Still Here? Good Luck!

Michael Yale is a frequent airline traveler, but he learned the hard way the perils of the Thanksgiving getaway gridlock.

“We vowed never to do that again,” Yale said, recalling how the crowded freeways and long lines at Los Angeles International Airport nearly caused him to miss a plane out of town for Thanksgiving.

Yale and his family avoided the holiday hassle this year by leaving two days before Thanksgiving. For those who haven’t left yet, good luck: Today is one of the busiest days of the year for airports and freeways.

More than 171,000 passengers will pass through LAX each day through the weekend, with tens of thousands more flying in and out of Burbank, Van Nuys and other regional airports.

Orange County’s John Wayne Airport expects more than 24,000 passengers to pass through its corridors today compared with the usual 19,000. “It’s definitely our busiest weekend of the year,” spokeswoman Nghia Nguyen said. Traffic inside the airport is expected to be just as bad Sunday.

Nguyen suggests arriving at the terminal at least an hour before departure, be patient and there will be plenty of parking, although the least-expensive parking lot near the airport on Main Street ($7 a day) is likely to fill up early.

Instead, she said, travelers can park for $11 a day in one of the lots adjacent to or directly across from the terminal.

An additional 2 million Southern Californians are expected to drive to their destinations, the Automobile Club of Southern California predicted. “Thanksgiving traditionally sees the heaviest traffic of any holiday weekend,” said Carol Thorpe, a spokeswoman for the club, which is headquartered in Costa Mesa.

The busiest routes to and from Orange County, according to the California Highway Patrol, are likely to be the Santa Ana and San Diego freeways.

No major highway construction is planned in the area, and the National Weather Service forecast through Saturday calls for clear driving weather, with some breezes in mountain passes and canyons.

To make the roads safer, the California Highway Patrol is stepping up its enforcement, beginning early today. “If you can keep tempers down and know that everybody else is trying to do the same, it will make travel that much easier for everybody,” said Denise Medina, a CHP spokeswoman in Westminster.

Preventing Tie-Ups Before They Happen

Officers will be looking for drunk drivers and motorists not using seat belts or child safety seats. “We hope to dissuade any unsafe driving, drinking or road rage--get them off the road before a collision occurs,” she said.

But even under the best conditions, sheer volume of cars coupled with the nation’s worst freeway bottlenecks under even normal circumstances promise headaches and hassles on local highways, traffic officials said.

A trip to Las Vegas, anticipated to be the most popular draw for Southern Californians this weekend, may take twice as long as usual, Auto Club spokeswoman Marie Montgomery said.

Travelers can call California Highway Information at (800) 427-7623 to pinpoint highway closures or unanticipated construction. The information is updated hourly. “My advice,” the Auto Club’s Thorpe said, “is to plan your route ahead of time and get on the road early.”

Drivers should check the condition of their cars “to avoid an unexpected surprise,” wear safety belts and get plenty of rest before departing, she said. Drowsy driving is not uncommon.

If your eyes start to close, you’re yawning a lot and can’t stay in your lane, she said, pull over to a rest stop and take a nap. When you wake up, do some exercises and drink a cup of coffee.

Airline passengers must also plan for extra travel time.

“Parking lots are full and along with more crowds, you never know what you are going to run into,” FAA spokeswoman Kirsti Dunn said. “It’s probably a wise idea to leave yourself an extra half-hour.”

No extra airport security measures are introduced during the holiday period, although improved technology since TWA Flight 800 exploded off Long Island in 1996 has increased scrutiny of passengers and their luggage, said Bonnie Wilson, spokeswoman for Airports International Council-North America, a commercial airport trade group.

CAT scan technology for probing luggage, as well as small circular pads that detect traces of potentially hazardous chemicals, are among the newer measures travelers may encounter, Wilson said. In addition, anyone carrying their coffee through security checkpoints might be asked to take a sip to make sure it’s really just coffee.

Finding airport parking may also take longer. Airport officials are encouraging travelers to park in long-term parking lots or use buses, rail and vans to get to the airport.

LAX travelers can tune in to 530 AM between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., today and from 6 a.m. to noon Thursday for the latest airport traffic and parking updates. Other tips for Thanksgiving travelers include:

* Before leaving for the airport, call the airline to double-check flight times.

* Don’t wrap holiday gifts that will be carried onto the plane.

* To avoid extra searches at the airport, don’t lose sight of your luggage.

* Have prescription medications available to show checkpoint security officers.

* For those driving instead of flying, take breaks and pull over when tired.

* Travel the roads during off-peak hours.

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Getting There

The Thanksgiving travel rush begins today and continues through Sunday. Heavy traffic is expected and travelers are advised to allow extra time to reach their destinations.

BY AIR

* John Wayne Airport

An additional 2,000 parking spaces added this year will ease the pain, but check-in lines will be lengthy. Arrive one hour before scheduled departure time.

Parking Rates

All terminal lots

Hourly: $1

Daily: Maximum $11

Main Street Lot

Hourly: $1

Daily: Maximum $7 per day

Free shuttle

Express valet: $12 per day (quick drop-off, exclusive shuttle service)

Time-Saving Tips

* Airlines may change terminal locations. Call (949) 252-5200 for current information.

* Use the express valet service at the Main Street lot. Leave your keys with the attendant and take the valet shuttle to the airport.

* If using electronic ticketing, make sure to bring a photo i.d..

* Take a cab or have a friend drop you off.

* Visit the airport website at https://www.ocair.com for additional information.

Busy Season

Sunday is typically the busiest day for Thanksgiving travel at John Wayne Airport. Here’s how last year’s passenger statistics compare to regular days:

Wednesday

Thanksgiving week 24,731

Average Tuesday 19,190

Sunday

Thanksgiving week 25,009

Average Sunday 21,490

* Los Angeles International

Arrive two hours before a domestic flight, three hours before an international flight.

* Parking

Avoid the jam at the central terminal area by parking in perimeter lots. Rates are free for the first two hours, then $1 for every 2 hours thereafter. Free shuttle to and from terminal.

Lot B: 111th St. & La Cienega Blvd.

Lot C: 96th St. & Sepulveda Blvd.

Information: (310) 646-5252

Web site: https://www.lawa.org

TAKE THE TRAIN

* METROLINK: No service on Thanksgiving Day, but don’t overlook this option for regional travel on other weekdays. Call 800-371-5465 or visit the Metrolink web site at https://www.metrolinktrains.com

* AMTRAK

Amtrak expects a 28% increase in ridership during the holiday week. Trains will be running on Thanksgiving Day. For schedule and fare information call (800) USA-Rail or visit the Amtrak web site at https://www.amtrak.com

DRIVE

Peak Hours: Wednesday after 2:30 p.m. and Sunday after noon.

Most traffic: 5 and 405. Take alternate routes when possible.

Tip: Check traffic by calling the CalTrans Highway Information Network (800) 427-7623 or visit the web site at https://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo.