Events Calendar
In This Section
Energy upgrades for Summit, Stark
Job openings plunged by one-quarter last year
State Farm says it warned NHTSA on Toyota in 2007
Wholesale inventories cut 0.8 percent in December
Toyota recalls 437,000 Priuses, hybrids globally
Phones can be used to redeem Target cards
Most Read Stories
Another winter punch heading toward Ohio
Man robbed at Tallmadge Avenue eatery
Complaints against officer keep coming
Police: Ohio girl dies after fall into snow bank
Four teens restrain man, take items from his Akron home
Police say couple had 50 stolen hubcaps
Police: Man tries to buy crack with credit card
Woman rescued after falling through rotting floor in house
Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
NBC Releases Olympics Announcer List
Akron Zips:
Zips favored on road against MAC West leader
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Five local gridders to play in Big33
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Akron Law Café:
Law, Love and Chocolate
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
Late purchases of airline tickets for Thanksgiving travel will be costly. Book Christmas flights now
Published on Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal business writer
If you haven't gotten your airplane tickets for Thanksgiving yet, you will pay premium prices for that airline seat, or you might want to consider driving.
Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year — in the air and on the road, beating out Christmas.
''The absolute busiest day of the year at the airport is the Sunday after Thanksgiving; 99 percent of the seats are sold out,'' said Kristie Van Auken, marketing director at theAkron-Canton Airport. ''People leave three or four days during the break, but no matter how many days they take off, they all return on Sunday.''
JoAnne Lee, general manager for travel operations at the Akron Automobile Club, said airlines let you book your flights 11 months ahead of time.
''Most people drive to their Thanksgiving destination if it's a 50-to-100 mile trip. But when it starts cutting into the time to get there and back and you add in the cost of gas, some people decide to just fly,'' said Lee.
Lee said when the agency suggests Amtrak or taking a bus, members often tell them it just takes too long to get there that way.
''There is very little left for the places that most people want to go if you haven't booked an airline flight yet,'' said Lee of Triple A.
''There are also fewer flights this year; larger airlines have scaled back.''
Lee said every time the price of oil goes up, so does gasoline at the pumps and eventually airline tickets.
''Airline prices are going up 5 to 10 percent because of oil prices,'' said Van Auken. ''Airline officials say they spend 38 percent of their profits on fuel.''
She said airlines are not adding a lot of domestic capacity. They are replacing less fuel-efficient airplanes with newer planes. Larger airplanes are being purchased to fly overseas, because those flights are more profitable than domestic flights.
Van Auken said that half of those who will be flying will be on their only flight of the year, so they should familiarize themselves with the security rules at http://www.tsa.gov.
The basic rules are:
Arrive at the airport early.
All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in 3-ounce or smaller containers and placed in a baggie. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.
Don't wear items that will slow you down before you can get through security. Do wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
If you haven't booked your Christmas flights yet, Lee said, ''Do it yesterday, do it now; fares keep going up.''
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or 800-777-7232 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.
By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal business writer
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
