Cold Putting Holiday Travel Plans on Ice

Cold weather in much of the country caused a flurry of flight delays and cancellations at John Wayne Airport on Wednesday, throwing some holiday plans into uncertainty and leaving hundreds of travelers wishing they could hitch a ride on a sleigh rather than catch a flight.

Today, more of the same is expected.

Bone-chilling temperatures iced airplanes and laid dangerous sheets of ice on runways and roadways in Chicago and north Texas--key stopover points for air travelers from Orange County and other Southern California airports.

The flight delays and cancellations forced at least 600 passengers at John Wayne Airport to make last-minute changes to their holiday plans.

Some passengers traveling with pets were turned away because the cargo area where animals are placed was simply too cold.

“I’m frustrated,” said Irvine resident Keith Lockwood, whose family trip to New York was in a state of hiatus because of flight problems.

Lockwood, his wife, Betty, and dog, Krystal, were to arrive in Long Island to visit family members on Wednesday. But their golden retriever was not allowed to board the plane because of cold and unsafe temperatures, they were first told. Then, officials informed the Lockwoods their flight was postponed.

Lockwood said they are going to find another way to make it to New York and leave the dog with a sitter.

“This may be her first time missing Christmas with our family,” Lockwood said of his 6-year-old dog. “We always take her with us.”

While the Lockwoods were optimistic that they would spend the holidays with their family, others were stuck with few choices and were hoping that the weather would turn in their favor so they could leave.

Travel conditions in Texas and in Chicago, important hubs for several airlines, are expected to remain unsafe today and officials are expecting to make other delays and cancellations.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport faced major challenges with slick and icy runways that made it difficult for planes to takeoff and land. Some planes had to be de-iced because of the freezing temperatures.

Hardest hit was American Airlines, which is based in Fort Worth and was only able to operate 50% of its flights nationwide on Wednesday, a spokesman said.

“Because temperatures are expected to be no better or perhaps even worse [today], American has reduced its schedules to a level that it feels is operationally possible,” spokesman Tim Smith said in a recorded statement.

American Airline officials said most flights nationwide from 5 to 8:15 a.m. today will be canceled. After 8:30 a.m., only about two-thirds of their flights will operate.

And because Christmas Eve is one of the most congested travel days of the year, airport officials across the Southland advised the public to:

* Phone airlines prior to flying out or picking up passengers to see if flights are on schedule.

* Arrive three hours before international flights and two hours before domestic flights.

* Pack wrapped gifts inside luggage to avoid the possibility of having to open them at security checkpoints.

* Park in remote lots and ride shuttle buses into the terminal.

“It’s very busy in the terminals,” Pat Markley, a John Wayne Airport spokeswoman, said Wednesday afternoon. “Today and tomorrow are among our busiest days throughout the year.”

The frantic seasonal race also took place at Burbank Airport. Officials there warned travelers to anticipate rubbing elbows with fellow passengers because of the crowds.

“We are in a 68-year-old building that was built for about one-third of the passengers we have now and is way too small,” said airport spokesman Shawn McCarthy.

And Van Nuys Airport officials reported that the parking lot for the FlyAway shuttle bus service to Los Angeles International Airport was filled on Tuesday. Passengers also can be dropped off at the terminal, said Pat Freudenberg, an airport spokeswoman. The shuttle makes 98 round trips to LAX daily and fares are $6 for adults and $3.50 for children 2 through 12 years old.

Today, up to 23,000 people are expected to pass through John Wayne Airport, Markley said. At LAX, that number is projected to swell from the usual 165,000 per day to 186,000 during the holiday period, airport officials said.

And those traveling out of town by car should anticipate bumper-to-bumper traffic. According to the Automobile Club of Southern California, some 9.2 million people in 13 western states will drive at least 100 miles each during the holiday season, up from 5 million travelers during Thanksgiving weekend.

Sometimes, all the proper preparation and anticipation can’t prevent unpredictable behavior from Mother Nature.

Wednesday’s ice storms caused four Dallas-bound flights at John Wayne to be canceled and many others to be delayed.

Emily Digiovanni of Huntington Beach was supposed to board one of them early Wednesday. Instead, she was turned away and told to return today. Although bound for Jacksonville, Fla., her connecting flight in Dallas was canceled.

“It’s very annoying,” she said.

And Anthony Vega waited patiently for three hours after his flight was twice delayed. Headed for Baton Rouge, La., his stopover in Dallas again was set back because of the weather. But Vega said he was among the lucky few to find some seats in later flights.

“I’d rather wait and make sure we land safely then try to land on an icy runway,” he said.

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Another Crunch

Heavy winter weather has caused delays at various airports around the nation, causing problems for some travelers trying to leave John Wayne Airport. Some flights scheduled to leave today may be canceled. The first thing to do once you make sure your flight will leave: arrive two hours early, at least. Here’s where to find parking at John Wayne.

Researched by RICH MAROSI and JANICE JONES DODDS / Los Angeles Times