Helpful websites for Thanksgiving travelers

If you’re jumping on the big bird this week for Bird Day, here are some websites that can help you avoid aviation insanity:

— The Transportation Security Administration: If you’re not a frequent traveler, go to the TSA’s website and look up the rules that govern travel (they’re the ones who run all security check-ins at airports). The most important: Take off your shoes, remove your identification from its holder and be sure you have no liquid containers larger than 3 ounces, and that includes that lovely bottle of wine, the salsa, the cranberry sauce and so on (unless it’s less than 3 ounces, in which case you’re a Scrooge and should probably stay home).

— Federal Aviation Administration’s Flight Delay Information map: You can see, at a glance, which airports are backed up and plan pickups and departures accordingly.

— FlightStats.com: This site also offers a map showing delays, but it goes far beyond that, with such features as flight status by route.

To figure out parking and pickup, check out websites for Los Angeles World Aiports (and click into LAX, Ontario, Van Nuys or Palmdale); Long Beach Airport; Bob Hope Airport and John Wayne Airport.

— Catharine Hamm, Times Travel editor

[Photo: TSA screeners at LAX last year. Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times]

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 3:45 pm by Catharine Hamm and is filed under Airline travel, Business Travel, News, Tips & Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.