Holiday travel is expected to be brisk

A leveling off of gas prices and good weather also are contributing to the boost.
BOSTON (AP) -- An improving national economy and flat gas prices have travel officials bracing for the busiest Thanksgiving season since the 2001 terror attacks.
"We're expecting long lines," said Phil Orlandella, spokesman for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Boston's Logan International Airport. "Sunday after the holiday will be the busiest day, and Monday is expected to be busier than normal."
The AAA travel group expected 36 million people nationwide would travel 50 miles or more from their homes over the holiday weekend -- the highest number of travelers in two years.
"Number one, it's the economy," AAA spokesman Mantill Williams said. "Whenever people feel more confident about their own personal finances, usually you see a little jump in travel."
A leveling off of gas prices over the past few months and good fall weather across much of the country also have contributed to the boost, Williams said.
Air travel was expected to be up this year, according to AAA, which predicted that 4.6 million people, or 13 percent of all travelers, would fly. That's up 1 percent from 2002 but still 10 percent to 15 percent lower than pre-Sept. 11 levels.
"Since Sept. 11, the entire travel landscape has changed," Williams said. "The whole travel pie has shrunk."
Travel tips
The Transportation Security Administration has offered tips to save airline passengers a few minutes in line. These include storing all metal items in a carryon bag, taking laptop computers out of their cases so they can be quickly inspected, and taking off coats and shoes before reaching the front of the line.
"You'd be amazed at what people have in their bags," TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said. "If they'll just check the list, most of these items are fine in a checked bag."
Officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport expected 250,000 passengers to fly out of Atlanta on Sunday -- the airport's busiest travel day.
"As long as you can keep people moving, it's not that bad," said Willie Williams, Atlanta's TSA director. "People don't mind the security. They want a safe ride."
Despite the uptick in air travel, the vast majority of Thanksgiving travelers will still take to the nation's roadways this weekend.
AAA predicted that 31 million people, or 86 percent of all holiday travelers, would reach their destination by car, despite a national average gas price of $1.51 per gallon -- a nine-cent increase in gas prices over last year.
"Even if gas prices are high, it's still a relatively cheap way to go," said Art Kinsman, a spokesman for AAA Southern New England.
Amtrak spokesman Dan Stessel said 550,000 passengers were predicted to travel by rail between Tuesday and Monday. To better serve the influx of patrons, Amtrak has added 70 extra trains, including 31 Acela Express trains.
Avoiding the rush
Even that may not be enough for some.
"I think it keeps getting more and more crowded," said Leah Cimmelli, a 21-year-old senior at Boston University who was crammed into a full train Tuesday on her way to New York.
Officials at Indianapolis International Airport anticipated their busiest period since the terror attacks more than two years ago, spokesman Dennis Rosebrough said.
"People are definitely wanting to travel more," said Sally Brown, president of Indianapolis-based Ambassadair Travel Club. "This week is one of the Big Three, right up there with Spring Break and New Year's week in terms of people heading out to fun spots."
Some travelers weren't waiting until the last minute to get to their destination. Sherice Muhammad, 31, of Detroit, headed home from Atlanta on Monday to beat Thanksgiving traffic, just in case.
"I used to work for the airlines," Muhammad said. "So I knew I wanted to get out."
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