I’m a shopaholic by nature, and I often participate in retail therapy.

If I have a bad day at work, I just buy a new outfit! If it’s dreary outside, some fun new eye shadow will brighten up the day! If I feel fat, it’s nothing new shoes won’t fix! (After all, my feet don’t gain weight.) Even though the act of purchasing makes me happy, I have never, will never, camp outside a retail store on Black Friday in the wee hours of the morning to snag that oh-so-great deal, but I will shop for deals online. Black Friday exists there, too!

Knowing that the day after Thanksgiving is the best day to shop for retail deals, I analyzed data from lastminute.com to find out if shoppers can find travel deals, too. My conclusion: it is the best time of year in terms of both availability and price to find last second deals.

Not only does the Transportation Security Administration get better with expereince, I have to say, so do our Travelocity Thanksgiving Task Force spotters. This year was our best ever. And not just because the weather cooperated in most parts of the country, or that the President opened military airspace around the nation to ease air traffic congestion, or even the fact that there were fewer air travelers this year. I owe our success to this great team of ten who walk some of the nation's busiest airportsand report live with their findings and update the blog every hour from pre-dawn to post-dusk.

This year our spotters (who I like to affectionately refer to as Turkey Trotters) took full advantage of the technological advancements and went wireless with their PDAs, cameras, and computers to update this very blog with the latest and greatest news from the front-lines of air travel over some of the busiest travel days of the year.

If you're reading this post, you've probably read at least some of the others. (Weren't the posts great this year?) And especially because this holiday is all about giving thanks...I'd like to take the time to thank each and every one of our turkey trotters for covering the airports so well. Jenn Gaines at LAX, Holly Burns at Las Vegas, Rachel Berg in Denver, Song Yang in Atlanta, Jeff Varhol in Miami, Joel Frey at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Michael Brophy at Washington National, Jenelle Blanchard at Chicago O'Hare, Jill Harrison in Phoenix, and Genevieve Brown and Charlie Davidson at New York Lagaurdia airport. -- you guys rock! It's because of all of you, and all of our fantastic behind-the-scenes helpers (this list is long, forgive me for not naming everyone on it but you know who you are!) that Travelocity is able to help travelers in real-time know what to do to ease their travels at the holidays and any time.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

I had hoped to make my last post prior to leaving DCA tonight, but after two days of 3-minute security lines, the line that I got in turned out to be a 15-minute wait, and they herded us on the AA jet to get us out on time. All parties at Washington National should be pleased at the events of the past two days - everything went smoothly, and they should build off this effiency as they look towards then next two busy travel days on Sunday and Monday.

All that said, more than a few airport and TSA staff admitted that they are freaked out about the upcoming Inaugural festivities in January, with millions reportedly ready to descend upon Washington. Those days in January promise to be quite interesting, especially from a travel perspective.

The Roaming Gnome took in some sights last night in Washington; he thought the above photo was ideal for bidding farewell to this year's Thanksgiving Task Force. Enjoy your turkey...and enjoy your trip home, be it by plane, train or automobile...MB

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

I spent my two days at the relatively hassle-free Washington Reagan National Airport surveying DCA travelers, asking them which of four prominent political figures they would pick to prepare their Thanksgiving dinner. After more than 200 quick conversations, the winner by a healthy distance is our new First Lady.

FINAL POLL RESULTS:

Michelle Obama - 104
Sarah Palin - 85
Nancy Pelosi - 20
Hilary Clinton - 19

Top Comments From the DCA Crowd:

"Why would anyone purposefully give Hilary a knife?"

"I'll pick Palin, cause I know for sure it will be organic."

"Hilary & Pelosi don't even know where the kitchen is."

"I'd pick Sarah, but do I have to have moose for Thanksgiving?"

"I like a lot of different food on Thanksgiving, so I'll go with Michelle for soul food, Clinton for sea food, Palin can cook up the moose and seal, and Pelosi can at least make the crabcakes."

"I'll pick Pelosi, because she is 60 some-odd years old, and surely she must know how to cook."

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

After two long (but oh-so-fun!) days of scouting the crowds at LAX for Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force, it’s my turn to head through security and depart for my hometown – Dallas. Even though I live and work all-things-travel, this is the only time of year that I get to interact with travelers, security and airlines at the same time. As a travel editor, it’s a good thing to witness. It makes my work real. I’ve read the stats – AAA predicted a 7 percent decrease in air travelers and LAX said that 14 percent fewer travelers would fly through their airport. But I saw first hand that those stats were real. It was extremely quiet at LAX this week. With the exception of the morning rush that hit early today, it felt like a typical day at the airport.

I’ve been managing this project for six years now, and airport security and airlines almost always do a fantastic job managing the crowds. TSA rolled out the family-friendly security lanes, and airlines are making it easier for passengers to check-in online, making the entire process of getting to your gate go more smoothly.

According to Travelocity data, Wednesday was the second busiest day of the Thanksgiving holiday. Sunday is supposed to bring in the big crowds, so be prepared for a busier day.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

When I left the main terminal at LAS to head through security and on to my own flight (to Seattle!), everything was running smoothly at the airport. Crowds had thinned substantially, and in fact I breezed right through security at checkpoint D---which is funny, because this had been the one with the longest lines both yesterday and today. One warning though: despite being a seasoned traveler---and having urged people to be familiar with security procedure before flying for the past two days---I forgot to take my laptop out of my bag before it went through the scanner. I know! It was mortifying! So that's the lesson of the hour: no matter how well you think you know the security protocol, always double check you've done everything you can.

I'm signing off from LAS for now, so happy Thanksgiving everyone, and safe travels!

Stats (as of 4:55pm PST):

Security: Very easy and quick at all checkpoints---five minutes at most.

Check-in: No more than a 5-10 minute wait for most carriers.

Parking: Plenty available still in the Economy lot ($8 a day, remember to leave 30 minutes to travel to the terminal by shuttle)

Traffic:: Still causing a few jams thanks to the rain; check before you go.

Delays:: Nothing major.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The lull from the midday is now giving way to an evening full of activity. There is a higher volume of people going through the airport, but don't let that scare you. Thanks to plenty of help from the TSA folks, moving through security and check-in lines in a breeze. Everything is moving smoothly, and there aren't any major flight delays. Safe traveling and Happy Thanksgiving!

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately 5 minutes to get through security.
Check-in: Check-in lines are moving along smoothly with only about 5 minutes of waiting.
Parking: All lots have available parking. (Include airport hotline or link if available)
Delays: No major flight delays

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Well I am winding down an overall successful travel day here at Phoenix Sky Harbor. I think it is fitting that as I was finishing my final round through the airport, I saw the above rainbow. It is easily the most vibrant rainbow I have ever seen, and a nice finish to an otherwise gloomy and rainy day.

As far as travel updates, the biggest update is that the Terminal 2 upper level parking garage is now full, in addition to the West Economy lot. The ticket counter lines are all very short, with the exception of Southwest. That line is long - 20 minutes long. As far as getting through security, you won't have any trouble. Those lines are short, and in some terminals, non-existent.

There are still some short delays scattered throughout the airport. There are a few flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles that are delayed between one and three hours. The rest of the delays are between 15 and 40 minutes, and there aren't too many of those.

For a final bit of entertainment, here are a few tidbits from my last 2 hours:

Sets of twins spotted: 6
Number of languages heard being spoken: 4

Security: Lines are short and easy to get through.

Check-in:: All lines are short with the exception of the Southwest ticket counter - running about 20 minutes.

Parking: Terminal 2 upper level garage is full, as is West Economy. The rest are open.

Delays: Some short delays scattered throughout, with significant delays to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Hot Spots: Terminal 4 baggage claim is, and will continue to be busy througout the evening.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

So I took my own advice and checked in for my 6pm flight at 3:15---and guess what? It paid off and I got moved to an exit row seat. Let that be a lesson to you: if you're flying over Thanksgiving, I cannot stress it enough---check in early, check in early, check in early. As well as potentially scoring a better seat assignment, like I did, you'll also avoid the check-in lines, which right now at LAS are only hovering around the 5-10-minute mark. But still: even 5 saved minutes is something, right?

Security is also running smoothly here at LAS---we're seeing waits of 10 minutes or so at Checkpoint D, 5 minutes at A, B, and C. The International Terminal was deserted the last time I was there (it was me and the TSA guys!), though there was a long line for the taxi rank. If you arrive at the International Terminal to find the same, do know that Terminal 1 is only a 5-minute walk away and lines for taxis have been short there all day.

In talking to some other passengers, I've learned that traffic has been tricky in getting to the airport: it's this rain storm that won't let up, you see. Be sure to budget extra time to get here.

And finally? You might want to reconsider the belly shirts, people. It's fifty-something degrees out here, and dreary and rainy and grey! Plus, it hardly seems like the most comfortable thing to travel in. Although at least the security personnel can see you're not smuggling anything under your shirt.

Security: 5 minutes at A, B, and C. 10 minutes at D. A breeze at International.

Check-In: 5-10 minutes at most carriers.

Parking: Plenty of spaces available in the Economy and remote lots, though the private parking garage is full.

Traffic: Still causing issues. Make sure you check ahead and leave plenty of time to get here.

Delays: Nothing major.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

People! Stop eating each others faces off! I mean, I know you’ll miss each other and all, but couldn’t you have said your grotesque and juicy goodbyes before you left the house? Other than these disgusting public displays of affection, not much is happening at LAX.

Security: Less than 10 minutes, all terminals
Check-in: 5 minutes or less in all terminals
Hot Spots: International terminal has a cluster of flights leaving and is picking up.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

So sorry it’s been a few hours since my last post. I’ve had wireless connectivity issues and quite a few adventures, but things in the airport are still running smooth. I’m definitely seeing more people coming into the terminal right now, and the security line is back around the 10 minute mark. I just checked into my United flight, and encountered zero lines. This seems to be the case with most airline carriers. I’m expecting as the evening wears on it will get a bit busier, most likely on the same levels with what I saw this morning.

Around 3:30, I had a radio interview to do and needed access to a landline. Luckily, the wonderful staff at the Delta ticket counter recognized me from the morning news, and offered to let me use the phone in their office. Thanks Delta!

I also left the airport for the first time all day to retrieve my luggage at my hotel. There was absolutely no traffic at all, and the entire round-trip to my hotel and back took less than 20 minutes, thanks to the quick response time of the shuttle driver (who, unfortunately, wouldn’t stop talking to me about the intricate details of his stomach poisoning experience, which I’ll spare you, my dear readers).

Security: 10 minutes
Check-in: 5 minutes or less
Parking: Plenty of room in the garage and Mt. Elbert. The Pike’s Peak shuttle lot is full, as are the east and west economy lots.
Delays: Still minimal.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

This will be the last update from ORD for this Thanksgiving and while it hasn’t been so eventful here (that is a good thing!)… minus the bird who seems to have never found his luggage in the bag claim area… it has been a perfectly smooth trek to the homestead for all the travelers and bloggers alike. So now, it’s literally time to talk turkey… or at least think about it for another couple of hours before it hits the table.

Before the official sign-off from ORD, we do want to remind everyone that Sunday will be a very busy day at the airport as well, so remember all the packing and baggage tips that we have drilled into your brain all day, all of the reminders to arrive with plenty of time to spare, to double check your arrival/departure times before leaving for the airport and Have A Very Happy Thanksgiving!

Security: Everything is moving quickly.
Check-in: Everything is moving quickly.
Delays: No delays to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

5:10 p.m. CST

While the hours were long today, the day went by in a blur. And now, it's time for my final post. I've spent the past couple of hours meandering through terminals E and C where the lines were short, the hugs plentiful and everyone seemed just about ready to chow down on some tasty victuals and watch parades and football.

I added two more dogs to my list which brings the final tally to eight. For the record, I saw a fox terrier and a bulldog.

Thanks for making us a part of your Thanksgiving travel! I hope you have a blessed holiday, surrounded by those you love. I'm heading home to El Paso in a couple of hours where I'll be reunited with my buddy Schuster. Yes, it's true. I love my poodle.

Peace everyone.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The big news at LAS right now is at (surprise, surprise) Security Checkpoint D, which services all the major carriers like United, American, Continental, and Delta. It's slammed at the moment, and the wait is around 25-30 minutes, so really do make sure you allow enough time to get through that. Conversely, security at checkpoints A, B, and C is moving along fairly nicely. Don't forget if you're flying Southwest that the new Checkpoint C opened up at the end of September, meaning you don't have to head to the combined C/D security checkpoints but rather just head straight up the escalator by the Southwest check-in desk and you'll find yourself at the brand new Checkpoint C. That'll certainly save you some time.

Also, be sure to check traffic.com if you're heading to the airport---the weather is still damp and dreary in Las Vegas and all this (unusual!) rain has caused some really nasty accidents. Allow plenty of time to get from your house to the airport---I'm hearing reports that there are jams on some of the freeways and several areas are badly flooded.

Security: Very slow at checkpoint D (25-30 minutes), no problems at A, B, and C.

Check-in: No major snarls with most carriers taking 5-10 minutes tops.

Parking: A recent call to the parking hotline (702-261-5122) revealed that the airport's public parking garage is full, but there are plenty of spots available at the new Economy lot or in the remote lot. The good news for you is that this'll save you some money: the parking garage is $14 a day, while the Economy lot is $8 a day and the remote lot on Gilespie Street is $5 a day. Allow enough time to get between the parking lot and the terminal, though: around 30 minutes if possible.

Traffic Some hold-ups due to the rainy weather; check before you leave the house and give yourself plenty of time.

Delays: A few 30-50 minutes delays on Southwest into Hartford, Chicago, and Orlando: check your flight number before you leave. Virgin Atlantic's 4pm flight to London Gatwick is running 40 minutes late.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Things have finally started picking up here at LGA, though it’s all relative. It's still pretty quiet.

I got a call from someone I know who was flying out of LaGuardia and who happened to be checking the Window Seat (a smart traveler!) and saw that I was stationed here. I met her at the Delta terminal where the security line was certainly longer than before. She actually hopped on and off the line to see how long it would take. Despite the surging numbers, the lines were moving well. She finally got into the ‘Expert Traveler’ line but was relegated to ‘Casual Traveler.’ Make sure you get in the right security lane to expedite everyone’s travel. (Thanks for the trial run, Lee! I believe you that you're actually an Expert. Have a great flight.)

Security: Lines are getting longer but really aren't slow. Make sure you use the right lane as you enter.

Check-in: Still pretty quick. Check-in online from home and make sure you check your carrier’s website for baggage fees. We’ll keep repeating it until it hits home.

Parking: Lot 3 is still full. The rest are still OK.

Delays: Nothing major at the moment. That American delay was just a few minutes heading to Miami. There are no serious delays on the boards at any of the terminals.

Well, I’m heading back home into the city. Safe travels, everyone, and remember to breathe and try to relax. Tomorrow, when the trytophan kicks in and you’re dozing, any travel woes will be a distant memory.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

As evening approaches, traffic has decreased across much of MIA. The American Airlines terminal is still buzzing, but lines are fairly short and moving well. Other terminals and airlines have short lines and security checkpoints are in good shape. Makes me think that the concept of the "happy hour lull" is true (it is at my house).

Traffic outside the AA terminal is still pretty busy, so be prepared for some stop-and-go, and as always, check traffic before you go just to be sure you give yourself enough time. Be careful driving through as there are plenty of pedestrians crossing the road, the occasional dog-walker as well, and officials are enforcing all rules and regulations (and speed limits).

