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Confident in the economy and with disposable income to spare, Orange County residents are joining an estimated 44 million people nationwide to make this possibly the busiest holiday travel season in six years.

The usual warning--leave early and allow extra time--has taken on a more earnest tone this year as traffic, parking hassles and rigorous security at John Wayne Airport promise supercharged stress and confusion for already beleaguered travelers.

“The best advice of all really is to simply allow more time. More time to get there, more time to park, more time to take your shuttle,” said Kathleen Campini Chambers, a spokeswoman for the airport, where parking lot construction will make the going slower for the more than 20,000 anticipated daily passengers.

Travel experts also are urging extra caution and care as heavier than normal numbers of people take to the roads, rails and airways, particularly if threats of scattered showers materialize on Wednesday.

A national survey by the Travel Industry Assn. of America, a trade group, indicates that people are three times more likely to travel this year than to buy a major appliance or furniture, an increase attributed to economic optimism.

“The economy has improved and people feel more confident,” said Mona Ziada, a spokeswoman for the Automobile Club of Southern California in Costa Mesa.

Christmas holiday travel has jumped 26% cumulatively over the past five years, she said.

Consumer enthusiasm for holiday travel evidently won out over concerns about rising gasoline and air fare prices, Ziada said. California’s gas prices average $1.39 a gallon for unleaded gasoline, compared to $1.21 for the same period last year. The average airline ticket fare in Southern California this year is $265, up $20 over last year.

For Orange County travelers, the greater drove of travelers spells congestion at the airport, with the two-way gridlock of incoming and outgoing travelers.

Airport officials are calling on passengers to cooperate with restrictions on the number of carry-on bags and security procedures, which will include random manual inspection of carry-on baggage, Chambers said.

“People need to expect that carry-on luggage will be inspected,” Chambers said. “They should allow it to be inspected.”

Airport parking, always an issue during peak travel periods, looms as a potential headache this year. With construction of 2,000 spaces expected to continue through next year, late-arriving motorists shouldn’t plan on getting to the airport and snagging a convenient spot.

If lots close to the terminal are full, travelers will be routed out to the airport’s Main Street parking lot, where shuttle buses will be waiting to take them and their luggage to the terminal.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the airport handled more than 24,000 passengers a day on inbound and outbound flights, and expects daily numbers nearly as high this week and next week, Chambers said.

Travelers will swarm other transit modes as well.

Today marks what Amtrak officials consider to be one of their peak travel days for stops between San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and Seattle, with ticket agents girded for the holiday rush.

“We expect to be real busy this year,” said Dawn Travers, a ticket agent in the Santa Ana station.

On the highway, motorists need to be attentive to weather conditions and road reports, California Highway Patrol officers said.

“It’s going to be a major enforcement period for us,” said Officer Tony Camilleri of the CHP office in San Juan Capistrano. “We’re going to have over 90% of our force out there, just like most of the police agencies. We want to make sure everyone’s safe out there and everyone’s obeying the laws.”

Motorists in Southern California are most apt to travel by car to Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego and the Central Coast, reports the Automobile Club. Airline travelers are most likely to head for Seattle, Florida, New York, San Francisco and Denver.

Nationally, the travel industry’s forecasted boom could mean the heaviest holiday travel season in six years, with 21% of adults reporting in a survey that they will travel more this winter than last, according to the Travel Industry Assn. of America.

And travelers nationwide report California as their preferred destination more than any other except Florida.

“This is going to be a great season for vacation travel,” said William S. Norman, association president. “Americans are feeling good about their jobs. Their wallets are healthy.”

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When It’s Time to Go

Some suggestions for making your holiday travel plans easier:

By Air

For information on airport parking, flight departure/arrival and other air travel issues, contact the John Wayne Airport Web site at www.ocair.com. Other tips:

* Arrive at the airport two hours early to allow for longer luggage and security checks

* Personally pack your own luggage so you can answer security questions at the airport

* Have a current photo identification

* Never leave your luggage unattended

* Call to reconfirm your flight 24 to 48 hours before departure

* Keep carry-on baggage to a minimum; be prepared for new restrictions on carry-on bags

By Car

For information on general travel, auto insurance and other matters, contact the Automobile Club of Southern California Web site at www.aaa-calif.com. General safety tips:

* Plan route in advance, and carry a map

* Make sure vehicle, tires and fluid levels have been checked

* Carry emergency items: flashlight, blanket, jumper cables and flares or a reflective marker

* Drive with your headlights on, even during the day, to make sure others can see you

* If traveling with children, pack a bag with toys, games or coloring books; bring child’s favorite cassettes

* Take food breaks and rest stops every two hours, more if traveling with small children

* Make sure passengers all have safety belts and that children are properly seated; children 12 and younger should ride in back seat

* Don’t drink and drive; about half of all fatal car crashes involve alcohol

* Allow enough travel time to provide frequent breaks from behind the wheel; drowsiness can reduce reaction time almost as much as drinking

Driving in the Rain

* Slow down

* Keep a good distance from the car in front; a car needs at least double the stopping distance in the rain

* If you start to lose control, don’t slam on the brakes--pump the brakes to stop; if you have anti-lock brakes, apply steady, even pressure

* Drive toward the center lanes on wet pavement to avoid pooled water along roadside

* Avoid distractions such as eating, drinking, telephone calls or tuning your radio

* Monitor weather and road conditions by listening to the radio

For More Information

Caltrans Highway Information Network provides information based on specific highways; call the number and enter your chosen highway designation: (800) 427-7623

Source: Automobile Club of Southern California, Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol

Chain Reaction

If a trip to the snow is in your holiday plans, take a set of snow chains. Roadways are usually cleared by road crews, but the chance of snow in the passes or mountains merits an ounce of precaution. Having someone attach snow chains can cost up to $50 for a task that should take about 15 minutes.

What you’ll need:

* Set of snow chains sized to fit your tires; call local automotive parts store for availability. Average cost is $40 for chains, $60 for cables.

* Ask if rubber loops come with chains. If they don’t, buy them

* Pair of thick gloves to keep hands dry; they will get very dirty

* Warm, flexible clothing

* Six to 10 feet of clearance in either the front or rear of the car; area should be level. If you are attaching chains on the road, find level straight stretch on the shoulder.

Step by Step

Remove chains from box. There should be two sets of chains or cables; depending on the make, two rubber loops with hooks should also be attached. What to do next:

1. Determine if car is front- or rear-wheel drive; clear path in front of tires

2. Lay chains in straight line in front of tires; cables with studs must be placed face down

3. Wedge a rung between tire and ground, leaving chains extending straight out from the tires

4. Slowly drive car onto center of chains

5. Hook inside chains first, then outer strand; they should be as tight as possible

6. Attach rubber loops evenly around chains; these prevent damage to car

7. If you hear any banging or knocking, stop car and check chains

8. To remove, unclip rubber loops, unhook inside and outside and drive off chains

Sources: Pep Boys Automotive Supercenters, Learn2.com web site; Researched by APRIL JACKSON / Los Angeles Times