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CNN Live At Daybreak
More Americans Flying This Thanksgiving Than Last Year
Aired November 27, 2002 - 05:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And despite the weather problems, perhaps people are more comfortable with security. More Americans are flying this Thanksgiving than last year.
And CNN's Patty Davis looks at what travelers will face at many of the nation's big airports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIE WILLIAMS: Just have a safe trip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Security Chief Willie Williams is a man with a mission -- to keep passengers moving at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport this Thanksgiving.
WILLIAMS: There's three open lanes at the end if you're interested.
DAVIS: Williams expects a quarter of a million passengers to pass through his airport each day during the holiday rush. AAA estimates there will be six percent more airline passengers this Thanksgiving holiday than last year.
STEVE TIPPO, FEDERAL SCREENER: Please take all laptops out of the bag. Try to divest yourself of all your coins, metal items.
DAVIS: Thanksgiving is the first big test for Steve Tippo, one of 1,200 new federal screeners in Atlanta, and more than 44,000 deployed at airports across the country in the last few months. Will that mean delays?
TIPPO: People are going to have a little bit of a delay. But I think we're ready for it. I think the people are pretty much ready for it. I think they've been educated and I think we should be all set.
DAVIS: The Transportation Security Administration has launched a massive education campaign so passengers know what to expect. Make sure you have photo I.D., don't bring prohibited items in your carry- ons such as knives and metal scissors, don't wear metal jewelry or big soled shoes. Travel experts say keep an eye on airports that are beginning to screen all checked baggage for explosives, like the international terminal at San Francisco.
TOM PARSONS, BESTFARES.COM: San Francisco is the first airport that they actually put everything in place, from the new security of the bags to the hundred percent check. Everything has to be inspected either by humans or through machinery.
DAVIS (on camera): How that goes could be a good indication of how long the lines will be during the Christmas travel rush. Officials say most airports will be required to screen all checked luggage by the end of the year using big bomb detection machines. Some airports received an extension and will use other methods, including bomb sniffing dogs.
Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CALLAWAY: And you'll want to stick with us right here on DAYBREAK for some travel tips we have coming up. At 6:15 Justin McNaull, he's with AAA, is going to bring us some shortcuts to save you some time, possibly your sanity, as well. So stay with us for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 27, 2002 - 05:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And despite the weather problems, perhaps people are more comfortable with security. More Americans are flying this Thanksgiving than last year.
And CNN's Patty Davis looks at what travelers will face at many of the nation's big airports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIE WILLIAMS: Just have a safe trip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Security Chief Willie Williams is a man with a mission -- to keep passengers moving at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport this Thanksgiving.
WILLIAMS: There's three open lanes at the end if you're interested.
DAVIS: Williams expects a quarter of a million passengers to pass through his airport each day during the holiday rush. AAA estimates there will be six percent more airline passengers this Thanksgiving holiday than last year.
STEVE TIPPO, FEDERAL SCREENER: Please take all laptops out of the bag. Try to divest yourself of all your coins, metal items.
DAVIS: Thanksgiving is the first big test for Steve Tippo, one of 1,200 new federal screeners in Atlanta, and more than 44,000 deployed at airports across the country in the last few months. Will that mean delays?
TIPPO: People are going to have a little bit of a delay. But I think we're ready for it. I think the people are pretty much ready for it. I think they've been educated and I think we should be all set.
DAVIS: The Transportation Security Administration has launched a massive education campaign so passengers know what to expect. Make sure you have photo I.D., don't bring prohibited items in your carry- ons such as knives and metal scissors, don't wear metal jewelry or big soled shoes. Travel experts say keep an eye on airports that are beginning to screen all checked baggage for explosives, like the international terminal at San Francisco.
TOM PARSONS, BESTFARES.COM: San Francisco is the first airport that they actually put everything in place, from the new security of the bags to the hundred percent check. Everything has to be inspected either by humans or through machinery.
DAVIS (on camera): How that goes could be a good indication of how long the lines will be during the Christmas travel rush. Officials say most airports will be required to screen all checked luggage by the end of the year using big bomb detection machines. Some airports received an extension and will use other methods, including bomb sniffing dogs.
Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CALLAWAY: And you'll want to stick with us right here on DAYBREAK for some travel tips we have coming up. At 6:15 Justin McNaull, he's with AAA, is going to bring us some shortcuts to save you some time, possibly your sanity, as well. So stay with us for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