This is the last post from MIA as after this, I hop on a big silver plane (no, it does not look like a giant tylenol) and head for home (fire up the blender hon'). May your travels be safe, your holidays happy, and your wine cellar well stocked.

Stats & Stuff:

Security: Security checkpoint C/D has wait times of about 20 minutes. All other lines are running 15 minutes or less. Keep using those family lanes if you need more time, attention or assistance.

Check-in: Check-in lines for AA are still very good, with the longest wait about 15 minutes at the First Class check-in. For the first time in two days, the kiosks are in full use, so you may have to wait a minute or two for one to open up. Curbside is busy but wait times are less than 5 minutes. Other carriers have lines less than 15 minutes.

Parking: Spots are still available. That's their story and they're sticking to it, but give them a call just to be sure you don't get stuck (305-876-7536 is the number for MIA parking info).

Delays: Very few delays posted on the boards now. EVen so, its always a good idea to call ahead and check your flight's status.

Pink Bag Check: Its a pinkout - 209!

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

After a pretty big rush between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., things are really starting to clear up in more ways than one. It looks like there has been a break in the rain, although it's not supposed to last very long. I've also noticed a lot fewer people in the airport.

One thing I've noticed in the last two hours that I just have to add here is how many people are traveling with their dogs. I have seen TONS of them. I have seen big dogs and little dogs. Being a proud dog owner and lover myself, I understand not wanting to leave your pet for a long weekend. It's been fun to see all the different types of dogs stroll by.

Inside the airport, things have really settled down. There are very few delays at this point. Most are about 15 minutes, with the longest being Southwest Flight #3857 to Ontario which is delayed an hour and 15 minutes. Baggage claim is still holding steady in Terminal 4, and I expect it will be fairly busy throughout the evening.

As far as ticket lines and security lines, right now they are non-existent! We are talking 3 - 4 people deep at the most. The Southwest check-in at Terminal 4 does seem to be the longest, with a 5 -10 minute wait at the most.

Security: Lines are short, with the longest being about 10 minutes.

Check-in: Lines are virtually non-existent. The Southwest check-in line is consistently running about 10 minutes long.

Parking: The parking hotline (602-273-4545) reports that the West Economy lot is still the only full lot. As rush hour starts, it's a good idea to check www.traffic.com for traffic updates.

Delays: No major delays. Southwest #3857 to Ontario is delayed an hour and a half.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

There were a lot of embracing and Thanksgiving dinner conversations as I entered the north security checkpoint (less than 8 mins and I was home free!) but that was really the only action around the main airport. On the way to my gate at Delta, there were crowds of families racing to their connecting flights so watch out, they will not yield to you.

Please give yourself enough time as you get to your gates. Once you pass through security you will need to get on the "people mover" (express train) to your final destination. Double check with your airline carriers for any delays and check Hartsfield-Jackson's website for any delays or changes to your travel. Happy Travels!

Security: Under 10 mins for all checkpoints. Have a sense of humor when passing the TSA staff, they will rough you up and be sure to give it right back!

Traffic: Mild rush hour traffic as you get to ATL.

Check-in: Less than 10 minutes for all major airlines.

Delays: There are arrival delays from Tampa, Detroit and Ohio. AirTran flight 849 departing to Orlando is delayed and will be scheduled to depart at 7:28pm ET.
Number of screaming kids at gates: NONE!

• Before heading to the airport, check your local traffic reports at www.traffic.com for delays along your route and allow for more commute time if needed.
• Allow ample time to park, check-in and get through security. A minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international is recommended during the holidays.
• Consider shipping all gifts to your destination ahead of your travels. Wrapped gifts are opened for screening purposes, and extra fees will apply if your allotted baggage limit is exceeded.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Well, there's not much to report from LAX right now. Not for lack of looking. It seems that LAX has this whole Thanksgiving travel scenario down to a science and everything is still going very smoothly. There are some pockets of longer lines in the international terminal every once in awhile, but even that seems to slow down quickly as the international flights take off.

Check out our last LA blog for some other items of interest.

Security: Some longer lines in the international terminal, expected to diminish quickly.
Check-in: Some longer lines in the international terminal, expected to diminish quickly.
Delays: Nothing to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Well, well, well… even the birds have figured out that Chicago is a great place to fly out of this holiday weekend (and I don’t mean the turkeys, although… they might regret that decision after tomorrow!). One has apparently wandered into baggage claim and is killing some time until his flight out. Keep an eye out for tiny tweeters when you are rolling all that baggage about in the claim area.

The babies have also figured out a few tricks for exceptional enjoyable travel experiences, from baby “carts” (that look like baggage with a handle and wheels that you can use to tote the tots around the airport on) to mobile boosters chairs, the kids are definitely traveling in style this year. (Except for the poor kid on leash… maybe not so stylish but certainly helping a Mom with full hands keep track of the little one’s as well all the luggage).

Security: Everything is moving quickly.
Check-in: Everything is moving quickly.
Delays: Some delays up to 35 minutes heading into Fargo, Dallas, Winnipeg & Las Vegas.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Well, we're starting to enter the Thanksgiving spirit again here at LAS: crowds are thickening a little and traffic is picking up. I'm seeing wait lines at Security Checkpoint D of around 20-25 minutes, which is the longest they've been so far, so remember to allow plenty of time to get through.

The rain here is having a few repercussions on travelers: flooding at the intersection of Charleston and Decatur streets has led to delays on the road, so if you're leaving for the airport today, be sure to check traffic.com before you go. We're also seeing a few flight delays into and out of San Francisco and Reno.

My sequined sweater count is up to six (so festive! so Vegas!) and I even got to meet a large group of seniors all dressed in blue and white Kentucky Wildcats tracksuits; they flew into LAS today from Kentucky to watch their beloved basketball team play on Friday and Saturday nights. They made a great picture traveling through the baggage area together in their matching blue and white.

Security: Checkpoint D is heavy: 20-25 minute waits. A, B, and C are light: about five minutes tops.

Check-in: About 10 minutes at most carriers; don't forget to use the Speed Kiosks located all around the terminal if you're not checking luggage.

Traffic: Some delays due to flooding. Check the traffic before you leave the house and allow extra time!

Parking: No major problems, lots of spaces still available in the Economy lot.

3:10 p.m. CST

Well, at least in one section of Terminal D as the afternoon's international flights for KLM, Lufthansa and British Airways check-in. There's actually a longish line at the D18 security checkpoint at this hour. It's moving at a good pace, but if you're arriving in the next few minutes, expect it to take 15-20 minutes to navigate once you're checked in.

I've seen just one more pooch since my last post and I'm not sure of the breed. It was a big dog. It had quite a bit of hair. Now that I think about it more, this dog sort of looked like an oversized Benji. Any thoughts on the identity of this mystery hound? Regardless, I've seen seven dogs so far today.

The man in the turkey suit is gone as is the brass section and the eager young men and women handing out free Pepsi. I did see a Mom yell at her kid to "get back here" a few minutes ago. That was fun. Right now, it just feels like a pretty normal day at the airport - good news for those of us who expected havoc!

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Not too much to report. Life here at LGA continues as normal. There are very few delays, mostly with American flights heading to other big cities (I saw one delay for Miami). The mood seems to be pretty good all around. The food court is not full of screaming children and the shuttle buses are not featuring flustered flyers looking for their connections.

Security: Lines are moving a little slower than normal due to families, so use the appropriate lane as you head through! Expect about 15-minute lines.

Check-in: This is pretty seamless. Online check-in, self-service kiosks, and being aware of baggage fees go a long way to making everyone’s day easier—including your own.

Parking: Lot 3 is full. The rest are OK.

Delays: Nothing major at the moment. American has some short delays heading to other larger cities. Nonetheless, plan to be here two hours ahead since anything can happen and traffic will only worsen as rush hour arrives.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

As I reported last time, things have picked up at MIA. The good news is that many of the longer check-in lines have dwindled, the bad news is those folks are now working their way through security. However, even with those extra folks security is running smoothly and people are getting through without too much delay. Most folks seem to know the 3-1-1 rule (no larger than 3 ounce containers, placed in a one quart plastic bag, one per traveler) and only a few are having issues with too many/too large bags. As such, there is a sense of calm at the checkpoints.

One interesting change from this morning (and yesterday) are the number of folks now running through the airports. I hope this doesn't mean you read my blog and thought "hey, I've got time for another game of beach croquet before we go to Grandma's house". This afternoon highlights the need to give yourself the right amount of time, as you can see just how quickly the wait times can change.

Stats & Stuff:

Security: Security checkpoints J, H, E and C/D have wait times of about 20 minutes. Other lines have shorter wait times. Family lanes are definitely helping.

Check-in: Check-in lines for AA are still very good, with the longest wait remaining about 15 minutes. There are still "vacancy" signs on the kiosks and curbside check-in has short waits. The International carriers highlighted before have seen their lines decrease, with BA and VX now having the longer lines (waits of about 20 minutes). Most other carriers have lines of less than 10 minutes.

Parking: One trend we are hearing about is that more folks are getting rides to the airport as a cost-saving measure. Maybe this is why all the parking people I talk with say they have spots available. Call 305-876-7536 for the latest MIA parking info.

Delays: Delays are still pretty minimal, roughly the same as last time. Most are in the 20-30 minute range with many of them headed south - either to the Caribbean or Latin America. Definitely call ahead to check the status of your flight.

Pink Bag Check: 196 - do I hear 200?

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

When I arrived at the airport this morning, it was bustling with travelers. I was convinced that today would end up feeling like a typical Thanksgiving Eve with holiday crowds, lines and delays. So far, I was wrong.

According to LAX, they are expecting 14 percent fewer travelers this year, and from where I stand, I can see the drop. Even though it’s busier than a normal day, crowds are no where near the Thanksgiving madhouse that we’ve come to know.

Security: Less than 10 minutes, all terminals.
Check-in: 10 minutes in Terminal 1 (Southwest); 5-10 minutes in other terminals.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The latest issue at the airport is in the baggage area. Passengers on arriving flights, including an international flight from Toronto, have been waiting up to 40 mins for their luggages. Announcements are being made ever 10 minutes slowly updating passengers of the carousel status so avoid the baggage area if you are making your way to the airport since it is crowded.

Other than the baggage area the airport has returned to yesterday's pace, moderately slow with little wait time at the check-in counters and security checkpoints. Hartsfield-Jackson was super proactive in opening new lanes and increasing the TSA staff. There is a staff every 10 feet waiting to answer and assist you across the three terminals. I managed to tell the supervisor of the main checkpoint that I was hoping for lines that curved like a snake and he said their goal was to make sure no one waited past 10 minutes to get through the checkpoints.

Anyways, that's it for me on the home front of Hartsfield-Jackson. I'm going to head on to the security checkpoints so I can finally get a glimpse if the real action is on the other side! I'll see you there!

Delays: There are numerous arrival flight delays over at AirTran with flights coming in from Dallas Forth Worth, Memphis, Washington D.C., so if you are waiting for a loved one, please double check Hartsfield-Jackson's website.

traffic: The previous accident on I-285 has cleared if you are traveling from Fulton County into Atlanta.

Parking: North and south economy parking lots are full. Park-Ride A is also full.

• Before heading to the airport, check your local traffic reports at www.traffic.com for delays along your route and allow for more commute time if needed.
• Allow ample time to park, check-in and get through security. A minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international is recommended during the holidays.
• Consider shipping all gifts to your destination ahead of your travels. Wrapped gifts are opened for screening purposes, and extra fees will apply if your allotted baggage limit is exceeded.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Okay Denver—where are you? Right now there are no lines at flight check-in or at security. I almost expect a whisp of tumbleweed to roll on by from one end of the terminal to the other. Okay, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but for one of the busiest travel days of the year, things are really rolling right along.

The biggest action is still at the arrivals area by the fountain, where I spotted a family all wearing Groucho Marx mustaches, eyeglasses, and fake noses greeted their arriving (and amused) passengers. Chivalry is clearly not dead here in Denver, either—I’ve seen many guys greet their sweeties with a pretty bouquet. One more thing I’m starting to see more of: helium-balloon Thanksgiving turkeys. I’d totally love to bring one of those back home.

There are a few minor delays to speak of, but nothing widespread. The biggest delay I’m seeing right now is Mexicana flight 851 to Mexico City, which will be delayed just about an hour

Security: 5 minutes or less
Check-in: 5 minutes or less
Parking: Plenty of room in the garage and Mt. Elbert. The Pike’s Peak shuttle lot is full, as are the east and west economy lots.
Delays: Very minimal.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Since my last post, the amount of people in the airport has grown substantially. It feels like a true holiday rush. And as you can see from the photo above, the weather is still gloomy. Traffic has picked up quite a bit around the airport, and there are still quite a few delays in the 15 - 45 minutes range out of all terminals. There are also still a few flights to Los Angeles delayed around an hour and a half.

Right now the hot spot in the airport seems to be baggage claim, as quite a few planes have landed in the last couple of hours. So if you are picking someone up, give yourself a little extra time. Also, while ticket counter lines are still moving right along, security lines have slowed down a bit. Terminal 4 Security Checkpoints A and D are both running about 15 - 20 minutes long.

The point here is this: get here early. Two hours early if you can. It seems that the crowds are coming in waves, so you may get lucky and hit the aiport at a slower time. But I wouldn't risk missing my grandma's homemade stuffing by getting here right before departure. Just allow some extra time - the stuffing is worth it.

Parking is still available other than the West Economy lot. Parking shouldn't be an issue, as the airport hasn't even had to utilize the "holiday overflow lots" at this point.

Security: Security checkpoints have picked up a bit. Give yourself at least 15 extra minutes.

Check-in: Check-in should be a breeze. The lines are short in all terminals.

Parking: The West Economy lot is full, but other lots are still open.

Delays: There are about 15 flights delayed between 15 and 45 minutes. Check your departure time before you leave your house.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

2:30 EST

With all the lines short, no weather challenges and smoothly-running operations at Reagan National, the Gnome decided to roam and take in the sights of our nation's capital.

UPDATED POLL RESULTS:

I've been asking travelers at Reagan National to pick their preferred cook for Thanksgiving dinner out of the below options: Here's the latest tally:

Hilary Clinton - 13
Sarah Palin - 71
Michelle Obama - 84
Nancy Pelosi - 13

Will Sarah mount a comeback? Check back for more updates...

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

What can I say? The lines remain short and delays are barely existent. Not only have the TSA & Airline employees very successfully prepared to make this a stress-free event for you, travelers have really embraced the general rules of thumb for getting through the airport without any glitches… making it a stress free day for almost everyone. Just in case you have missed any of those general rules, here is a little food for thought before you head to the airport today… 1. Give yourself plenty of time. While the lines have all been pretty short today, there have been a couple of times where some back-ups have occurred and you don’t want to be the one who gets stuck in a line and misses your flight. 2. Pack smart! Make sure your bags don’t exceed the weight limits and be prepared to fork over a fee for any overages & extras! 3. Bring some “to do” and some “to eat” items to keep your little ones (and yourselves) busy during any waiting you might have to do. Mostly… just be prepared, relaxed and patient!

Security: The lines are short in security, with the exception of terminal 3 where the line is up to 45 minutes – a truly abnormal situation today, so we expect it to subside quickly.
Check-in: Everything is moving quickly.
Delays: Some delays into Newark due to wind & weather (up to 35 minutes – check with your carrier before you leave for the airport).

