LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- A record of 30.6 million people are expected to fly during the Thanksgiving holiday. And it all begins sooner than you think.
The busiest travel days are Friday (Nov. 16), the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 21), and Sunday (Nov. 25), when a lot of people are heading home.
Those are some of the busiest travel days of the year.
In Southwest Florida, it’s also when a lot of snowbirds come down for the winter.
Officials at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) said a great travel tip is arriving early. During the summer, travelers tend to get to the airport pretty close to flight time, but it will not be starting now through March.
People should get to RSW at least 2 hours before a national flight and 3 hours before an international flight.
For the next week or so, airport officials said thousands of people will be coming and going so there could be long lines.
“If you do nothing else, pack patience and arrive early and that travel experience will be a whole lot easier for you,” said RSW Director of Communications, Victoria Moreland.
Moreland said they spent the offseason making upgrades to the airport. They added a ton of charging areas, where you can plug in your phone if you’re running out of juice.
Chargers are also placed under seats and at tables. There are new stations where you plug in your phone too.
The airport even boosted the WiFi so you can connect faster while waiting for your flight.
They also have a lot of seating and places to eat. Moreland said they have extra staff on hand, especially during peak travel times.
She said these necessities are designed to make travel more comfortable and convenient for you.
“I mean this is what we look forward to after summer and fall when it’s quieter here,” said Moreland. “A lot of maintenance has been done, new carpeting has been added to areas, many of the restrooms in the concourses have been refreshed so that’s our focus we want to make sure you are really comfortable traveling through this airport.”
Moreland wants to remind travelers of the TSA rules, especially traveling with liquids.
She also said during this time of year, delays and cancellations are possible due to weather.
The number one place for you to go to check your flight status is your airline.
