OVER 2 MILLION PASSENGERS EXPECTED AT LAX THIS THANKSGIVING; TRAVEL EXPERTS PREDICT LAX WILL BE BUSIEST U.S. AIRPORT THIS HOLIDAY

            Airport officials forecast that just over two million passengers will pass through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this Thanksgiving, a 6.8 percent increase over last Thanksgiving’s actual 1.87 million passenger level.  Sunday after Thanksgiving, December 1 – and NOT the traditional day before Thanksgiving -- is forecasted to be the busiest day of the holiday travel period.  Other busy days are expected to be the beginning and end of the 11-day travel period, Friday, November 22,and Monday, December 2, respectively.   

            According to online travel agency Orbitz's Insider Index, LAX will be the busiest U.S. airport in terms of passenger volume this Thanksgiving, followed by Chicago-O’Hare International Airport.  Passengers should expect to see busy terminals and many domestic flights 90 percent full.  Flights between LAX and cities that are traditionally popular with Southern Californians -- such as San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and Boston – may be fully booked. 

            Travel experts attribute the increase at LAX to more available seats as airlines at LAX are using larger aircraft with more seats on some existing flights and the addition of several international flights. 

            Airport officials recommend 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 11 p.m. – arrive in their airline’s ticketing lobbies two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. 

On-going Construction Impacts to Roadways, Sidewalks and Terminals

            Passengers are reminded that a major $4.1-billion LAX Modernization Program-Phase 1 is still on-going, and should allow extra time to ensure they arrive in their airline terminals on time.  To help 

lessen the stress for holiday travelers, construction work on roadways, parking structures, and sidewalks will be restricted to late-evening and early-morning hours.  However, motorists and passengers in the passenger terminal area should still expect to encounter some traffic lane and sidewalk restrictions.

Pilot Real-Time Traffic Condition Webpage

            The airport has launched a pilot program to provide motorists with information on real-time vehicular traffic conditions in the Central Terminal Area on its website at www.lawa.org/lax.  The information is provided by the Los Angeles City Department of Transportation.

In-Terminal Passenger Assistance

            To help departing passengers catch their flights on time, the airport will continue its popular Los Angeles World Airports employee volunteer program.  Wearing red vests, airport employees will roam the Upper/Departures Level in all terminals the day before and the Monday after Thanksgiving.  This is in addition to the Volunteer Information Professionals and Customer Service Representatives regularly assigned to assist passengers in the terminals.

            LAX's cadre of trained dogs and handlers, called PUPs (Pets Unstressing Passengers), will also roam through the boarding gate areas of each terminal to provide a less stressful airport environment by visiting passengers awaiting flights, providing comfort, and offering airport information.  

General Travel Tips

            Most domestic air travelers can save time and avoid ticketing counter lines by checking in for their flights through their airlines’ Internet websites before coming to the airport.  Passengers can check on flight status before coming to the airport and sign up to receive electronic alerts from their airlines about their flights.  Passengers should always ensure that any carry-on baggage complies with the airline’s size and weight limitations and that they do not contain items prohibited by federal law.

            Daily, convenient and economical FlyAway® nonstop bus serviceto and from LAX is available at Union Station ($7 one way), Van Nuys ($8 one way), Westwood ($10 one way), and Expo/La Brea ($6 one-way introductory fare until December 31, 2013).  Tickets may be purchased online for the Union Station and Van Nuys routes.  Children age 5 and under ride free.  For more information, visit  www . lawa . org / flyaway .

            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.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) website at www.cbp.gov advises travelers on what items can be brought into the U.S. from overseas.  Both federal agencies offer programs that passengers can sign up for to expedite processing through their respective inspection areas.  The TSA Pre-v (Pre-Check) Program is currently available for passengers traveling on most of the major domestic airlines serving LAX (Alaska, American, Delta, United, USAirways, and Virgin America).  The CBP Global Entry Program expedites international arriving passengers through the passport control process.

            Timely information on flight status, traffic conditions, and other travel tips is available on LAX’s Internet website at www.lawa.org/lax, and LAX’s Twitter @LAX_Official and Facebook /LAInternationalAirport.  Los Angeles Airport Police's Twitter @LAXPD_Alerts also provides up-to-date information on traffic conditions at LAX.

New Dining and Shopping

            Since last Thanksgiving, new restaurants and shops opened in terminals to offer passengers more dining, shopping, and personal services options, including:

·      Terminal 4: Homeboy Café & Catering, Hollywood Style, Sunglass Hut, and Hollywood Bling.

·       Terminal 5: XpresSpa, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Rock and Brews Concert Bar & Grill.

·       Terminal 7: BOSS Hugo Boss, B Grill by BOA Steakhouse, Bartels’ Harley Davidson, Klatch

Coffee, NBC Universal, and CNN Newsstand.

·       Terminal 8: Corona Beach House, Carl’s Jr./Green Burrito, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and  Marmalade Café.