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

1:30 p.m. CST

Good afternoon from the almost eerily quiet Terminal C at DFW Airport. I just did a walk through of all three sections of the terminal and there were virtually no waits at check-in or security. This is good news for travelers, of course, but we are still recommending that you arrive to the airport two hours prior to your departure. As I've said in a number of interviews with the media today, you'd rather have the extra time and have a cup of coffee at your gate than sweat it out at the last minute.

Security: There are hardly any waits at the three checkpoints in Terminal C (American) at this hour.
Check-in: The same can be said for check-in.
Parking: There is plenty!
Delays: The sun is beginning to peek out and the delays are minimal.
Pets: Since my last post, I've seen three more pups, a feisty lab, a tiny multese/poodle combo and another golden retriever. That brings my total to six for the afternoon.

This afternoon's photo is dedicated to all of the air traffic controllers making sure that all of the planes across the country are taking off and landing safely. My dad used to man the tower at New Orleans International and though it was stressful, at the same time he's told me on many occasions that it's the most rewarding job he's ever had. So let's all pause and raise a glass to all of those hardworking men and woman working this holiday weekend at the nation's towers.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

With all the lines short, no weather challenges and smoothly-running operations at Reagan National, the Gnome decided to roam and take in the sights of our nation's capital.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Its starting to act like one of the busiest travel days of the year here at MIA. Check-in and security waits are the longest they've been over the past two days, and a steady stream of people are coming in. The lines are moving fairly well, its just that there are a lot of turkey-seeking folks in those lines. Now would be a good time to try out some of our top tips:

- check the status of your flight
- if you can, check-in on-line or at a self-service kiosk
- check traffic before heading out
- give yourself enough time at the airport (2 hours for domestic, 3 hours for Intl)
- pack light and understand the baggage policies of your carrier
- use the family lanes at security if you need more time or assistance

Folks seem to be taking the lines in stride and seem happy to be heading out for the holidays, so now that you are prepared, you can keep the good vibes going. And if you see your friendly neighborhood, gnome-wearing blogger, feel free to say hi!

Stats & Stuff:

Security: Security checkpoint H now has waits of about 30 minutes, with checkpoints C/D, H and E waiting at least 20. Other lines have shorter wait times. Family lanes are definitely helping.

Check-in: Check-in lines for AA are still very good, with the longest wait at the First Class check-in (about 15 minutes). A number of International carries have very long lines right now. These include Air Jamaica, Avianca, Taca, and LAN. Other carriers have lines of up to 10 minutes.

Parking: There is still parking in all MIA lots. Call 305-876-7536 for the latest updates. Other off-airport lots are also reporting availability, although they recommend you call ahead to make sure they will have room for you.

Delays: A few delays have started to appear, with most in the 20-30 minute range. The majority of the delays seem to be headed south - either to the Caribbean or Latin America. Definitely call ahead to check the status of your flight.

Pink Bag Check: A rosy 184.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Here I am, LGA. It's always odd to be at the airport when you're not flying anywhere, but it gives a unique look at the place. Since I just arrived, I don't have a whole lot to report. However, I took the M60 bus here from Manhattan and it took about 40 minutes so be forewarned that New York's traffic is living up to its reputation. This will undoubtedly worsen as the day wears on.

As Genevieve mentioned, the long-term lot is full but the vouchers are still being handed out so you can get a discounted rate by stopping by the lot.

On my way in, I noticed that United flights are departing on time. For now.

And, like last year, Cuddles the Clown is making balloon animals for kids waiting around in the Concourse D food court. Michelle, I'll get you a giraffe.

Safe travels everyone, I'll report back at 3:30 EST so check in then.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The kids flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson today are stylish. The girls, with their hair neatly combed into ponytails or in curls, are wearing pink jackets and red sweaters. Several girls even had faux-fur jackets on too (or was it faux?) and many boys are trotting by in matching tracksuits and sneakers.

The majority of the kids traveling today (and yesterday) are traveling with their own carry-on luggages. It cheers me up to see these kids drag their own luggages like adults and see parents make their kids punch in the confirmation numbers at the self-check kiosks over at the Delta terminal. It's just pretty cool thing to see.

Delays: There was one cancelled arrival Delta flight (DL 350) from Lima, Peru. Several flight delays are coming from the midwest on down to Knoxville, Tennessee over on Delta. AirTran have delays coming from the northern midwest mainly from Chicago, New York City, Ohio and Boston.

Security: less than 10 min wait on all three checkpoints.

traffic: A six-vehicle crash has stopped traffic if you are trying to get to the airport from Fulton County. No word yet on clean up and lanes opening. Please visit Traffic.com for the alternative routes to the airport.

• Before heading to the airport, check your local traffic reports at www.traffic.com for delays along your route and allow for more commute time if needed.
• Allow ample time to park, check-in and get through security. A minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international is recommended during the holidays.
• Consider shipping all gifts to your destination ahead of your travels. Wrapped gifts are opened for screening purposes, and extra fees will apply if your allotted baggage limit is exceeded.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITYTrip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

It seems we’ve gotten through the morning rush as far as departures are concerned, and I’m seeing waits of less than five minutes to go through security right now. Check-in lines are similarly short (in some cases they’re non-existent), and with so many check-in kiosks standing open, it’s hard to believe that it’s one of the biggest travel days of the year.

The action here has shifted to the arrivals area, where hordes of happy people are reuniting with hugs, kisses, an upside-down “welcome home” sign, and, in a few cases, even outright squeals of excitement. Baggage claim areas are similarly busy, but those ski racks are still virtually empty, reflecting the lack of snow in area mountains, unusual for this time of year. I’m noticing that some arrivals are actually coming in early, so if you’re planning to pick up a loved one make sure you check their scheduled landing time before you go.

By the way, it’s chilly in here! I’ve been running around all morning and am still a bit cold, so you might want to bring along an extra sweater.

Security: 5 minutes or less
Check-in: 5 minutes or less
Parking: Plenty of room in the garage and Mt. Elbert. The Pike’s Peak shuttle lot is full, as are the east and west economy lots.
Delays: Very minimal.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Well, it hardly even feels like Thanksgiving here at the airport in Vegas right now: security is moving fast, check-in is even faster, and passengers---as you can tell from that photo at the top there---are pretty darn relaxed. (Yup, that passenger was just lying on the ground there in front of the US Airways ticket counter, chatting on her cell with not a care in the world--- not even about the dirty airport carpet!)

It's still grey and drizzly outside here, but the traffic and parking situations seem to be running smoothly. To make things a little more exciting---I must say, I'm disappointed so far by the lack of fist fights over baggage fees or Elvis impersonators lining up to check in---I've decided to start counting the number of people wearing sequined jackets or sweaters. Believe it or not, I have already seen three.

Security: Running very, very smoothly: no more than 5 minutes wait time at any of the checkpoints, including D, which has been a lot slower up until now.

Check-point: There's about a 15 minute wait to check in at Westjet, but otherwise check-in wait times aren't bad at all: 5-10 minutes tops across the board. Interestingly, there's barely any wait to check in at United, but the line to check bags is starting to get long. Consider packing light or using curbside check-in.

Parking: Plenty of spaces available in the new Economy Lot.

Delays: Bad news if you're traveling on Mexicana 991 to Mexico City---your 10:25am flight is now leaving at 1pm, so you've got an extra two and a half hours to fill (come and talk to me!) United 1456 leaving for Chicago at 11:25am is now delayed until 12:12pm) and Southwest 2265 to San Diego at 10:30am is now leaving at 11:10am. Southwest 2638 to Oakland at 10:45am is canceled.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

As the day wears on and the rain continues, we are starting to see some delays here at Phoenix Sky Harbor. RIght now there are around 15 flights delayed anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes. There are about four flights to LA and one to Bakersfield that are delayed an hour and a half. I have been working to get to the bottom of the LA delays, but no luck so far. It seems weather is not a probable factor, so it's a mystery for now.

The lines are still short with the exception of the security line in Terminal 2, and Security Checkpoint C in Terminal 4. Those are looking like about a 15 minute wait. My guess is that those will clear up after a few scheduled flights take off here in the next hour. Actually the biggest crowds I have seen have been those waiting to greet their guests at the security checkpoints.

As someone who is traveling today, I'm impressed with how things are going, and I've actually enjoyed being at the airport today. I mean, who wouldn't like hearing a little boy scream"Papa!" at the top of his lungs while running into the arms of his waiting grandfather? I could watch that all day.

Security: Lines are short with the exception of Terminal 2 and Security Checkpoint C in Terminal 4. Allow about 15 extra minutes.

Check-In: All lines are short. REALLY short.

Parking: West economy lot is full and closed, others are all still open for now.

Delays:: It's important to call ahead or check your flight online, because there are quite a few delays of about 15 - 45 minutes. A lot of the delays seem to be focused in California.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

First, I just want to say that I feel famous! Like Jessica Simpson famous. Well, ok, maybe not that famous, but a little more known that I was five minutes ago. I sat down next to two Los Angeles police officers to write this blog entry, and this conversation ensued:

Cop #1: Hey, you look really familiar. Were you on the news yesterday?
Me: [Totally beaming that this cute cop recognized me!] Yes, I was!
Cop #1: Channel 7, right?
Me: Yeah, uh, I think. [Trying to recall the all the channels in L.A] ABC, right? I was on NBC, too. Which one did you see?
Cop #1: Yeah, it was ABC.
Cop #2: Are you with the media or what?
Me: I’m with Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force.
Cop #2: Huh?

I go on to explain what we’re doing at the airport, and tell them that they’ll probably see me walking around all day. [Walking around with a glow, that is. After all, I’m famous!]

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

11:20 a.m. CST

Greetings from Terminal E! I've spent the last 45 minutes checking in on travelers flying Delta, Northwest, Continental, Midwest, Alaska, U.S. Airways, Frontier and AirTran today. Luckily, these fortunate souls are being treated to free Diet Pepsi Max as well, but I don't think the guy in the turkey suit has made his way over here yet.

Security: At one point there was about a 10 minute wait at the E33 checkpoint, but it dwindled down to nothing fairly quickly. It's the same at the other checkpoints throughout Terminal E.
Check-in: Each of the counters of the aforementioned airlines are experiencing waits of less than five minutes.
Parking: All lots have available parking.
Delays: No delays of note.
Pets: I only saw one new dog since my last post, a Kita Shepherd/Burmese mix. He was a big fella!

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

It’s picking up here in Denver and is expected to throughout the day as people get off work early for the holidays. There are lots of families taking advantage of the special TSA family lanes, and I’ve noticed a number of suited-up Air Force cadets are traveling, too. Security lines are growing since my last report. Right now it’s looking like a 12 to 15-minute wait.

Airport tip: Based on my observations, I can tell you that entering security from the north end will always be faster than if you enter in from the south side. This is because many of the larger airlines spill out closer to the southern end, but if you don’t mind a quick three-minute walk north, it’ll save you time overall. And, if you’re unsure which end is north, just ask any of the many TSA representatives, or look for the airport’s hospitality ambassadors (hard to miss, they’re the ones in the white cowboy hats). Or, if you see me, feel free to ask as well (I’m the one running around all day with the gnome on my shirt), or tell me how your travel experiences are going.

On a personal note, among the sea of strangers, I got to run into a familiar face, as a friend of mine from college was on a United flight this morning. I accompanied him as he did curbside check-in outside in the chilly day. It was a breeze, and took him about five minutes. So if lines are looking long inside the terminal, then remember you can go outside to check.

Security: 15 minutes or less
Check-in: Five to 10 minutes
Parking: Plenty of room in the garage and Mt. Elbert. The Pike’s Peak shuttle lot is full, as are the east and west economy lots.
Delays: Very minimal.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

I guess it's the thick skin (thanks to living la vida loca en Nueva York) but I just haven't gotten used to the politness here. As I sit in front of the Continental Airline terminal seven people at different times has sat next to me and said to me "Happy Thanksgiving" before they leave for the security checkpoints! WOW! And all around the airport I continue to hear lots of thank you's, "May I help you?" and of course, "Oh, pardon me." We rarely hear "pardon" in New York but we do hear alot of "me."

So right now crowd conditions are steady. There is a flow of travelers heading to the AirTran lines and Delta but it's not the mosh pit I wanted. The party at Korean Air is over too. Currently there are long lines at the food court and the Atrium is filled with passengers snoring away at one of the those comfortable cushion seats that I wish I can park in too!

There is a storm watch out of southern California but so far the departure flights out of ATL are still set to leave with minimal delays. Arrivals on AirTran and Continental from midwest are landing 30-45 minutes behind scheduled times. Please check your airline carriers.

Finally, the man of the hour is Buck, the nice and gentle chocolate Great Dane who is visiting relatives in Ft. Lauderdale. I had the chance to hug Buck before he sped away to the south security checkpoint...

Security: Wait time is 15 mins. The TSA worker at the main checkpoint said one of the things that slow travelers down in ATL is that many still don't know what to take out and put in the buckets, what article of clothings to leave on/off. There are family-friendly lanes availiable for families, those with special disabilities and those who don't travel as much. These lanes, created by the TSA, allows families and individuals to go through the screening process at their pace. I encourage you to use it if you're unsure about the TSA's screening rules.

Check-point: 5-10 min wait at most terminals.

Parking: Continue to aviod North Economy and Park-Ride A parking lots.

• Before heading to the airport, check your local traffic reports at www.traffic.com for delays along your route and allow for more commute time if needed.
• Allow ample time to park, check-in and get through security. A minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international is recommended during the holidays.
• Consider shipping all gifts to your destination ahead of your travels. Wrapped gifts are opened for screening purposes, and extra fees will apply if your allotted baggage limit is exceeded.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

More and more folks are coming to the airport, but all systems are running with smoothly, with most wait times under 15 minutes. More importantly, the pink baggage brigade continues and perhaps I have learned the secret. One nice lady explained to me that "pink makes me happy" (pink cosmos make many of us happy, right Lori?), so perhaps more pink bags mean more happy travelers? The mood at the airport this holiday has certainly been good, so maybe there is something to this. Don't worry, I'll stay on top of this to see if we can make a true correlation.

Another thing to think about as you are preparing for your trip is how light can you pack? Numerous folks have been seen re-packing bags to meet size or weight restrictions, and security is enforcing the one carry-on/one personal item rule. With most major airlines charging $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second, plus more for heavy items (check your carriers' policy to see their weight requirements), there has never been a better time to leave that extra sweater or pair of clogs at home.

Stats & Stuff:

Security: All lines are moving well, with only the main AA checkpoint (C/D) having a wait over 15 minutes. Family lanes are having a nice impact in several checkpoints so take advantage of these if you need more time or assistance.

Check-in: All AA check-in lines are moving extremely well, with wait times less than 15 minutes. Self-service kiosks are looking a bit lonely so show them some love. Curbside check-in has slowed a bit with only minimal waits. A couple of International departures are driving lines over 30 minutes but all other counters are seeing waits of less than 10 minutes. Many passengers have said they used on-line check-in to decrease their time spent waiting in lines at the airport.

Parking: There is still parking in all MIA lots. Call 305-876-7536 for the latest updates. Other off-airport lots are also reporting availability, although they recommend you call ahead to make sure they will have room for you.

Delays: There are a few delays on departures and some International arrivals are a little behind schedule. Most flights continue to be on-time.

