, I will be lounging around the house eating leftover turkey and pumpkin pie. My holiday shopping is going to have to wait a week, but my procrastination is justified. Trust me, for this shopaholic to put off a trip to the mall, the reason is a good one. I’m contemplating taking advantage of the good travel deals that I’m seeing the week after Thanksgiving to do my shopping in a different destination.
Photo Courtesy of IgoUgo member Miss Erika.
I was talking on MSNBC this morning about how it looks like more travelers will be headed far away this Thanksgiving and how Europe seems to be at the top of the list for many US travelers who want a change of scenery. Instead of taking a long weekend, these international travelers are making a real vacation out of it and staying over a week. Not surprisingly, that can also be a way to save on airfares by avoiding peak travel days.
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member Marianne
For the seventh consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force will be stationed at the nation’s top airports, relaying pertinent travel information to holiday road warriors. Bookmark this page and check back on Nov. 20-21 to get hourly updates on security and check-in wait times, parking, delays and other information relating to these top airports:
Even if you’re not heading through one of these airports, check back for tips and advice on how to make your travels smoother for Thanksgiving and beyond during Holiday Week (Nov. 12-16) on The Window Seat.
November always serves as somewhat of a wakeup call for me. It’s the gateway to the busiest travel season of the year and my cue to get last minute holiday travel preparations underway. Being the planning type, I purchased my Thanksgiving ticket from SFO to DFW long before the leaves began to turn in any part of the northern hemisphere. But, many would-be Turkey Day travelers have procrastinated, and when you’re talking about booking a flight for your holiday travels, time is money. We’re exactly three weeks from the big day, and ticket prices are only going to go up from here.
Reading the New York Times travel section this weekend made me yearn for a quick getaway to someplace sunny and warm. Or at least someplace that felt better than here (New York City aka The Big Apple.) Usually I just love fall but it has been a bit of a disappointing fall this year, you know, with the wacky weather and the leaves not quite performing as we’d like all like. Although the air has only just turned chilly this passed week I’m already thinking about what’s next on my travel horizon…
The New York Times seemed to be leaning toward the Caribbean and the call of the warm blue waters. The section was dominated by an opening with a fruity umbrella topped cooler and the allure of soft, sandy beaches. They’re clearly not the only ones with some beach-time on their mind. Maybe it’s a result of the increased access with new flights to the Caribbean but I’ve looked at the data for thanksgiving and noticed that the share of travel to the Caribbean is up 20% this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving? you ask. Sure thing. It’s trendy to take turkey abroad. Mexico’s share is up by 17%. Even Europe’s is up too. (And I thought the whole Western Hemisphere Passport Initiative and the new passport rules combined with the weak dollar was supposed to be deterring people from traveling? Well apparently not.) What’s more is that these people aren’t like me and thinking I need a little break, uh, now! They’re booking in advance. WAY in advance. The average domestic ticket for thanksgiving this year was booked 85 days prior to departure, international tickets were booked over 100 days in advance. Given that math, that means right now I should be booking for sometime in January possibly more like February.
TTF '07: Thanksgiving Travel Tips
Travel Made Easier
Local Restaurants at Airports
Holiday Movie Travel Tips
Voluntourism: Be a Holiday Travel Superhero
Holiday Shopping Getaways
Money Saving Tips for Europe
Thanksgiving Task Force: Nov. 20-21
Beach Time? RIght Now.
November 26, 2007