by CHICAGO (WLS) — The good news for early risers departing O’Hare Airport is that even in inclement weather, delays and cancellations have been kept to a minimum.
Later, however, it could be a different story, which is why aviation officials have been emphasizing all weekend the importance of getting to the airport early, packing smart and being ready with ID at TSA lines to keep things going to keep.
By the end of Monday, around 1.7 million people are expected to have passed through O’Hare and Midway Airports over the weekend. That’s up 6.6% year-on-year as travel continues to recover from the pandemic.
However, it was fairly quiet for those traveling on Saturday evening, which was good news for those who prefer a shorter weekend but have an easier time getting back to their destinations.
Officials also recommend taking the CTA to airports whenever possible. Not only do you save yourself traffic problems, you also relieve traffic jams on the side of the road upon arrival.
More than 3,500 US flights were delayed Sunday as a major storm system hampered travel
A severe weather system in several parts of the United States has prompted the three major airports serving New York City to urge passengers to arrive early for flights on what is expected to be the busiest travel day of the year, CNN reported.
As of Sunday afternoon, 3,507 flights to, from or within the United States were delayed and 86 US flights were canceled, according to FlightAware, the site noted.
A fairly large storm system will move northeast from the Mississippi River Valley Sunday morning, bringing widespread rain and gusty winds. The heavy showers and strong winds are expected to affect millions of travelers from the Midwest to the Northeast and to the Southeast on Sunday.
New York’s LaGuardia Airport has urged passengers to prebook parking spots, which operators say are filling up. “We can’t stress this enough – plan ahead and arrive early if traveling during the #Thanksgiving holiday travel season,” he said airport tweeted.
Newark Liberty International Airport joined LGA in suggesting that passengers plan ahead and arrive at the airport early. It warned that roads to the airport were already congested on Sunday morning. “The holiday season means a high volume of passengers. If you plan to travel through Terminal A or B, use the FREE EWR VirtuaLine service and secure your seat at security in advance,” the airport said Twitter. “Due to the increased number of travelers during the holidays, please allow extra time for travel, check-in and security.”
John F. Kennedy Airport also said passengers traveling on Sunday should plan ahead and arrive early. JFK tweeted from his verified account: “Allow additional travel time to arrive at #JFK Airport, park in your reserved spot, check in and clear security.”
CNN contributed to this report.
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