Pink Bag Check: 156 and getting pinker.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Nothing too exciting to report right now from ORD. The lines are moving quickly, even though it does appear to be getting busier. There does seem to be an overwhelming feeling of goodwill and kindness among strangers in the airport during this holiday season. While I’m sure much of that can be attributed to the great lengths that the TSA, Airlines and Airports have gone to in ensuring a stress free travel experience, we can’t forget that patience and thoughtfulness are always great travel companions and they have certainly played a big part in making this busy travel season run so smoothly. Keep up the happy holiday attitudes people and don’t forget to visit the Rockettes while you are here!

Security: The lines are moving quickly.
Check-in: Everything is moving quickly.
Delays: No delays to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

11:30 EST

Smooth as silk here at DCA; the airport operations guy just walked by with a huge, grateful grin on his face. With check in and security lines all running at 5 minutes or less, the Roaming Gnome has more time to meet folks coming thru the airport. Economy parking lot is more than 80 percent full, with approx 500 slots left at $12 per day. Plenty of parking in the other garages. Minimal delays on arrivals and departures.

POLL UPDATE:

Over the course of my two days here at DCA, I'm asking travelers who they would prefer to prepare their Thanksgiving dinner. Results as of 11:30:

Hiary Clinton - 4
Sarah Palin - 47
Michelle Obama - 48
Nancy Pelosi - 7

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Hi everyone! Looks like this will be my last blog post for Thanksgiving Task Force -- I've been called away from LGA and back to the big island of Manhattan. But don't fret! I have my co-worker, fellow blogger, and all-around good guy Charlie Davidson on his way out here to take over for the rest of the day.

The big news at LGA is that long-term parking is full. But, spaces may open up so it is worth calling (718) 533-3850 to see exactly what the deal is before giving up on it all together. There's also a rumor circulating that of you try to get long-term parking and the lot is full you get some sort of discount voucher for another lot. So swing by that long-term lot regardless! Hey -- in this economy, every penny counts.

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately 10 minutes to get through security at every checkpoint.

Check-in: Central Terminal is busiest, but still no more than 10 minutes. At the US Airways terminal, there are more employees than customers so wait times are under one minute.

Parking: Long term is filled but spots may be opening up. See above for a handy money saving tip!

Delays: Flights arriving from northern New York (particularly Buffalo and Ithaca are experiencing delays. If you're flying to Phoenix, keep a watchful eye on your departure time as I've heard reports of heavy rain.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

There's a palpable excitement in the air here at LAS: everywhere you look, people are beaming at each other, and wishing their fellow travelers a Happy Thanksgiving. This might have to do with the fact that it hasn't been too stressful so far at McCarran; while we had an early morning rush from around 5:30am to 7am, the flow has quietened down a little now and people seem happy and relaxed. It helps, of course, that the staff here are both cheery and very proactive with aiding travelers; I've been approached multiple times to ask if I need help with anything so far!

One thing I'm noticing here is a LOT of people with a LOT of luggage; do be aware that most airlines are charging $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second---plus extra weight charges start at $50---so you can really avoid a lot of fees if you pack a little lighter. If you're bringing gifts with you for the upcoming holiday season, consider shipping them ahead instead of bringing them with you today in your luggage.

Security: The longest lines are at Checkpoint D (which serves major carriers including United, American, Delta, Continental, and Alaska Airlines); we peaked at about a 20-minute wait time an hour or so ago, but it's since got down to around 10-15 minutes. Be sure to budget extra time. As for Checkpoints A&B and Checkpoint C (Southwest), they're running very smoothly with less than a 5-minute wait time.

Check-in: The major snarls are at the American and Northwest counters, where you can expect to wait for 10-15 minutes to check in. All other carriers are running at around 5 minutes. Be sure to use the (many, many) Speed Kiosks around the airport if you're not checking luggage---if the self check-in counters for your airline are tied up, these are a great alternative: they're free and they serve every airline.

Parking: Looking good---still plenty of spaces available, most notably in the new Economy Lot (a max of $8 a day)

Traffic: We've got a little rain outside but it doesn't seem to be having an impact on traffic into the airport. Check traffic.com before you leave, though, just to be sure.

Delays: Nothing major to report, although US Airways Flight 1748 to Philadelphia at 9am has been canceled.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Well the rain doesn't seem to be causing any problems or dampening any spirits at Sky Harbor Airport. I have been witnessing some very touching reunions, and some very teary goodbyes. I saw a soldier saying goodbye to his wfe, and they didn't let go of each other the entire time I was there. So clearly emotions are still running high here at Sky Harbor, even if frustration is not that emotion.

As you can see from the photo above, traffic is still light and lines are still short. The longest lines seem to be at the Southwest ticket counter, although I just spoke with one traveler who had no problem getting through the line. It seems to be moving quickly.

The only delays I have seen seem to be flights to Los Angeles. I've seen 4 flight delays to LA. Parking it still holding steady with only the West economy lot full.

Security: Lines are short. You won't have to wait more than 10 minutes. The longer lines are in Terminal 4, but nothing too long.

Check-in: Check-in lines are moving quickly. If you are flying Southwest, you may end up waiting up to 15 - 20 minutes.

Parking: West economy is full, but the other lots are open. Call the parking hotline for updates: 602-273-4545.

Delays: Most delays are flights to Los Angeles. No other delays to report at this time.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Yesterday I said that it looked like a typical Tuesday at LAX. Crowds were minimal with no lines, traffic or delays to report. This morning was a different picture, though, with crowds packing Terminal 1 (Southwest), and lines forming in other terminals as well. Even though the early morning hours (5-7 a.m.) are traditionally the busiest for Thanksgiving Eve, crowds are expected throughout the day.

Security: 25-30 minutes in Terminal 1; 15-20 minutes in Terminal 7 (United); 10 minutes or less in other terminals.
Check-in: Southwest (Terminal 1) is busy – 25-30 minutes for check-in at both curbside and ticket counters; 5-10 minutes in other terminals.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Things are still moving right along in Chicago today. The TSA has opened the family lanes in security, so if you have lots of strollers and little ones traveling with you today, be sure to take advantage of this convenience. Additionally, the family lanes are good for those of you traveling with medically necessary liquids over 3 oz.

We have seen an increase in working dogs around the airport and they seem to be quite interested to see what is in those bags that are being repacked because of weight limits, so be sure to do your packing (under the weight limit) before you leave the house if you want to avoid any curious sniffing once you arrive at the terminal.

Also, if you aren’t lucky enough to be traveling to the Big Apple this holiday season, you still have a chance to see the Radio City Rockettes at a meet & greet between 10am and noon right here at ORD!

Security: The lines are medium in security, but moving quickly.
Check-in: Everything is moving quickly.
Delays: No delays to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: travelocity flight status
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Things are still moving right along in Chicago today. The TSA has opened the family lanes in security, so if you have lots of strollers and little ones traveling with you today, be sure to take advantage of this convenience. Additionally, the family lanes are good for those of you traveling with medically necessary liquids over 3 oz.

We have seen an increase in working dogs around the airport and they seem to be quite interested to see what is in those bags that are being repacked because of weight limits, so be sure to do your packing (under the weight limit) before you leave the house if you want to avoid any curious sniffing once you arrive at the terminal.

Also, if you aren’t lucky enough to be traveling to the Big Apple this holiday season, you still have a chance to see the Radio City Rockettes at a meet & greet between 10am and noon right here at ORD!

Security: The lines are medium in security, but moving quickly.
Check-in: Everything is moving quickly.
Delays: No delays to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: travelocity flight status
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The party is at Korean Air located in Terminal North. Families are huddling at the lines with lots of kids playing tag, many travelers are checking in boxes as many as three to a person along with their baggages. The schedule shows that there are only four flights leaving for Seoul, Korea. Many travelers who will be making the 17 hour flight are the elderly who are crying and hugging their families and as I said yesterday, it's ok to cry at ATL.

Security: Less than 10 min on all three security checkpoints.
Check-in: Delta has a wait time of 15 mins, AirTrain is about 10 mins and Korean Air is 25 mins due to the heavy luggages being checked and inspected by ticket agents.
Parking: Please aviod the North Economy and Park-Ride A parking lots.
Delay: No delays but there are gate changes. Please double check your itnerary.

• Before heading to the airport, check your local traffic reports at www.traffic.com for delays along your route and allow for more commute time if needed.
• Allow ample time to park, check-in and get through security. A minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international is recommended during the holidays.
• Consider shipping all gifts to your destination ahead of your travels. Wrapped gifts are opened for screening purposes, and extra fees will apply if your allotted baggage limit is exceeded.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

It’s been quite a morning here at the Denver airport, where I’ve been in a non –stop string of radio and TV interviews while overlooking the security lines. While the general mood feels a bit more hectic than yesterday (the travelers seem more hurried, and I’ve seen more than a few sprints across the airport, luggage in tow), but overall, things are really moving very smoothly. All security lanes are open, which is keeping wait times under 10 minutes. If you’re parking at the airport, there’s still plenty of room in the garage and Mt. Albert, but Pike’s Peak lot and the east and west economy lots are already full.

The sun’s come up and weather is not a factor here again today. The music has come up again, too--as of this writing, there’s a mariachi band serenading the security queue. I've got to duck into a few more interviews, but more details to come in my next report.

Security: Less than 10 minutes
Check-in: Most carriers are less than five minutes. United is running more like five to seven minutes, but is prepared to funnel people to additional kiosks if things start getting busier.
Parking: Plenty of room in the garage and Mt. Elbert.
Delays: Very minimal.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

9:15 a.m. CST

The pace has picked up at DFW! Since my first post, I've made my way through Terminals B, A and I'm now back at D. If it weren't for DFW Airport's Terminal Link shuttles, there's no way I'd be able to cover so much ground. While the crowds are getting larger, the mood remains upbeat and the lines at check-in and security are not bad. A brass quartet has just started playing holiday tunes here in Terminal D and reps from Pepsi are handing out cans of Diet Pepsi Max for any frazzled travelers needing a ginseng + caffeine boost.

Security: In the last hour I've seen 15 minute waits at the A36 checkpoint (American), A21 (American) and A12 (American). At the American Eagle checkpoint in Terminal B, waits were between five and 10 minutes, while over at the United checkpoint, also in Terminal B, waits there were less than five.
Check-in: All check-in counters in Terminal A and B have seen waits of five minutes or less over the last hour.
Parking: All lots have available parking.
Delays: None at this hour though it's a cloudier morning today at DFW.
Pets: I've seen two dogs since my last post - a golden retriever and a German shepherd, who was working outside with a police officer.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Today started with a steady, dreary rain that has continued throughout the morning so far. But the rain hasn't stopped travelers or media from making their way to Phoenix Sky Harbor. In fact, all five news stations are out to report on the travel conditions. The thing is that so far, things are so smooth there isn't much to report.

The weather is expected to stay rainy for most of the day, but so far there are no delays because of it. There was one flight cancellation, which is listed below. The major news to report is that the West Economy lot is FULL. Make your way to the east economy, or park on the upper level of the Terminal 2 garage for the same price.

Security:: No delays to report. Terminal 4 is by far the busiest, so give yourself a little extra time if you are going to be there.
Check-in:: No delays to report.
Parking:: West Economy lot is full. Plenty of space available in other lots.
Delays: None to report. Southwest Flight #1670 to Oakland was canceled.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The interior of the airport is running smooth as a plucked turkey, but the area outside the American Airlines terminal here is more like lumpy gravy. Lots of folks are dropping off and/or using curbside check-in, so be prepared for crowds and stop-and-go driving. And be aware that officials are enforcing the no parking, waiting or standing policy, so be prepared to be shoo'd if you try to sit too long in one place.

Did you know that MIA was awarded the Transportation Security Administration's Airport of the Year award? They received this award for working with the airport to significantly decrease wait times and improve the traveler experience. One quick tip on security is that in the American Airlines terminal, you can get to all C, D and E gates through either the C/D or E security checkpoint. Similarly, you can get to all H and J gates through either the H or J security checkpoints. As you are breezing (hopefully) through the security line, be sure to give some of your turkey-day thanks to the TSA folks for all they do.

Stats & Stuff:

Security: All lines are moving well, with no current wait times over 15-20 minutes, and most are less than that.

Check-in: All check-in lines are moving well, with most waits less than 15 minutes. Self-service kiosks continue to be line free. As mentioned above, curbside seems to be busiest right now. A couple of International departures are driving lines but all other counters are seeing waits of less than 10 minutes. Many passengers are taking advantage of on-line check-in to avoid these lines entirely.

Parking: There is still parking in all MIA lots. Call 305-876-7536 for the latest updates. Other off-airport lots are also reporting availability, although they recommend you call ahead to make sure they will have room for you.

Delays: There are a few delays on departures, but most flights are running on-time. Many arrivals are getting in early so definitely check flight status before coming to the airport.

Pink Bag Check: 128 and growing.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Well, it would seem that things are still running quite well at O’Hare this morning. It is definitely busy, mostly where people are checking a lot of bags – don’t forget that you may incur charges for those bags (for extra bags AND extra weight), so think about how you pack your suitcase before you leave the house. Curbside check-in seems to be the way to go right now as the lines are much shorter than inside at the counters, but if you are truly the savvy packer, you can avoid much of the wait today by getting inline at the kiosks with your carry-on bags!

You will also find lots of extra airline & TSA employees on-hand to help you figure out where to go and make sure you aren't waiting in the wrong lines, so don't be afraid to ask for a little help today. That's what they are there for and they want to ensure your happy travels on this happy holiday!

Security: The lines are medium in security, but moving quickly.
Check-in: United is busy, but again, moving quickly.
Delays: No delays to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

9:20 EST

Obama-mania is apparent everywhere you turn here at Reagan National. Mugs, shirts, hats, magnets, even playing cards - available for the right price. Our favorite traveler (see photo) has a wealth of options.

It was great to see the burst of activity here at DCA between 6:30-8:30am, with loads of turkey-focused travelers making their way thru check in and security. Things still moving smoothly with a mostly blue sky setting the stage for (hopefully) minimal delays. Local media is out in force - the Roaming Gnome did six interviews in Terminal C this morning.

CHECK IN: Less than 10 minutes at each airline desk, in many cases less than 5.

SECURITY: Moving smoothly - 5-10 minutes at all terminals

PARKING: The economy lot is steadily filling up - less than 700 spots left out of 3,000. The garage at the end of Terminal C has less than 100 spaces open, but the garage next to it has 1600+ spots open. Garage A has 400+ slots open.

POLL UPDATE:

Over my two days at DCA, I'm asking travelers: Who would you prefer to prepare your Thanksgiving dinner? Latest tally:

Hillary Clinton 4
Sarah Palin 30
Michelle Obama 37
Nancy Pelosi 6

More results to come later, along with the best one liners shared by travelers after hearing my question...

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

I arrived this morning to a rush of travelers zipping through each other. Hooray! The buzz has come. Before six this morning at the Delta concourse in Terminal South had many passengers punching away at the self-help kiosks and often helping each other. Over at Terminal North, AirTran and Continential airlines, crowds of lines are starting to form. Lots of flights are set to depart at 8 AM so there lots of fast walking and luggage drag racing.

Today's weather will be sunny and as I scanned through the departure schedule for all flights, there were no indications (so far) of any cancellations or potential delays.

