Tips for Traveling on Thanksgiving

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It's the most anticipated and dreaded holiday of the year - Thanksgiving.  Unless you are fortunate to live near family, this usually requires some travel, usually setting off air travel records.  If you are curious, TSA will let you bring a frozen turkey through but sorry - the cranberry sauce will be limited to 3 oz.

For Road Warriors

Yes, travel by car is by far the least expensive way to get a family of 5 to grandma's, just over the hill and through the woods.  These tips are just for you:

• Get that maintenance done: that means new windshield wiper blades, oil change, tire pressure checked (when WAS the last time you changed tires?), coolant fluid check, replace the battery if it has not been changed in about 5 years
• Allow for traffic or adjust when you leave to have a little less stress
• Be prepared for weather - carry chains if there is even a remote chance of snow/ice.  We've practiced putting on chains in the driveway with our gloves on.  
• Carry a separate GPS unit if you are not familiar with the route.  Yes, cell phones do have GPS, but they rely on having cell towers nearby so in some mountainous or remote places, you may not get the most reliable directions.  Dust off that Tom Tom/Magellan unit as they are the most reliable source, using 6 GPS satellites to get you to where you are going.  And hey, dad won't have to pull over to ask for directions.
• Plan/pack your snacks carefully.  Avoid overly sugary/salty snacks (including apples!) as they will make you more thirsty and thus have to have more potty breaks.  We love our popcorn, cheese, chex mix, and trail mix and our girl loves animal crackers.
• Please, please don't be that family that ties luggage to the roof of the car.  Can't tell you how much luggage/furniture which have been improperly secured has littered the LA freeways.  Only use DOT approved cross bars with the correct equipment. 

Up Up and Away

• Don't procrastinate when buying airfare, and play with dates to avoid flying back on the weekend.  Typically 45-60 days is what we recommend.
• Try alternative airports - like in Los Angeles, there is LAX but smaller regionals may be cheaper like Burbank, Ontario, or Long Beach.  
• If it is a short flight, consider flying out on Thanksgiving day.  Most people are pushing and shoving to get to grandma's the day before.  We've flown out from SFO to BUR at 10:30am with no lines, no traffic and gotten to grandma's before the turkey was pulled out of the oven. 
• If you absolutely must get there the day before Thanksgiving, be prepared for long lines.  Not just TSA (which can take up to 2 hours), but bathrooms, luggage check-in, etc.  
• Get TSA pre-check if you can.  Lines are typically shorter and you won't have to take off shoes, pull out liquids/laptops, etc.  Note: everyone in the family will have to have TSA pre-check so don't expect lax enforcement.  At least the one time fee is good for 5 years.
• Charge all portable devices and even bring a spare battery pack.  Airports are getting better about putting in charging stations, but we have heard of passengers getting into fistfights over an outlet and phones being destroyed by overcurrent.  
• Has your family considered meeting off-continent?  Amazing travel deals if you are into Mexico, Hong Kong, or London at this time of year.  LAX to Hong Kong or London was under $500 pp round trip which was about the same price as flying to JFK.  Seeing the northern lights in Iceland from LAX was just under $550 pp round trip.
• To keep down stress, manage your expectations.  Everyone in the literal millions is trying to get somewhere.  A little patience and a few kind words will go a long ways.