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CNN Live At Daybreak
Airport Update
Aired November 26, 2003 - 05:38 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So how are things shaping up for Thanksgiving travelers heading to the airport this morning?
Let's check in with Lisa Crane of our Atlanta affiliate WAGA.
She's scoping out the scene at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport -- good morning.
LISA CRANE, WAGA CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
You know, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest airport in the world and this is their busiest time of year, the Thanksgiving holiday period. So you know what that means. It means that 1.2 million people will travel through here during this holiday period, 230,000 plus just today alone.
Now you can see, this is not a normal Wednesday morning here. The crowds are already arriving, lines starting to form. You can see the cars now. The good news, though, is that right now it's only going to take about 10 minutes to get through security at the main gate and the T gates here. That is good news, although that's only going to get longer and longer as this day goes on. They're suggesting here that you arrive for your flight at least an hour and a half beforehand.
Also, they say, to make things move more quickly, you can do some things before you get to that check -- that security checkpoint that will help. For instance, take cell phones and pagers, anything metal, including jewelry, off of your person, put it in a carry-on bag, expect it to go through the security x-ray machine there on the conveyor belt. Also take your laptop out of its case, put that on the belt, as well.
Don't wrap any gifts, because you're just going to have to unwrap them so security screeners can see what's inside. You can take off your outer wear like coats or raincoats, put those on the conveyor belt, as well, and be ready to take off your shoes, because chances are you're going to have to.
They also tell us that it's faster to check in outside. Those lines actually usually move faster and the airport manager says please be patient. You want to pack that patience with you as you head out on your holiday traveling this morning.
Reporting live at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, I'm Lisa Crane. COSTELLO: Lisa, you said something that surprised me. It'll only take you 10 minutes to get through security? That seems hard to believe.
CRANE: Well, that's right now, at about 5:30 in the morning. So actually that's 10 minutes. It should be one minute on a normal day. So they expect that it's going to take close to 45 minutes later in the day. So you really want to be here at least an hour and a half beforehand, if not more. If you're one of those people who get nervous about missing your flight, then come about two hours early.
COSTELLO: All right, Lisa Crane reporting live from Hartsfield- Jackson International Airport.
Many thanks.
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 26, 2003 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So how are things shaping up for Thanksgiving travelers heading to the airport this morning?
Let's check in with Lisa Crane of our Atlanta affiliate WAGA.
She's scoping out the scene at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport -- good morning.
LISA CRANE, WAGA CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
You know, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest airport in the world and this is their busiest time of year, the Thanksgiving holiday period. So you know what that means. It means that 1.2 million people will travel through here during this holiday period, 230,000 plus just today alone.
Now you can see, this is not a normal Wednesday morning here. The crowds are already arriving, lines starting to form. You can see the cars now. The good news, though, is that right now it's only going to take about 10 minutes to get through security at the main gate and the T gates here. That is good news, although that's only going to get longer and longer as this day goes on. They're suggesting here that you arrive for your flight at least an hour and a half beforehand.
Also, they say, to make things move more quickly, you can do some things before you get to that check -- that security checkpoint that will help. For instance, take cell phones and pagers, anything metal, including jewelry, off of your person, put it in a carry-on bag, expect it to go through the security x-ray machine there on the conveyor belt. Also take your laptop out of its case, put that on the belt, as well.
Don't wrap any gifts, because you're just going to have to unwrap them so security screeners can see what's inside. You can take off your outer wear like coats or raincoats, put those on the conveyor belt, as well, and be ready to take off your shoes, because chances are you're going to have to.
They also tell us that it's faster to check in outside. Those lines actually usually move faster and the airport manager says please be patient. You want to pack that patience with you as you head out on your holiday traveling this morning.
Reporting live at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, I'm Lisa Crane. COSTELLO: Lisa, you said something that surprised me. It'll only take you 10 minutes to get through security? That seems hard to believe.
CRANE: Well, that's right now, at about 5:30 in the morning. So actually that's 10 minutes. It should be one minute on a normal day. So they expect that it's going to take close to 45 minutes later in the day. So you really want to be here at least an hour and a half beforehand, if not more. If you're one of those people who get nervous about missing your flight, then come about two hours early.
COSTELLO: All right, Lisa Crane reporting live from Hartsfield- Jackson International Airport.
Many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