One important item I do want to point out this morning from ATL are the bulging bags being checked in. Please remember that airline carriers are implementing baggage fees: $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second bag. Travelers flying Delta this Thanksgiving will be happy to know that Delta has held off charging the $15 fee for your first bag checked so hope that helps with your budgeting. If you planning to return on Sunday, I urge you to reduce the beauty products or pairs of socks and pack light. Even I had to learn!

Now on to the info:

Check-in: Delta, AirTran and Continential terminals have about a 15 min wait time to check in bags.

Security: the security checkpoint in the south terminal is building up fast with a wait time of 25 minutes, please use either the north or main security checkpoints.

Delays: None so far!

Parking: North Economy parking lot is full. Other lots are available. Feel free to check Hartsfield-Jackson's website for up to date information, as well.

Number of Leopard-print bags: Five! All from one travelers wearing six-inch heels.

• Before heading to the airport, check your local traffic reports at www.traffic.com for delays along your route and allow for more commute time if needed.
• Allow ample time to park, check-in and get through security. A minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international is recommended during the holidays.
• Consider shipping all gifts to your destination ahead of your travels. Wrapped gifts are opened for screening purposes, and extra fees will apply if your allotted baggage limit is exceeded.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

7:00 a.m. CST

Good morning and welcome to one of the busiest travel days of the year! We're off and running at DFW Airport. This is the third year in a row I've spent the Wednesday before Thanksgiving here and, as usual, the DFW staff is pulling out all the stops for its travelers. The guy in the turkey suit made his way into Terminal D at about 5:45 a.m. CDT and is doing his best to lift any weary spirits.

So far, I've been in Terminal C near gate 21 where it was still quiet and in Terminal D where, aside from the turkey, the pace has yet to pick up. We expect that to change, however, as the day goes along. I'm also going to keep track of how many pets I see walking through the terminals today. Yesterday it was mohawks, but I only saw one.

Security: No waits at C21 and D30 at this hour.
Check-in: Lines at C21 (American) and D30 (American) were all less than five minutes so far.
Parking: DFW is offering $10 terminal parking (normally $14-17) and $11 valet parking (normally $21) throughout the weekend - this is a great deal!
Delays: None at this hour.
Pets: None at this hour.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Strolling into MIA well before the sun came up, I was immediately met by a sleepy couple who asked "Is it morning yet"? Well, even though most normal folks were still in their dreamspace, it was, and the airport is now coming to life. While the crowds are starting to grow, things are still moving very well. Check-in and security waits are generally under 15 minutes, traffic is moving, and flights are on-time.

MIA is expecting today to be a very busy day so be sure to check your flight status before heading out and give yourself plenty of time - arriving 2 hours in advance for domestic flights and 3 hours for International flights. While that may leave you with some extra time in the airport, better to have time to do some shopping or have a pina colada (my much better-half would suggest a cosmo) then rush to make your flight. And remember, not only is this one of the busiest travel days of the year, but there are also peak times and if you happen to be traveling at that time, lines could be longer.

Stats & Stuff:

Security: All lines are moving well, with the lines in the American Airlines terminal the longest at up to 15 minutes. Security waits in the other terminals are less than 10 minutes.

Check-in: American Airlines check-in lines are running less than 15 minutes. Self-service kiosks have no waiting and many folks are using curbside check-in (which has a small wait). A couple of International departures are driving lines but all other counters are seeing waits of less than 10 minutes. Many passengers are taking advantage of on-line check-in to avoid these lines entirely.

Parking: There is still parking in all lots. Parking ranges from $8-$30 per day, including a valet option. Call 305-876-7536 for the latest updates.

Delays: Flights are running on-time, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't check your flight status before you head out.

Pink Bag Check: 116 and going strong.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Remember how I was depressed by the lack of crowds, lines and general hoopla at LaGuardia yesterday? Well, this morning my taxi got stuck in traffic around the airport, and it was only 5am. I was thrilled! I walked into Central Terminal and there they were! Holiday travelers! Lines! And my personal favorite -- news crews. In the course of 30 minutes, I conducted five interviews. All of a sudden, everyone is interested in Thanksgiving travel.

Do you feel my excitement?

Those on your way to LGA soon, don't be too worried. Lines are 10 minutes or less right now and delays on both arriving and departing flights are few and far between. I do expect things to get much busier as the day goes on, so check back often to see the latest information and check www.traffic.com to get the most up-to-date information for planning your trip to the airport. If you can, take public transportation. For Newark, take NJ Transit. For JFK, take the LIRR or the subway to the AirTrain. For LaGuardia, the M60 from Manhattan and the Q33 or Q47 from Queens.

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately 20 minutes to get through security in the North Terminal and only 5 minutes in the South Terminal. View security procedures.

Check-in: 10 minutes or less.

Parking: Long term is filling up.

Delays: So far, so good. Delays are minimal on arriving and departing flights.

Well, it's been a fairly slow day at LAS: there have been peaks and spikes on certain check-in lines---US Airways and Southwest, I'm looking at you---and the wait at Security Checkpoint D has been a fairly constant 10-20 minutes (way higher than any of the other checkpoints), but it seems the Thanksgiving madness hasn't quite begun at McCarran yet. I'll be back at the airport at 5:30am tomorrow to find out if it'll pick up and get a whole lot busier as people head home for Thanksgiving. My guess is a big YES.

For now, it's just coming up on 5:30pm on Tuesday night here, and check-in lines are hovering around the 5-minute mark for all carriers but Southwest, where waits are around 10 minutes. Security Checkpoint D passengers can expect waits of around 10 minutes, while you'll clear all other checkpoints in about five.

It may be of note to point out that no-one seems to be playing the slots here at McCarran---and it's not because there aren't enough machines around! Yet for the most part, they're totally deserted: are people saving their quarters for airport snacks or has the economy caught up with Vegas?!

Security: 5 minutes at checkpoints A, B, and C; 10 minutes at checkpoint D
Check-in: Southwest and US Airways are the busiest, with waits of around 10 minutes. All others are quiet, with waits of around 5 minutes.
Parking: Plenty available
Delays: Southwest flight 3855 to Sacramento is now estimated to be taking off around 8:40pm, rather than 8:05pm. And Southwest flight 2940 to Phoenix is canceled.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Even though traffic is expected to pick up between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., LAX is quiet for the time being. Impending bad weather continues to threat Los Angeles, as rain is expected to start falling soon. Travelers departing tomorrow need to prepare for delays between their homes and their destinations.

• Go to faa.gov for updates on air traffic delays across the country.
• Check your flight status before you head to the airport.
• Expect the roads to be slower, too. Visit traffic.com for driving updates, including best routes and roadblocks.
• Pack an umbrella, and keep your fingers crossed that Mother Nature doesn’t interfere with your holiday plans!

Security: 5-10 minutes
Check-in: Southwest (Terminal 1) and American (Terminal 4) are the busiest, with 10-15 minute waits at check-in.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send me an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

What a difference the evening makes! It is really ramping up here in Denver for the evening rush with security wait times hovering in the 15 to 20 minute mark, which is the longest I’ve seen all day. Along with that, the live music appears to be on break, and it’s a more determined set of travelers making their way through the security lines. That said, the lines are moving right along, and families would do well to use the special TSA family-designated lanes if they’re concerned about slowing down their fellow travelers.

Check-in lines are longest at Southwest, Frontier, and United, but those are moving, and I want to remind all travelers flying out of Denver to remember to use the self-service kiosk—I saw an entire bank of them at United just sitting empty, while people waited in the longer full-service lines.

A little while ago, the sun set on the Rockies, and I’ll be back here before sunrise to tell you what’s up on Wednesday. Everyone I’ve talked to is predicting tomorrow will be much busier than today, so make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to arrive at the airport before your flight.

Security: This is the heaviest I’ve seen all day, with wait times of up to 20 minutes in the south end of the terminal, and a little less so on the north end. Today I noticed that all day long, the north end moved along faster than the south side, so you might want to head in that direction.
Check-in: Lines are picking up, with Southwest, Frontier, and United being the longest.
Parking: The Pike’s Peak lot is full, but other lots still have available parking.
Delays: Very few that are over 15 minutes difference from the original flight time.

Quick clarification on my earlier post: I am not in Chicago, but I know someone who is - Jenelle, our super stealthy correspondent in the field! She is so intent on preserving her covert status that she doesn’t want to risk cracking her laptop (that or maaaybe WiFi isn’t working where she’s at right now). Anyway, I was trying to write from her perspective based on her phone report, but I am giving up on that ruse this time around. I couldn’t sound as cool as Jenelle is if I tried (and believe me, I do).

So, without further ado, here’s what our not-actually-clandestine heroine of the skies has to say about the current state of affairs in the Windy City’s busiest airport:

All in all, things are humming along quiet nicely. Expect some minor wait time flare-ups every once in a while – like Jet Blue’s check-in line which picked up to about 10-15 minutes about an hour ago but was already back to short to no wait as I type.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Things have quietened down a lot here at LAS: the lines to check in with US Airways have all moved on through and all counters are empty and open again. Most other carriers are experiencing check-in wait times of less than five minutes, with the exception of Southwest---no big surprise, since it accounts for a third of the airport's traffic---where you're looking at around a 10 minute wait to check in.

Security is moving very quickly at Checkpoints A, B, and C, but leave some extra time to get through Checkpoint D, which serves American, United, Delta, Continental, and Virgin America. Waits are fairly long there at the moment---the longest I've seen them at all day, actually. Expect to be in line for about 20 minutes.

The International Terminal is very, very quiet---although there's a Philippine Air flight leaving at 6:15pm, so I'm expecting check-in lines to start forming any minute.

Security: Less than 5 minutes at all checkpoints except D, where it's 20 minutes.
Check-in: Very quiet: less than 5 minutes for most carriers, 10 or so for Southwest.
Parking: Plenty of spaces available.
Delays: None.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Before heading to Phoenix, I was prepared for some serious travel mishaps. I was envisioning long, winding check-in lines, poor weather across the country causing domino delays, and highly stressed and frustrated travelers. Today could not have been further from that vision. Today has been, well, a piece of cake.

All of the check-in lines are short, with the exception of the Southwest line in Terminal 4. The Southwest line seems to get busy and then clear up again quickly, but it's still a good idea to allow some extra time if you are flying with them. I also noticed that curbside check-in is becoming a more popular alternative as the day wears on. Just make sure you check inside first, because odds are your line isn't too long - and you could save the $2 a bag it will cost you to check it at the curb. Security lines are also moving right along, with 10 minutes being the longest wait I found.

Overall Terminal 4 has been the busiest today, and I expect it will be that way tomorrow, So far there is no sign that parking is filling up, and there are only a couple of delays longer than 30 minutes.

Security:: Lines are moving right along, the longest line is in Terminal 2 - about a 10 minutes wait.

Check-in:: Lines are all short with the exception of Southwestl. Allow about 25 extra minutes.

Parking:: Wide open. Lots are not yet filling up.

Delays:: A couple delays to report. United Flight #5197 to Ontario is delayed about an hour and a half.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The big news at LAX is not about what’s happening but about what’s to come. Within the past hour, the sky has darkened, the wind has picked up and sprinkles have started to fall. Rain is expected throughout the night with thunderstorms continuing throughout the morning. If you’re flying out of the area, make sure to check your flight status before you go and also check traffic.com for road delays.

Security: Very slow. Less than 5 minutes in most cases.
Check-in: Perhaps the slowest for the day – 5-10 minutes in the busier terminals (1 & 4) and no line in other terminals.

Check faa.gov for information on flight delays.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send me an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Whew! I wrapped up my day at DFW with walk throughs at Terminals E and C. While activity in and around the airport has definitely increased throughout the day, travelers have not faced any major difficulties in getting from curb to gate. Hopefully, those traveling tomorrow will have a similar experience!

Security: Over the last hour, I've seen lines at checkpoints in Terminal E (Delta, Northwest, Continental, Alaska, Frontier, AirTran, Midwest) that were 10-15 minutes. Over in C (American), all of these lines were five minutes or less.
Check-in: Check-in lines in both E and C were 5 to 10 minutes in length
Parking: Pick-up traffic outside Terminals E and C has picked up, but parking in both terminals is readily available.
Delays: Great weather has kept DFW delay free all day long!

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

As the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico and a dog barks his dislike for being a carry-on, the late afternoon rush has slowed and the airport is running smoothly. The use of the Transportation Security Administration's new "family lanes" has helped improve the flow through security. These lanes are for folks who need a little extra time or assistance (examples could include families with small children or passengers with medication larger than the 3 oz limit). Look for the green sign or ask if there is a "family lane" when you get to the security checkpoint. Most airports nationwide with 2 or more security lanes will have a "family lane" so look for them when you fly.

Even with the slowdown in the terminal, there is still a bit of congestion outside the American Airlines terminal. We recommend checking traffic before you leave home to be sure and give yourself enough time. If you are picking someone up, take advatange of the Cell Phone Parking Lot just off LeJeune Road.

Stats & Stuff:

Security: The lines in the American Airlines terminal are the longest, with waits taking up to 20 minutes. Security waits in the other terminals are less than 10 minutes.

Check-in: American Airlines has the longest lines, up to 20-25 minutes, but you can save significant time by using the self-service kiosks (they have been open all day). A couple of International departures are driving similar lines but all other counters are seeing waits of less than 10 minutes.

Parking: There is still parking in all lots. Parking ranges from $8-$30 per day, including a valet option. Call 305-876-7536 for the latest updates.

Delays: The majority of flights are on-time, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't check your flight status before you head out.

Pink Bag Check: 91 and counting.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The AirTran ticket rep at Terminal North said they experienced the biggest rush at 7:00 this morning which had a 20 minute wait time for passengers to check in bags. Part of the reason he said was people did not have their flight confirmation numbers with them which increased the wait time at the check-in counters.

A great way to be proactive about your travel this holiday season is to check-in and print out your boarding pass before you leave home or 24 hours prior to your flight departure. Even if you don't have a printer, check-in anyways so that you can confirm your seat on the plane.

This evening brought another steady flow of travelers who are heading midwest to Chicago, Detroit and Ohio. Most of them are flying Delta. When I asked an older man why he chose to leave at 6:00 PM, he casually said because there would be less people at the airport.

Security: Less than 10 minute wait time at all three security check points. Please be aware that all liquids must be three ounces or less and it must be placed in a one-size quart container. Also, please know that bottled water you purchased in the airport food court cannot go through security with you!

Check-in: Less than 10 minutes at both major airlines, AirTran and Delta. US Airways and Continential, located in Terminal North has a less than 5 minute wait time.

Parking: North Economy and Park-Ride A are full. Please use the other lots that still have additional parking spaces.

Delays: all flights are running on or close to schedule

• Before heading to the airport, check your local traffic reports at www.traffic.com for delays along your route and allow for more commute time if needed.
• Allow ample time to park, check-in and get through security. A minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international is recommended during the holidays.
• Consider shipping all gifts to your destination ahead of your travels. Wrapped gifts are opened for screening purposes, and extra fees will apply if your allotted baggage limit is exceeded.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

If you're flying Southwest today from Las Vegas, be sure to check your itinerary: Flight 3119 to Phoenix/Tulsa/Denver is cancelled. I spoke to the Southwest rep at the ticket counter, and he said to show up at the airport as planned -- if you're early, they'll put you on an earlier flight, otherwise they'll put you on the next available one. Either way, they'll get you where you need to go!

Southwest is also seeing some delays, the most notable being Flight 274 to Ontario, which was scheduled to leave at 2:45pm but is now looking like it'll leave at 3:40pm instead. There's a minor delay on a 4pm Virgin Atlantic Flight to London Gatwick from the International Terminal, but you're only looking at a 4:30pm departure time instead.

