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CNN Sunday Morning

Holiday Travel Update

Aired November 30, 2003 - 08:01   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.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we presume all the turkey has been gobbled up. The holiday and all its trimmings is spent. Now one final Thanksgiving tradition is being played out, the dreaded trip home.
CNN's Patty Davis is at Reagan National Airport near Washington on this, the busiest travel day of the year. And when we checked with you last hour, Patty, there were some lines already queuing up. How are things shaping up as sunrise is now...

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I can tell you, the sunrise was beautiful here because we were here very early. And lines are now starting to build. Those lucky travelers who got here when we did rushed right through. Lines are starting to build here at this airport.

What will you expect at airports across the nation? Well, if Wednesday before Thanksgiving was any indication, it is not going to be that bad at all. This airport and Dulles are expecting an increase of about 25 percent in their passenger numbers.

Last Wednesday, the Transportation Security Administration said here and across the country they only saw 10-minute delays on average at passenger screening. Now, we're joined by Sonja Hanchar, who is a college student heading back to what college?

SONJA HANCHAR, HOLIDAY TRAVELER: Maryville College.

DAVIS: In Knoxville, Tennessee?

HANCHAR: Knoxville, right.

DAVIS: Now, When did you come up to the D.C. area?

HANCHAR: Wednesday afternoon.

DAVIS: And what was screening, what as security like for you? What were the waits?

HANCHAR: Nothing unusual it didn't seem like. Actually things went very smoothly.

DAVIS: Now, you heard the warnings obviously about that it was going to be a bad weekend. What did you do to prepare for heading back?

HANCHAR: I didn't check any bags. Just adds to my hassle. So I'm carrying everything on with me.

DAVIS: I see. And I noticed you said your dad dropped you off. How soon before your flight here?

HANCHAR: A little over an hour.

DAVIS: So you're really taking your chances here today.

HANCHAR: I usually check myself in, but that ended up being a bad idea.

DAVIS: So there are now lines at the kiosks, the electronic kiosks?

HANCHAR: Yes, very long lines.

DAVIS: OK. All right. So people are taking that advice of using the electronic kiosks. And you had a better time at passenger check-in. All right. Thanks a lot.

Well, this traveler apparently not worried about what it is going to be like. She just got here an hour before her flight is taking off.

Now, we could still see some lines today. We're waiting to see what will materialize as people head back to school, like Sonja is, head back to work for Monday. So far, though, the FAA is not reporting any delays in the air.

Six thousand screener positions cut this fall. The TSA itself had warned that that might cause some major delays here at the nation's airports at security. But that has not materialized.

They've added people. They have cut vacations. And so far, pretty good.

Back to you, Sean.

CALLEBS: Patty, it has really picked up in the background in just the hour since we talked with you last. How are people holding up? Have you seen anybody with short tempers? Are a lot of people out there trying to say, all right, at times it will be a tough day, but just try and remain calm?

DAVIS: Yes. Not so far. Actually, most people are just rushing to get their on flights. And tempers at this point pretty good, but it is still pretty early. So that might happen later -- Sean.

CALLEBS: OK. It's going to be a long day for you as well. I can tell, Patty. Thanks very much, at Reagan National Airport, just outside D.C.

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 30, 2003 - 08:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we presume all the turkey has been gobbled up. The holiday and all its trimmings is spent. Now one final Thanksgiving tradition is being played out, the dreaded trip home.
CNN's Patty Davis is at Reagan National Airport near Washington on this, the busiest travel day of the year. And when we checked with you last hour, Patty, there were some lines already queuing up. How are things shaping up as sunrise is now...

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I can tell you, the sunrise was beautiful here because we were here very early. And lines are now starting to build. Those lucky travelers who got here when we did rushed right through. Lines are starting to build here at this airport.

What will you expect at airports across the nation? Well, if Wednesday before Thanksgiving was any indication, it is not going to be that bad at all. This airport and Dulles are expecting an increase of about 25 percent in their passenger numbers.

Last Wednesday, the Transportation Security Administration said here and across the country they only saw 10-minute delays on average at passenger screening. Now, we're joined by Sonja Hanchar, who is a college student heading back to what college?

SONJA HANCHAR, HOLIDAY TRAVELER: Maryville College.

DAVIS: In Knoxville, Tennessee?

HANCHAR: Knoxville, right.

DAVIS: Now, When did you come up to the D.C. area?

HANCHAR: Wednesday afternoon.

DAVIS: And what was screening, what as security like for you? What were the waits?

HANCHAR: Nothing unusual it didn't seem like. Actually things went very smoothly.

DAVIS: Now, you heard the warnings obviously about that it was going to be a bad weekend. What did you do to prepare for heading back?

HANCHAR: I didn't check any bags. Just adds to my hassle. So I'm carrying everything on with me.

DAVIS: I see. And I noticed you said your dad dropped you off. How soon before your flight here?

HANCHAR: A little over an hour.

DAVIS: So you're really taking your chances here today.

HANCHAR: I usually check myself in, but that ended up being a bad idea.

DAVIS: So there are now lines at the kiosks, the electronic kiosks?

HANCHAR: Yes, very long lines.

DAVIS: OK. All right. So people are taking that advice of using the electronic kiosks. And you had a better time at passenger check-in. All right. Thanks a lot.

Well, this traveler apparently not worried about what it is going to be like. She just got here an hour before her flight is taking off.

Now, we could still see some lines today. We're waiting to see what will materialize as people head back to school, like Sonja is, head back to work for Monday. So far, though, the FAA is not reporting any delays in the air.

Six thousand screener positions cut this fall. The TSA itself had warned that that might cause some major delays here at the nation's airports at security. But that has not materialized.

They've added people. They have cut vacations. And so far, pretty good.

Back to you, Sean.

CALLEBS: Patty, it has really picked up in the background in just the hour since we talked with you last. How are people holding up? Have you seen anybody with short tempers? Are a lot of people out there trying to say, all right, at times it will be a tough day, but just try and remain calm?

DAVIS: Yes. Not so far. Actually, most people are just rushing to get their on flights. And tempers at this point pretty good, but it is still pretty early. So that might happen later -- Sean.

CALLEBS: OK. It's going to be a long day for you as well. I can tell, Patty. Thanks very much, at Reagan National Airport, just outside D.C.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com