THANKSGIVING TRAVEL AT LAX TO REACH 1.53 MILLION PASSENGERS; 
Volunteer LAX Passenger Assistance Program Returns this Holiday Season

            (Los Angeles, California – November 18, 2010) Passenger volume at Los AngelesInternationalAirport (LAX) is expected to increase nearly three percent this Thanksgiving travel period to 1.53 million passengers from 1.49 million last year. The 10-day Thanksgiving travel period begins this Friday, Nov. 19, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 28.

            The busiest days at the airport are expected to be Friday, Nov. 19; Wednesday, Nov. 24; and Sunday, Nov. 28, with airlines reporting passenger load factors approaching 80 percent on most flights and some flights fully booked.

            For the third year in a row, volunteer Los Angeles World Airports’ employees wearing red vests will roam terminals on Tuesday, Nov. 23, and Wednesday, Nov. 24, assisting travelers to reach their flights on time.      . 

            Airport officials suggest passengers departing LAX during daily peak travel periods – from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – arrive in their airline’s ticketing lobbies two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.  Most domestic air travelers can avoid ticketing counter lines by checking in with their airlines through the airlines’ Internet websites before coming to the airport. 

             A number of airlines changed terminal locations earlier this year or will soon change.  For example: AirTran Airways now operates from Terminal 3 and JetBlue also will begin operating from Terminal 3, effective Dec. 8. 

LAX AiRadio 530 AM is the only broadcast source of information on ground transportation, parking, airline terminal locations and security.  Broadcasts are streamed onto the airport’s Internet website at www.lawa.org/lax, where comprehensive information about LAX’s passenger services and amenities is available.      

            Timely information on flight status, traffic and smart travel tips also is available on LAX’sTwitter page at www.twitter.com/LAX_Official on t he LAX (Los AngelesInternationalAirport) Facebook page at www.facebook.com/laxairport.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s website at www.cbp.gov advises travelers on what items can be brought into the U.S. from overseas.  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website at www.tsa.gov lists items that are permitted onboard with passengers, items which must be packed in checked luggage, and items totally prohibited on flights.

            Earlier this week, TSA, in collaboration with LAX and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, launched “If You See Something, Say Something” in Los Angeles.  This is a nationwide campaign to engage and encourage the public and airport employees to identify and report suspicious behavior.  While at LAX, the public can contact any law enforcement personnel or call the Airport Police hotline at (310) 646-7911.

              LAX offers daily, convenient and economical FlyAway® nonstop bus service to the airport from Union Station, Van Nuys, Westwood and Irvine.  Children age 5 and under ride free.  For more information, visit www.lawa.org/flyaway