Crowds at the airport have picked up a little as we enter the afternoon rush: Southwest, US Airways, and United are all seeing wait times of around 10-15 minutes at check-in (with no-one using the many self-service kiosks at US Airways!), though the other carriers are quiet. Security is still flowing nicely, with wait times of only 5 minutes at all checkpoints. Traffic around the airport is also smooth and parking is still widely available.

Security: All checkpoints in Terminal 1 are experiencing wait times of only 5 minutes. For the International Terminal, you're looking at about 2 minutes.
Check-in: Waits at all counters seem to be less than 5 minutes, aside from Southwest, United, and US Airways, where you're looking at 10-15 minutes.
Parking: All lots have available parking.
Delays: Scattered delays on several Southwest flights. Check before you leave!

PS: If my experiences are anything to go by, LAS is having a few technical hiccups with its (admittedly awesome and FREE) WiFi service right now. Keep trying -- you'll get on the network eventually!

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

With a two-piece steel-drum band kicking out the calypso and channeling Jimmy Buffet right outside the TCBY shop, the calm remains in effect here in Denver. The sun is flooding through the south windows, and lines are a bit longer than my last update but holding steady between 10 to 15 minutes on the south end, and 7 to 10 minutes on the north.

United passengers take note: United Airlines has the largest presence here in Denver, and so I spoke with a United representative who told me the inside scoop to saving time AND money. If you check-in online, not only do you bypass the full-service lines, but you pay less for checking in baggage. Check in online, and your first bag will only cost you $12 instead of $15. Use your savings on airport treats and snacks, like that TCBY yogurt I mentioned before, a popular choice.

Quick Tip:
--Children, your teddy bears do have to go through the security checkpoint, too, and you will have to put them in the bins. Parents, I’m letting you know this in advance in case you need to head off any impending stuffed-animal separation anxiety, which I’ve witnessed (it’s not pretty).

Security: On both sides of the terminal, lines are picking up and are the longest I’ve seen them all day. Still, the high number of TSA agents seem to be processing the lines efficiently and the south end is 10 to 15 minutes; north side is 7 to 10 minutes.
Check-in: These lines are picking up and many travelers seem unaware of their airline’s checked-bag policy (most are $15 for first bag; $25 for second). Definitely check in advance so you’re not caught having to repack your suitcase at the airport.
Parking: The Pike’s Peak lot is full, but other lots still have available parking.
Delays: Very minimal.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

5:20 PM EST

I'm begging for some drama here in Washington. Weather has been great - the arrival and departure boards are overwhelmed with declarations of "On Time." In an attempt to stir some conversation among folks here at DCA, I started a poll:

Who would you prefer to prepare your Thanksgiving dinner? (choose one)

- Hillary Clinton
- Sarah Palin
- Michelle Obama
- Nancy Pelosi

See results from my first sampling below....

PARKING: The economy lot is now 2/3rds full, but that still leaves 1,000 spots at $12 a day. Garage A is half-full, with approx 250 slots open at $20 a day. Garages at the Main Terminals B/C have more than 1700 slots open - if you must drive to DCA tonight or tomorrow to fly out of town, you'll be able to find a spot pretty easily.

CHECK-IN: Just like any other Tuesday, with lines moving faster due to the well-staffed airline desks. Some waits of 10-15 minutes at AA & DL counters to check bags, but very intermittent.

SECURITY: Less than 5 minutes at each terminal.

ROUND 1 SURVEY RESULTS:

Who Would You Prefer to Prepare Your Thanksgiving Dinner?

- Hillary Clinton 0
- Sarah Palin 15
- Michelle Obama 13
- Nancy Pelosi 1

More survey results later and tomorrow....

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

After a surge of travelers early this afternoon, things have really quieted down here at Phoenix Sky Harbor. Security lines are short, check-in lines are short and baggage claim is clear in all Terminals. I have flown out of Phoenix many, many times, and I have to say this is the slowest I have ever seen it on a holiday weekend. I'm sure that is due in part to the excellent planning by the airport, and the great job they have done in preparation for this weekend.

Because it is so slow, those who come early may find themselves with some extra time on their hands. Not to worry - head over to Terminal 4. There are plenty of shops and food options, and there is even a museum featuring the work of local artists.

Security: All lines are short and moving quickly.

Check-in: All lines are short and moving quickly.

Parking: All parking is open. Call the Parking Hotline for updates: 602-273-4545.

Delays: No major delays. There is one canceled flight: Southwest Flight 1469 to Vegas.

From this turkey’s perch, the number of musical instruments (guitars in particular) and boxes marked fragile that are being checked this year at O’Hare International is remarkable. Makes me wonder who all of these travelers are heading home to serenade over the holiday weekend and whether they just plan to stay through to New Years given all the suspiciously present-resembling boxes being weighed at check-in. Too bad deep-dish pizza doesn’t travel well – that’s what I would bring home with me from Chicago if it did, and it certainly qualifies as fragile.

Anyway, on to the report…and, truth be told, there isn’t all that much to report! It’s a classic late-fall day in Chi-town – chilly but sunny -- and all terminals flowing smoothly right now. Don’t get me wrong, there are still a LOT of people here today. Luckily the airlines and the airport staff were ready and even the lines that look long have short waits (nothing longer than 20 minutes).

Those longest waits are in the international terminal, specifically at the British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France counters. Lines look deceivingly short but the wait is actually around 20 minutes at each. So don’t not queue up right when you arrive just because it’s only five deep – that cinnamon dolce latte can wait until you go through security!

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with LAX, it’s shaped like a horseshoe with Terminals 1 and 8 at the feet and the international terminal at the top of the arc. The distance between terminals 1 and 8 is approximately 2 miles. For most travelers, this piece of information will never, ever matter. But, do you have any idea how far I’ve walked today? According to my calculations, I’ve trekked 18 miles, and I still have about 8 more to go. I deserve that pumpkin pie on Thursday!

As I walk this U-shaped airport each hour, I’ve been able to observe some interesting behavior. The thing that has stood out the most this year is that sooo many families are opting to carry-on their bags instead of checking them, no doubt to save some cash. Most carriers are charging $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second, so make sure to double check your carrier’s policy so you’re not surprised by extra fees.

Security: No longer than 10 minutes.
Check-in: 10-15 minutes. Check-in online to avoid lines!

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send me an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

All is well at DFW. I walked through Terminal A about an hour ago and, unbelievably, there was no wait at any of the security checkpoints! I then headed over to Terminal D, where it was busier, especially the security checkpoint near the D18 entrance. There was about a 15 minute wait as the afternoon's Lufthansa and British Airways flights were checking in.

Security: In Terminal A (American), there were waits of five minutes or less at all check points. In Terminal D (American, international carriers), the lines were a bit longer, but no more than a 10-15 minute wait there.
Check-in: Check-in lines in Terminals A and D were all less than 10 minutes.
Parking: All lots have available parking.
Delays: Nothing major.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The crowds are getting thicker with the arrival flights from AirTran, Delta, and US Airways. Travelers are gathering around the baggage area in both terminals so be prepared to manuver around the baggage area in both terminals.

It seems like the only real dramatic delays today were waiting for the luggages to spin through the carousels. I heard several announcements of changes to the carousel numbers which forced travelers to roll their eyes.

So, it is mid-afternoon and I'm still waiting for the my big moment to happen: seeing passengers dramatically race to their gates dragging their baggages. I'm holding out hope for tomorrow but until then, I'm enjoying the live music Hartsfield-Jackson has provided--I kid you not, the pianist is currently playing Duran Duran's Rio!

On a nice note, the kind folks at Airport Havens has set up an mini-oasis on the third floor in the Executive Conference Room in the Atrum (middle of the airport) for free massages, snacks, and beverages. They are also offering free Wi-Fi connections from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM but you will need to stay within the area to get the proper connections. They will be here today and tomorrow (Wednesday 26th) only so make sure you swing by and treat yourself!

Traffic: Heavy congestion on I-285 due to rush hour traffic.

Parking: North Economy parking lot now full. Please use the other lots that still have space available.

Delays: Delta flights running close or on schedule with 15-20 minutes delay to the east coast.

Security: Up to 10 minute wait at all three security checkpoints.

• Before heading to the airport, check your local traffic reports at www.traffic.com for delays along your route and allow for more commute time if needed.
• Allow ample time to park, check-in and get through security. A minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international is recommended during the holidays.
• Consider shipping all gifts to your destination ahead of your travels. Wrapped gifts are opened for screening purposes, and extra fees will apply if your allotted baggage limit is exceeded.

Important Links to Incorporate:

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

After a fairly slow start to the morning, it appears the holiday weekend has arrived. Lines are definitely longer than earlier, but things are still moving quite smoothly. Many folks are checking bags which is driving some of the wait. Be prepared for new fees and ensure that you meet size and weight limitations for both checked and carry-on bags (check with your airline for their specific policy). As things get busier, the airlines and security are watching this, and a number of folks have been seen re-packing bags to get under the weight restrictions.

The other thing you may wonder is ... where did all the pink bags come from? Just in my observations today, we're over 50 bags in the flamingo hue. and growing. As one nice traveler told me, "It's easier to find it when in the checked luggage." It's been a great travel day at MIA, and here's hoping we stay in the pink.

Stats & Stuff:

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately 20 minutes to get through security in the North Terminal (American Airlines) and 10-15 minutes, often less, in the other terminals.

Check-in: American Airlines ticket counters are pretty busy, with waits running about 20 minutes. However, the line for curbside check-in is shorter and the self-service kiosks have no waiting. The line at a few of the International carriers who have flights going out soon are experiencing check-in times up to 30 minutes. All other airline check-ins are less than 15 minutes. If possible, check-in on-line or use the self-service kiosks, where there is bascially no waiting.

Parking: All lots have available parking. For more parking information, call 305-876-7536.

Delays: Flights are almost all on time, but there are some sporadic delays so check your flight status before heading out.

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send Jenn an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

It’s starting to pick up at LAX. The hours between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. are typically a busy time here, and this is evident as lines are beginning to form. Many flights are also landing here from the east coast and other areas in the country, so baggage claim is bustling. Overall, it’s still smooth travels at the world’s fifth largest airport:

Security: Lines are beginning to form, but still no longer than a 15 minute wait.
Check-in: It’s not taking any longer than 10-15 minutes to check-in.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The Denver Airport seems to have everything under control, foot traffic is lighter than it was this morning, and things have quieted down a bit after this morning’s rush. Lines for check-in are almost universally running under five minutes, which is putting many travelers in a good mood.

While grabbing a quick lunch on the second floor, I and my fellow nearby diners noticed a bird flying from one side of the main terminal to another, much to the delight of some of the younger travelers. Seems like that bird may have lost her way to the runways, where things are running smoothly, as well. There are very few delays sprinkled among an overwhelming amount of “on time” signs on the arrival and departure boards. Things should start picking up again later this afternoon.

Quick Tip:
--Look for the hospitality ambassadors in the white cowboy hats. If you get lost, or are looking for information about the airport or Denver in general, they are on hand to help you find your way

Security: On the north side of the terminal, wait times are under five minutes. The south side security lines are a bit longer, but still less than 10 minutes. If you’re unclear about which side to pick for security, just ask a TSA agent and he or she can tell you which side is running fastest.
Check-in: I was pretty impressed to see few to any lines. There are plenty of kiosks available to do self-check-in.
Parking: The Pike’s Peak lot is full, but other lots still have available parking.
Delays: Very minimal.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

In the last couple of hours, the amount of people flying out of PHX has increased steadily. However, we are still seeing short security and ticket counter lines with one exception - the security line for the A gates in Terminal 4 is very long. Give yoursef an extra half an hour to get through.

The main hot spots in the airport right now are baggage claim in Terminal 4 and in Terminal 3. With many planes arriving midday, it's starting to get a bit crowded down there....so if you are getting picked up, tell your party they may want to wait an extra 20 minutes or so.

Overall, the mood seems to be upbeat here in PHX. Most people I have talked to seem calm...and very happy to be getting a four day vacation. I've seen several touching reunions at the arrivals areas, which are continuing to get more crowded as more and more planes arrive. I've also been approached by three more wonderful PHX Navigators asking me if I need assistance. I guess I look lost since I keep walking by them over, and over again.

Security:: All lines are short with the exception of the A gates in Terminal 4. You can always go in through the C gates and walk around - that will save you a lot of time.
Check-in:: Lines are very short.
Parking: : Parking is still wide open; none of the lots are filling up yet.
Delays:: There are three US Airways flights that are delayed, without an estimated time of departure -
- Flight 2823 to Tucson
- Flight 27414 to Palm Springs
- Flight 2980 to Omaha

Also, Southwest flight 1469 to Las Vegas was canceled.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

" Is this the most interesting thing she's got? Balloon animals and free wifi?" For now, yes. Things remain calm at LGA, with short lines at security and hardly anyone at the airline check in counters. LaGuardia is having a "customer appreciation day" and airport officials are handing out cards good for 15 minutes of free WiFi! However, as far as I can tell, this is only happening in the Central Terminal. Those of you traveling out of the other terminals are not included. Though I am sure you are appreciated! Balloon animals seem to be for Central Terminal passengers only, too. Sorry, other-terminal fliers.

I overheard a little girl telling an airport worker "I'm going to have turkey at Grandma's house for Thanksgiving!" She was very excited, and everyone around her smiled. It was sweet. With the lack of crowds and flight delays, travelers and employees at LGA alike are in particularly good moods today. Oh, excpet for the people who STILL don't know about the baggage fees. They're really not happy at all. Sometimes they are a little scary.

Find out how much your bags will cost you here. Most major carriers are charging $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second. If you EVER read this blog or you live with me (Hi Ryan!) you are well aware of these fees. Problem is, judging from the scene here at LGA, there are alot of people who don't read this blog and don't live with me. Make sure you send your friends the link to the blog -- after all, we have spotters at 10 of the busiest airports in the country and plenty of tips for every traveler for Thanksgiving and beyond.

And now, the offical report:

Security: Most lines are less than 10 minutes. All checkpoints have the new "self-sort" lines -- one for families, one for casual travelers, and one for expert travelers.

Check-in: Under five minutes at every counter.

Parking: Long-term parking is filling up. Remember, you can park in a short-term loit for a long period of time, but it will likely cost you more money. The maximum rate is $30 per 24 hours.

See that suitcase in the picture above? It was just sitting like that---completely open, partly unpacked, and totally unattended---in front of the United ticket counter in Terminal 1 here at McCarran International in Vegas. I'm not quite sure what was going on---I hung around a little to see if anyone would come and claim it, but then had to run off to an interview with the local NBC affiliate---but let that be a reminder to you: don't leave your bags unattended!

In other baggage news, I talked to a passenger a little earlier who was positively irate about the checked baggage fees---it's the first Thanksgiving passengers are having to pay to check bags---and another who was aghast at how much he had to pay for extra weight. "You go one pound over the limit, and it's fifty bucks!" he fumed. So there's another reminder to you if you're traveling anytime soon: pack light, and ship any gifts ahead of time if you can.

As far as wait times go, McCarran seems to have calmed down a little now. Checkpoints A, B, and C are seeing security wait times of around five minutes (less in some cases), while Checkpoint D is hovering around the seven-minute mark. All check-in points in Terminal 1 are very uncrowded---we're looking at less than five minutes to check in---and there are plenty of self-service kiosks available.

