Los Angeles-A desire to take to the skies to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends is driving a record number of airline ticket sales for travel to and from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It’s expected that 2.3 million travelers will pass through the airport this Thanksgiving holiday travel period – an increase of 8.4 percent over last year’s record 2.1 million passengers.
The 11-day holiday period begins today, November 18, through Monday, November 28. The busiest travel days will be today, November 18; the Wednesday before Thanksgiving; and the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving. Travelers will need to “pack their patience” as they’ll be sharing the roadways, terminals and gate areas with between 215,000 to 232,000 passengers on each of those really busy days. The slowest travel days are Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday with between 162,000 to 190,000 passengers.
Travel experts say LAX will be the third busiest among all U.S. airports — behind Atlanta and Chicago – and the busiest origin-and-destination airport. That means more passengers will start or end their travel at LAX than at any other U.S. airport.
Besides crowded terminals, airport staffers are warning travelers to expect a lot of traffic in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) — more than one million vehicles. The busiest traffic days will be today, the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving with between 105,000 to 123,500 vehicles. Other than Thanksgiving day and Black Friday, every day of the holiday period will see more vehicles than LAX’s normal daily average of 90,000 vehicles.
Motorists and passengers waiting for public transportation should plan for delays of up to 30 minutes during periods of traffic congestion in the CTA.
Passengers can do their part to help reduce traffic congestion by taking shared-ride public transportation to/from LAX, including: Metro Rail Green Line; door-to-door shuttle vans; and long-distance and municipal buses. The airport also offers inexpensive and convenient FlyAway® buses from Hollywood, Long Beach, Metro Orange Line (San Fernando Valley), Santa Monica, Union Station, Van Nuys, and Westwood/UCLA.
Rather than circling the Central Terminal Area until arriving passengers reach terminal curbside for pick up, motorists can park and wait up to two hours free at the LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 6221 West 96th Street (96th Street and Vicksburg adjacent to the entrance of LAX Parking Lot C).
Airport officials recommend departing travelers factor in additional time for traffic congestion and arrive in their airline terminals at least two hours prior to boarding time for domestic flights and at least three hours before boarding time for international flights.
To help keep traffic and passengers moving, and reduce the stress of travel, passengers can expect:
· A moratorium on construction and utility shut-downs in public areas inside and outside the airline terminals, parking lots, and traffic lanes that will go into effect on Monday morning, November 21 through the Monday night after Thanksgiving.
· Los Angeles World Airports employee volunteers in black vests, comprising this year’s Team of LAXceptional Courtesy (TLC), will be in terminals and on sidewalks offering assistance and information to passengers on the two busiest days.
· LAX’s popular PUPs therapy dogs out in force providing comfort to those in need.
· Los Angeles Airport Police on enhanced deployment for high visibility and traffic management
· LAX Guest Experience personnel to distribute snacks, beverages and giveaways from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the LAX Cellphone Waiting Lot the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to encourage motorists to use the lot and avoid traffic congestion in the CTA.
To help speed their journeys, travelers are encouraged to enroll in TSA Pre√® or other trusted-traveler programs such as Customs & Border Protection’s Global Entry, which improve security and reduce wait times.
On-Going Construction Impacts to Roadways, Sidewalks and Terminals
The public is reminded that LAX’s $14-billion modernization program is still on-going. When coming to LAX, passengers should look for and follow way-finding signage near all construction sites to ensure their safety and to enhance mobility. For real-time LAX traffic conditions, information on the status and locations of airport construction, “insider” traffic tips, and videos showing short-cuts, visit www.LAXisHappening.com. Motorists and travelers also can receive real-time status of airport conditions by accessing@FlyLAXairport and @LAAirportPD Twitter feeds. LAX is also on WAZE, the community-based traffic navigation app.