As for the International terminal, it's very, very quiet: I talked to some of the TSA reps a few minutes ago and asked them if we'd be seeing a busier period soon. "You've seen it," they laughed, referring to a little earlier this morning when I last popped in to see them; we were only looking at five to ten minutes wait times for security and check-in then, but right now you can just breeze right on through!

To summarize:

Security: All checkpoints in Terminal 1 are experiencing wait times of 5-7 minutes. For the International Terminal, you're looking at about 2 minutes.
Check-in: Waits at all counters seem to be less than 5 minutes.
Parking: All lots have available parking.
Delays: Still none! The luck is with us in Vegas.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Traffic inside and outside of the Chicago O'Hare Airport is still running smoothly. So I thought I'd take this time to give you some additional helpful hints from some of the friends I've made today.

1. Parking is still available today - however, as the weekend progresses things will continue to fill up, so if you're traveling tomorrow be sure to check the parking situation or give yourself some extra time.

2. You packed at home - you don't want to do it again at the airport. Just another friendly reminder to pay attention to your airline's baggage rules, and this includes baggage weight as well. One smart traveler had an extra "duffle-like" bag with her she was able to stuff and carry one.

3. Bring a book or something to keep you busy. Even though things have been running smoothly so far you may run into another issue - having MORE time on your hands than you thought. Bring a book or something else to keep you occupied if you get to the airport early, or (hopefully not) get delayed.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

1:15 p.m. CDT

Hello everyone! After eating a turkey sandwich for lunch and taking a brief rest in my room at the Hyatt Regency DFW, I returned to Terminal C to see how DFW Airport's busiest terminal was faring. Though I saw more hustle and bustle than I did earlier this morning, foot traffic is still moving at a brisk pace and travelers were easing through check-in and security lines. I also checked out parking in Terminal C and there was plenty available. I took the picture from the top level and, as you can see, it is an absolutely gorgeous day in North Texas.

Security: All checkpoints in Terminal C were experiencing short waits of no more than 10 minutes.
Check-in: Waits at American Airline counters in Terminal C were busier, but the wait was still no more than 10 minutes .
Parking: All lots have available parking.
Delays: None at this hour - it's a perfect day for flying at DFW.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Currently the one place is that is alive and busy are the arrival gates. The emotional spectrum runs from being suprised, shocked, excitment, and weepy.

At the Delta gates, I just heard a young college student wearing a saggy, red Yale sweater tell his mother he loved her and she pulled out a napkin to wipe her eyes. Then at the north security checkpoint, a military father gave his wife a kiss and she started to weep and then he gave his son a hug then he started to cry. The best moment so far was a grandmother seeing her baby grandchild for the first time. I think after seeing the look on the grandmother's eyes, getting up at 3:30 this morning was worth it!

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

I arrived at McCarran at 7am this morning and it was fairly quiet. Check-in lines at Terminal 1 are running smoothly so far -- Northwest, American Airlines, and US Air are seeing waits of around 10 minutes, while you'll only wait around five minutes on all other domestic carriers.

The same is true of security wait times -- with the new Checkpoint C opened at the end of September, passengers flying Southwest are in luck; lines are very short, with wait times less than 5 minutes. For checkpoints A, B, and D (all other domestic carriers), you're looking at no more than 10 minutes in line.

There seem to be no delays (for now -- knock on wood!) and the Depatures boards are showing a glorious ON TIME after every flight. Parking is smooth, thanks to the new 5,100-space lot that opened last week to join the other two lots already available. My contact at McCarran assures me that they're not planning to run out of parking spaces this holiday period!

Security: No more than 10 minutes for Checkpoints A, B, and D; 5 minutes for Checkpoint C.

Check-in: Around 10 minutes or less; plenty of self-service kiosks available.

Parking: Running smoothly; all three lots open with plenty of spaces.

Delays: None so far. Cross your fingers it stays that way!

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Well it looks like the Thanksgiving rush has officially begun. In the last couple hours, the number of people navigating Phoenix Sky Harbor airport has doubled, if not tripled. From what I can tell, the airport is more than prepared for these types of crowds. With all the extra staff on hand, security lines and check-in lines are still short, although in a few of them travelers may have to wait around 5 – 10 minutes.

One of my favorite things about Sky Harbor Airport is the “Navigators.” These volunteers wear purple jackets and stand at various points in the airport to answer people’s questions. It’s amazing how quickly they can dissipate a traveler’s frustration with a big smile and a point in the right direction. They are so friendly! So if you are going to PHX and need some help, look no further than the person in the purple jacket.

Security: Lines are short. Plan to wait no more than 5 minutes.

Check-in: Lines are also short, although some may have travelers waiting up to 10 minutes.

Parking: Wide-open. None of the lots are filling up just yet.

Delays: There are a few flights delayed around 15 – 20 minutes, and some flights are leaving 15 – 20 minutes early. I saw no delays more than 30 minutes. Be sure to check your flight time before you leave for the airport.

I also saw a couple canceled flights, another reason to check before you leave:
-Southwest flight 2372 to Salt Lake City – canceled
United flight 5062 to Show Low - canceled

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

So, I am a little sad. LaGuardia Airport feels empty -- where is everyone? Where is the holiday frenzy, the long lines, the frustrated travelers? Not here. Everything is flowing smoothly, and if it were not for the lovely Christmas tree in the Marine Air Terminal, I would be checking the date on my Blackberry to confirm that it is in fact the kick-off to the holiday travel season.

But I suppose we should be grateful (thankful?) for the easy experience most people seem to be having here at LGA (just remember those baggage fees). Tomorrow, I have been assured, will be MUCH busier. I sure hope so! Maybe it will cheer me up. Long lines and frustrated travelers have that effect on me.

Down to business:
Security: Less than five minutes at all checkpoints.

Check-in: The longest lines are all under 10 minutes. Many airline counters have no wait whatsoever.

Parking: Long-term parking is 75% full. Short-term lots are open (and you can park for as long as you want in them, so don't worry about getting shut out, though it may cost more).

Delays: A few -- if you're flying to Boston, Washington D.C., Raleigh, or Pittsburgh, you may have delays. Always check with your carrier for your specific flight information. I have heard from our spotter in Atlanta that flights between ATL and LGA are experiencing delays. However, most inbound flights are arriving early (yes, you read that right), so if you're picking people up at the airport you'll want to get there a little early so they aren't wandering around aimlessly.

Traffic: It's not pretty out there. Allow extra time to get to the airport and visit www.traffic.com for up-to-the-minute-conditions.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The live piano player on the South Bridge has been spelled by a happy accordionist, and there’s still plenty of harmony here in the Denver airport. There are more people here than there was a few hours ago but the airport is handling the flow with no increase in wait times for security and check-in. The cloudier weather hasn’t caused any delays – in fact, delays are few and far between.

A couple tips to speed up your trip from check-in to the gate: Remember the checked baggage fees (most airlines are $15 for the first and $25 for the second bag) and be sure to have luggage tags affixed to all your luggage before you get to the check-in kiosk. Most airlines have blank nametags easily in reach of the lines so you can fill it out while you wait.

Security: Wait time is less than 10 minutes. The chilly weather here means many people are wearing jackets, which you need to remember to take off before you go through the check-point.
Check-in: The lines at United, Frontier, and Southwest are longest running just around 10 minutes. Most other airlines are five minutes or less.
Parking: The Pike’s Peak lot is full, but other lots still have available parking. Traffic is flowing easily but check traffic.com before you go.
Delays: Very few at this time.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Inside MIA, things are still moving along without a hitch. Short lines and lots of happy holiday attitudes are making this a great day to travel. In fact, things have slowed down dramatically over the last hour, so from traffic to check-in, you should not encounter any issues today.

Don't forget that the many early departures we have seen today will equal early arrivals for those of you picking your family up at the airport. Be sure to check those arrival times before you head out.

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately 10 minutes or less in most cases.
Check-in: International flights seem to be taking a bit longer due to more baggage check-ins, but for the most part lines are still moving quickly.
Delays: No delays to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

I hope CoverGirl doesn't mind that I borrowed its tagline, but things really are easy, breezy, beautiful so far at Chicago O'Hare Airport today. It's lunchtime now so I'm wondering if things will start picking up so be sure to check back in for my next update. In the meantime,

Security: All lines are running smoothly this morning with about a 5 - 10 minute wait.
Check-in: Check-in lines are short this morning as well, so far we have alot to be thankful for!
Parking: Parking still available.
Delays: No major flight delays reported, but be sure to visit the FAA website for more details or click here for flight status information.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Okay, the first person who can tell me why the Arizona Cardinals plane is parked at LAX get a gnome t-shirt! (Leave a comment and include your email address!) As I was walking between Terminals 2 and 3, I noticed a US Airways jet that was unlike others I have seen. It was painted a bright, shiny red with a Cardinal on its tail. I assumed there was a game, but I didn’t see a group of very large men coming or going, and, upon further research, I learned that the Cardinals are actually playing in Philly on Turkey Day. So, what's with the plane?

Other than this very exciting spotting of a famous plane, all things are status quo at LAX.

Security: All terminals have short security lines at the moment, less than 10 minutes.
Check-in: Southwest (Terminal 1) and American (Terminal 4) are busier than others, but check-in is still only taking about 5-10 minutes. Also, expect the next couple of hours to be busy in the International Terminal, as a cluster of flights leave between 11-12 PT.
Parking: All lots have available parking.
Delays: Nope

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send me an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

In an effort to educate and egage the traveling public, the FAA has set up a live plasma screen here at DCA to demonstrate how air traffic works. DIfferent lights and iconns - Interesting to see. You will all be shocked to know that NY's airspace is still crowded!

The other news item from today's TSA briefing was the new family lanes at checkpoints. Due to the steady traffic, we have not had a chance to measure this latest effort to speed up the security process.

On the ground here, it's taking approx 10 minutes in some instances for travelers on AA & DL to check their bags and head for security. Security wait times are 5 minutes or less, and there is plenty of parking in all 4 lots.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

11:00 a.m. CDT
The pace has picked up at D/FW Airport, but travelers are still making their way through check-in and security without any extended waits. Since my last post, I've taken the airport's Terminal Skylink shuttles to terminals E and B. I took this photo near the United Airlines desk in Terminal B and, as you can see, there's no out-of-the-ordinary waits. It continues to be a sunny day here and flights are operating on time.

Security: All of the security lines I've checked in Terminals E and B were experiencing waits of 5 minutes or less.
Check-in: In Terminals E (Northwest, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Airtran, Alaska, Midwest) and B (American Eagle, United) travelers were checking in with ease. There were no waits longer than 10 minutes and most were 5 or less.
Parking: All lots have available parking. DFW is handing out coupons for $10 daily parking at the terminal and $11 valet parking. This is a great deal!
Delays: No delays at this hour

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

People, people, people. How long have we (and the airlines, and practically every media outlet) been talking about baggage fees? It seems like awhile now. And yet! Travelers at LaGuardia are shocked (shocked!) that it will cost them $15 to charge the first checked bag and $25 for the second. I almost saw a fight break out at Delta check in, and they won't even begin charging for the first checked bag until December 5. (Policies do vary slightly by airline. Consult Travelocity's handy baggage fee chart to see how much checking your bags will cost you this Thanksgiving).

Traffic: Picking up in NYC, and that includes major roads approaching all the major airports. Allow extra time to get to the airport and check www.traffic.com for the latest updates.

Security: Travelers are waiting less than 10 minutes to get through security in all terminals.

Check-in: 5-10 minutes at all check in counters at all airlines.

Parking: All lots have available parking.

Delays: So far, a few cancellations along the East Coast. Delta Shuttle has cancelled several flights this afternoon to Boston and Washington, DC. Check with your carrier on the specific details of your flight.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Do not, I repeat, do not throw your bags and scream at the folks behind the ticket counter in the middle of the terminal and admit you wanted to savor each moment with your beloved girlfriend (tall guy at AirTran terminal) and that's why you missed your flight!

Please keep in mind to give yourself two hours to get to your gates if it's an domestic flight and three hours for international flights.

Airlines are cutting capacity so flights will be crowded. Please make sure you make it to your gates because there will be less flexibility to get on the next flight.

Traffic: Tractor trailer accident on I-285 back up to Fulton Industrial Blvd SW; two right lanes closed. May cause delay for those who are on the road to the airport.

Security: Average time for all three terminals about 10-15 mins. Recently TSA opened up Black Diamond lanes for expert passengers. There are only a few people, if you are in a rush and know the security screening process, I say use it.

Parking: Plenty. All lots are open.

Delays: Rain in New York City has caused delays in Delta flights getting into La Guardia Airport.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Holiday travelers may be out in full force right now, but navigating through MIA is proving to be super simple today. Need a few tips to make your day a little easier? 1. If you are traveling with kids, look for the “family” lanes at security check-in. The TSA has rolled them out in 50 airports, just in time for the holiday season. 2. Use the kiosks for check-in. The lines are almost non-existent and technology can be your friend on a busy day like this! 3. Be sure to keep your pets in their crates. There are working dogs throughout the airport today and with the busy terminals, it will keep your pet feeling more secure in a sometimes hectic environment.

You should also note that some flights are departing a little early, once all of the passengers are on-board, so try to arrive early… it may just get you to your destination with some time to spare!

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately 10 minutes or less in most cases.
Check-in: International flights seem to be taking a bit longer due to more baggage check-ins, but for the most part lines are still moving quickly.
Delays: No delays to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I traveled to Los Angeles to scout LAX on what is known as the busiest travel week of the year. I’ve been monitoring the crowd conditions since 4:30 this morning, and the near-empty terminals give the impression that this is just a typical Tuesday.

So far, there’s nothing to report in terms of crowds. Early this morning, there was an influx of travelers checking in and getting ready to take off on the first round of flight for the day, but even then passengers were getting through lines quickly.

Security: All terminals have short security lines at the moment, less than 10 minutes.
Check-in: Southwest (Terminal 1) and American (Terminal 4) are busier than others, but check-in is still only taking about 5-10 minutes.
Parking: All lots have available parking.
Delays: Nope

Happy Birthday! To celebrate turning 2-years-old, The Window Seat is getting a makeover! Please send me an email to sign up to receive an update when we launch our new design.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

It's all sunny skies and smooth sailing over here at the Denver International Airport, and while traffic within the airport is steadily increasing, no wait time at the moment is more than 10 minutes for check-in and less than that for security. TSA has added over 100 additional screeners to accommodate the holiday rush, and while the security area is packed with people, it's moving right along. Families, be sure to use the special family lane--particularly if you need to bring along extras like formula--which allows you to go through the check-point at your own pace. In line for security, you'll also be able to listen to the sounds of music, right now it's a piano and a flute playing live from the bridge, which helps soothe any travel anxieties.

Security: Security is busy but at this moment it is still under a 10 minute wait.
Parking: All lots have available parking. For more information, contact 303-DIA-Park
Delays: Minimal. Visit the FAA website for more details, and check your flight status from your handheld device.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

I arrived early this morning to Chicago O'Hare ready for the Thanksgiving rush to begin. As of around 9:00 am this moring, things have been running smoothly so far, most ticket counter and security lines have been short - which means travelers are already in a better holiday mood! I did notice a few American Airline flights to Mexico San Jose Del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta that were about 30 minutes delayed - but hopefully they won't have to wait too much longer to hit the beach. Other than that things are humming right along so far at Chicago O'Hare, but I'm off to take anothe turn around the terminals to see what happens next.

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately 10 minutes to get through most security lines at this point. The security line for Terminal 1 (United Airlines, US Airways) was a bit longer with about a 20 minute wait.
Check-in: The lines at all counters have about a 10 minute wait.
Parking: All lots have available parking.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Phoenix Sky Harbor is off to a great start this holiday weekend. When I arrived at 4:45 a.m., the airport seemed deserted from the outside. But inside, there were many travelers already checking in for their early morning flights. The good news for travelers is that so far, all the security lines are incredibly short - the photo above was taken a few minutes ago at the South Security Checkpoint in Terminal 3. One thing worth mentioning is a lot of flights (I've seen about 15 total) are changing their departure time by about 15 - 20 minutes. Some are leaving 15 - 20 minutes early, some 15 - 20 minutes late. So make sure you check your flight time before you leave for the airport. I did encounter one panicked traveler who went to the wrong terminal and was about to miss his flight - so make sure you also know what terminal your flight is leaving from:

Terminal 2: AirCanada, Continental, Alaska Air, United
Terminal 3: SunCountry, Midwest, Northwest, American, AirTran, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue
Terminal 4: Southwest, US Airways, Aeromexico, British Airways

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Sorry this post is up a bit later than planned! Turns out only ONE terminal has wireless here at LGA (Central Terminal) and I have to return here from my checks on the other terminals every time I need to post. Considering the bus that connects the terminals only runs every 15 minutes AND it's raining outside, I can tell it is going to be a long day.

BUT! There's better news for those of you traveling out of LaGuardia Airport today. Despite the rain, both inbound and outbound flight delays are few and far between.

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately five to ten minutes to get through security at all terminals.

Check-in: All check in lines are under five minutes with the exception of Delta Airlines, which is closer to ten minutes.

Parking: All lots have available parking.

Delays: Minimal. But, as always, check your carrier's Web site for specific information on your flight.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

I jumped on the shuttle at 5:30 this morning. It was 32 degrees and still dark when I arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport. The airport is quiet with the occassional sounds of luggage wheels flapping by. By the time I finished my cup of java, AirTran in Terminal North and Delta in Terminal South had a crowd of travelers waiting to check in their bags. I am happy to see that there are so many sleepy kids who are braving the early flights and dragging their tiny carry-on luggages while laughing.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

Howdy ya'll! It's been smooth sailing at D/FW Airport so far this morning. The weather is nice and flights have been running on time. I've made my way through terminals A, C, and D and have not seen any long lines at check-in or security. I took this photo from Terminal D about 30 minutes ago near a security checkpoint next to an American Airlines counter and travelers were not having any difficulites navigating their way through.

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

So far, so good in Miami! Thanksgiving travelers have certainly started to arrive, but for now things are running very smoothly. If you are traveling this holiday season, you should note that airlines are strictly enforcing their luggage policies, so be prepared to pay fees for checked luggage ($15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second in most cases), and make sure to comply with size and weight restrictions on bags. And… if you thought that hot pink bag was going to set you apart from the standard black suitcase, making it easier to find in the mix, you may still want to attach a scarf or ribbon… it would seem that pink is the new black (at least where baggage is concerned) and you may not stand out as much as you anticipated!

Security: Travelers are waiting approximately 10 minutes or less in most cases.
Check-in: International flights seem to be taking a bit longer due to more baggage check-ins, but for the most part lines are still moving quickly.
Delays: No delays to report at this time.

Highway Traffic: www.traffic.com
FAA (for delays/air traffic): www.faa.gov
TSA (for airport security info): www.tsa.gov
Flight Status: http://travel.travelocity.com/flifo/FlifoRequest.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY
Trip Information / Flight Status (PDA): http://mobile.travelocity.com/

Editor’s Note: For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force is stationed at 10 of the nation’s top airports, relaying important travel information to holiday road warriors on Nov. 25-26, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

8am EST

DCA gradually waking up this morning...let's hope the clear blue sky is the first sign of a hassle-free travel day here in our nation's capital. Only security line so far this AM that was longer than 3 minutes was at Terminal B, and that was 5 minutes at worst. No lines at check-in at all, with plenty of staffers on hand to assist travelers.

The economy parking lot (@$12 per day) is already half-full, but still has 1400 spots.. Terminal A (the older, smaller terminal) has 320 spots left at this hour, Terminal B has 1600, and Terminal C has 150.

But don't let that stop you from getting to your Thanksgiving dinner! It's not going to stop me or the Window Seat Bloggers who are stationed in ten of the nation's busiest airport today and tomorrow to deliver information on how travel is faring on these very busiest travel days of the year.

I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving. After all, to get to the turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie, I must first get through traffic, check-in and security. Tackling those obstacles today, I headed to Los Angeles for Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force, which, for the past six years, has marked the unofficial start to my holiday and my first step toward Mom’s feast in Texas.

If you, too, plan to travel ahead of Thanksgiving, check back here on Tuesday and Wednesday for hourly updates from our Thanksgiving Task Force bloggers, who will be reporting from 10 of the busiest airports in the country to let travelers know what’s going on, what to expect and how to prepare for the busy travel season.

Even though AAA predicts fewer travelers this season, Thanksgiving is still the busiest travel period of the year, so you can expect crowds as always…just make sure you’re prepared for the unknowns:

Without fail, a funny thing always happens to me a few hours into a flight: my knees start to hurt. Now, don't get me wrong, my knees normally function perfectly well: they bend like knees normally bend, they get me where I need to go, and I've never had any sort of operation on them or caused them any kind of injury. In all other situations in my life, my knees are about as good as knees can get. When I'm on the plane, though? They ache like nobody's business. Both of them.

My fiance has a similarly weird problem: when he gets on the plane, his feet start to itch. They itch and itch and itch, and he often can't fall asleep because they're itching so much. I have another friend whose lower back always aches when she's on a flight, another who gets bad leg cramps, and another who always gets the worst earaches in the air.

Are we all a bunch of freaks?

With the balls, parties, speeches, pageantry, and possible puppy announcement of Inauguration Day coming up in January, right now it seems all travel eyes are on Washington, D.C. While the economy may be hiccupping in general, in D.C. hotel rooms for that weekend are filling up fast, the restaurants are already taking reservations, and swearing-in speech tickets were being sold last week on eBay for truly outrageous prices (hint: these tickets are limited but FREE—just call one of your state’s representatives).

No other city in our country gets to renew itself in quite the same way with every new administration. But as each new cabinet gets ushered in, so do a whole new set of city fads. Cowboy boots are replaced by baseball caps, for example, or Springer Spaniels by Labrador Retrievers (when Millie Bush was in the White House, no less than three Springer Spaniels moved onto my block in Bethesda), and items as varied as jelly beans, broccoli, and "freedom fries" have all had their day in the sun at the local supermarkets.

Lincoln Memorial photo by IgoUgo member Shady Ady

Apparently, we are losing a country. A warming planet and rising waters are slowly but steadily erasing the footprint of the Maldives, the archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. This may not be news to many, but the Maldivian government has discussed plans to relocate the entire population of around 300,000 people. Since I first saw photos of the white sand, blue waters, and private bungalows, it has been one of my top destinations to visit. It looks like I may need to cross it off my list for another reason, or book a trip soon.

To me, there’s almost nothing better than curling up with a good book on a lazy Saturday afternoon and my most recent obsession is the smash-hit Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Technically young-adult novels and “vampire fiction,” the series transcends labels and has found mass appeal across all age groups, genders, and even political persuasions. And next Friday, the Hollywood version of the first book hits the theaters.

More than the movie is making the young actors stars, it is making the sleepy Washington town where the books are set a popular tourist destination. This is probably because the backdrop is so distinct and fully realized in the books that you can’t help but long to visit this mysterious--and very real--place.

Major resorts have reported bookings are down for the 2008 - 2009 ski season. With snow already falling in Colorado and other parts of the country, snowbirds are itching to hit the slopes. Skiing is not known as an inexpensive pastime, but this year it's a buyer's market and chances are you're going to pay a lot less for the snowy getaway. Here are a few tips for saving $600 on your next ski vacation.

- Book a package. A Travelocity study shows that booking air + hotel saves an average of $315 when compared to booking the components of your trip separately.

- Take advantage of every promotion. With the difficult economy, destinations and online travel agencies are teaming up to attract customers. For example, Travelocity will offer a $100 off flight + four-night hotel in Colorado starting December 1.

- Get reimbursed for bags. Airlines will charge you to check your skis, but the new trend from ski resorts is to reimburse their visitors for those charges as an incentive to get on a plane and come for vacation. For example -- $50 off per person at Vail, $25 off from Steamboat; $30 from Crested Butte.

- Ski for free. Mountains resorts all over the country have various promotions that include free ski passes. For example, in Park City, you can convert your boarding pass to a free-same day lift ticket -- about $80 in savings per person. In Crested Butte, a free lift ticket for every night stay for one person – about $60 per day in savings.

- Skip the rental car. Ground transportation to the mountain can often be had at a fraction of the cost. For example, two people on the shuttle from Denver Airport to Beaver Creek, Colorado: $350 RT. SUV five-day rental, about $400 plus gas. Savings: more than $100.

And a few deals to save you even more:

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member NSXEatr

For the eighth consecutive year, Travelocity’s Thanksgiving Task Force will be stationed at the nation’s top airports, relaying pertinent travel information to holiday road warriors. Bookmark this page, and check back on Nov. 25 and 26 to get hourly updates on security and check-in wait times, parking, delays and other information relating to these top airports:

• Atlanta Hartsfield (ATL)

• Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
• Dallas Forth Worth International (DFW)
• Denver International (DEN)
• Las Vegas McCarran (LAS)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Miami International (MIA)
• New York LaGuardia (LGA)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
• Washington D.C. (DCA)

In the meantime, be a smart traveler and plan ahead! Here are a few things to think about:

• If you haven’t already booked, the time is NOW! The average domestic ticket is $393 for Thanksgiving, so consider anything less than that a good deal.

• Recent capacity cuts resulted in schedule changes, so double check your itinerary, including your flight number and departure time, before you leave.
• The new baggage policies are strictly enforced, so be aware of your carrier's new policy. Most airlines now charge $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second.

As a frequent traveler, TSA’s most recent announcement puts a smile on my face.

After testing its Diamond Self-Select program in 48 airports across the country, TSA announced that it will expand the family lanes to cater to those who want to go through security at their own pace. For those of us who know the ropes by heart, this means not having to wait for the kiddos to remove their shoes and an all-around quicker security process.

This “green” lane is also designated for individuals carrying medically necessary liquids, aerosols and gels in excess of three ounces.

Today, November 11, is Veterans Day. With all the news about the economy, stock market and election, sometimes it's easy to forget we're fighting not one, but two wars. We must remember that while worries about finances, employment, and home values are very real, there are men and women putting themselves in danger day in and day out.

I came across this story on CNN and it brought me to tears. I remember how I was in the Atlanta airport for two days around Thanksgiving last year (no, I was not stuck but there for our annual Thanksgiving Task Force) and every time a flight of our military men and women arrived, they were greeted with cheers and applause. It was extremely moving and I was so happy to read today that this is done at airports all around the country.

I know a lot of you will be traveling through airports in the coming weeks. If you see a man or woman in uniform, welcome them home. Or if they're on their way back to service, thank them and wish them well. I bet it would mean a lot.

And if you know a veteran of a past war, take a moment to say thank you. I will say a big thank you to my favorite vet -- my dad, who was in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Thank you Dad! I love you.

It’s Veterans Day today, and my mind is on France. It makes more sense than you might think; my favorite place in France is, technically, American soil.

I actually think of the American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy often, as it’s one of the most moving sites I can recall visiting and one of the first places I recommend to anyone headed to France. The train ride from Paris to Bayeux—a lovely French town in its own right, and home of the famous Bayeux Tapestry, woven from older battles—is just three hours, so the beaches of Normandy are a fairly easy day trip from the City of Light.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member pruthfield

United Airlines canceled its plans to increase the second checked baggage fee to $50, announcing that customers will continue to pay only $25 for the second bag ($15 for the first). Starting today, the carrier is giving travelers the option to pay these fees online to save time at the airport.

As an added baggage service, United also recently launched its new Door-to-Door Baggage program, enabling customers to ship their suitcases directly to their destination if traveling within the continental United States.

I recently returned from the arctic tundra where I ventured with my husband on a once in a lifetime trip to see the famous Polar Bears. You know the ones who have become the poster children for climate change and global warming. As an animal lover and environmentalist, I suppose a large part of the reason we went was to understand more fully the issues facing the bears and to understand if there was anything that could be done, anything that we could possibly do to save them. And then there’s the part of me that simply wanted to see them before it was too late.

The country may just have gone blue, but it's also swiftly going green. Think about the last hotel you stayed in: I bet there was a sign in the bathroom, wasn't there, asking you to help conserve water by reusing your towels. Maybe you even got a recycling bin too. More and more hotels all over the world are waking up and smelling the (organic, fair trade) coffee: showing you care about the environment means guests will care more about you.

Last week, my mother and sister came to visit me in San Francisco. I found them a room at the Orchard Garden Hotel, which touts itself as "San Francisco's purely green boutique hotel." As one of just a handful of U.S. hotels to receive a coveted LEED rating from the U.S. Building Green Council--which it was given in 2007, making it the third hotel in the U.S. and the fourth hotel in the world to score the prestigious certification---it boasts eco-friendly products, a 100% non-smoking policy, and San Francisco's first key card energy control system.

But the best part? It doesn't sacrifice luxury. Not one bit.

Delta today became the last of the six legacy carriers to implement a fee for the first checked bag. For traffic on or after Dec. 5, passengers on domestic flights will be charged $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second checked bag.

Several policy changes have followed last week’s Delta and Northwest merger announcement as the two carriers begin to streamline their operations.

Nearly two decades ago, just before she was to leave on one life-changing trip to Russia, a phone call and a twist of fate stopped Travelocity Market Manager Jonna Orwig in her tracks. She got a second chance to visit this past summer as a Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteer on a Change Ambassador Grant, and now she's sharing the experience’s profound joys and challenges, as well as some travel nitty-gritty, to extend a helping hand to anyone considering a volunteer vacation.

Airline safety. Passenger rights. High-speed rail. Climate change. The global economy.

No matter what your political views on the issues above, today is a historic day, and whoever is elected president will be in a position to impact the travel industry for years to come. We here at The Window Seat try to remain a non-partisan blog, but we do encourage you to arm yourself with information and make that journey to your polling place today to cast your ballot.

And if you’re not sure where the presidential candidates stand on major travel and aviation issues, then writer and travel industry expert Bill McGee comprehensively evaluates both John McCain and Barack Obama in a very informative and well-researched article, which you can read by clicking here.

Happy voting and happy travels, all!

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member Shady Ady.

Of course the Macy's Day parade is still happening this year but with so many changes in the economy and air travel many people are wondering, just what is Thanksgiving travel going to look like this year? Given that this is the first time many travelers will experience the fullscale cuts in routes that airlines made this fall, and given that there will be fewer routes and millions of seats lost, it may not bring the relief that some might have hoped for.

In short, this thanksgiving you have to be prepared for crowded planes and the usual organized chaos that comes with any holiday travel outing. So just what is different this year?

Photo provided by IgoUgo member rickhowe