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Thanksgiving Travel at LAX to Reach 1.8 Million Passengers; Ontario International Holiday Passengers to Total 200,000

Posted on: Monday, 20 November 2006, 18:01 CST

Travelers this Thanksgiving holiday will experience improved passenger conveniences and services at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), including remote airline and baggage check-in at the Union Station and Van Nuys FlyAways and additional valet parking.

Holiday passenger volumes for the 10-day Thanksgiving travel period that began last Friday, Nov. 17 and continue through Sunday, Nov. 26, are expected to match last year's level of 1.8 million passengers at LAX and 200,000 at Ontario International Airport (ONT). Airport officials report passenger volumes are flat year over year because load factors were at record levels last year and airlines have not added additional capacity due to high fuel costs and a desire to increase profitability.

Airport officials recommend passengers departing LAX during daily peak travel periods from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., be in their airlines' ticketing lobbies two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. Wednesday, Nov. 22; Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 23; and Sunday, Nov. 26 are expected to be the busiest days with airlines forecasting passenger load factors approaching 95 percent on most flights and some flights fully booked.

Travelers at ONT are urged to arrive at the airport 1-1/2 hours before domestic flights and two hours before international flights serving Mexico.

New passenger services as well as safety and security enhancements at LAX this year include:

 --  Remote Airline and Baggage Check-in for passengers departing LAX on     domestic flights to all 50 U.S. states.  The service is available at the     Van Nuys and Union Station FlyAway bus facilities, Los Angeles Convention     Center and Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center.  For a $5 fee at the     airport-operated VNY and Union Station FlyAways, passengers can check two     pieces of luggage and receive airline boarding passes and baggage claim     tickets before arriving at LAX.  This convenient service allows passengers     to eliminate waiting to check-in at airline ticketing counters or terminal     curbside.  Upon arrival at their airline terminal, passengers can proceed     directly to passenger security screening.  The remote check-in service     provider transports the baggage to an LAX facility where it is inspected by     Transportation Security Administration security screeners and then placed     on board the passengers' flights.  The service is available on domestic     flights operated by the following airlines: American Airlines, American     Eagle, Alaska Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Horizon Air,     Northwest Airlines, Ted Airlines, United Airlines, and United     Express/Skywest Airlines.  Additional airlines are expected to join the     program soon.      --  San Fernando Valley and downtown Los Angeles travelers can depart non-     stop to LAX 24 hours a day using the convenient FlyAway bus service at Van     Nuys and Union Station. The Van Nuys FlyAway is at 7610 Woodley Avenue     (intersection of Woodley and Saticoy), and the Union Station FlyAway buses     leave from Berth 9 at Patsaouras Transit Plaza at Union Station East     Portal.  The fare is $3.00 one-way and $6.00 for round-trip tickets.     Children 2 to 12 years old are $2.00 each way and infants under 2 years are     free.  Covered parking is available at both locations at $4 per day at VNY     and $6 per day at Gateway Center Plaza.      --  Eight more passenger screening lanes were constructed (Terminal 1 --     three lanes; Terminal 2 -- one lane; Terminal 4 -- three lanes; and     Terminal 5 -- one lane), completing the $20-million, multi-year program to     install more lanes to reduce the amount of time passengers stand in     passenger security screening queues.  This brings the total number of     passenger screening lanes at LAX to 68, the most of any U.S. airport.      --  A new LAX Valet Parking Lot across from Terminal 6 opened Nov. 16 across     from Terminal 6.  Another lot, opened last May, is located across from     Terminal 4.  Parking is $10 per hour, up to $38 for a 24-hour period.      --  Zip Through LAX is a new program that provides plastic bags for     passengers to put coins, cell phones, pens, keys, belts and other metallic     items in order to facilitate passenger security screening.  Dispensers are     located at the entrances to passenger security screening lanes in all nine     terminals.      --  Drivers coming to LAX and ONT can hear up-to-the-minute information on     traffic conditions on freeways and roadways coming to and in the airport.     LAX AiRadio 530 AM is the only source of official information on airport     conditions broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  During the     upcoming holidays, the radio station will broadcast live from 5 a.m. to 10     p.m. daily, through Monday, Nov. 27.  Traveler and security information at     ONT is now broadcast over AiRadio 770 AM, the airport's new radio station     operating 24 hours a day.      --  "3-1-1 on Air Travel" communications program by the Transportation     Security Administration was introduced this month to make the traveling     public aware of the TSA's carry-on rules for liquids and gels:  Three ounce     or less size containers of liquid or gel can be placed in a one quart-size     clear plastic, zip-top bag with one bag permitted per traveler. The one bag     limit on per traveler limits the total amount each traveler can bring on     board an aircraft and enables the security officers to easily examine the     declared items.      --  To help motorists avoid traffic congestion in the Central Terminal Area,     the LAX Cell Phone Lot at 9011 Airport Blvd. offers a free waiting     alternative 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Motorists can wait for     arriving passengers to call them on their cell phones and then drive to the     curbside to pickup their passengers.      --  New food and beverage concessions offer holiday travelers the     opportunity to grab a quick snack or to take food with them on the flight.     EATURNA opened in the Terminal 1 food court, offering all natural,     nutritious food.  New gifts and news concessions also opened this year,     including Luggage in Tom Bradley International Terminal, offering luggage     and travel accessories; and Jetway Express opened a gift and news kiosk in     Terminal 2.      --  LAX officials are reaching out to infrequent travelers with SMART     TRAVELER TIPS through a public information campaign using newspapers, TV     and radio.  Airport officials and the airlines have worked together to     identify key tips for use by travelers who travel infrequently or who have     not traveled since last year.  The public information materials are     produced in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.      

New passenger amenities and safety and security improvements at ONT this year include:

 --  Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty Car Rental now offer on-airport     services along with rental car agencies such as Alamo, Avis, Budget,     Dollar, Hertz and National. --  Ambassadors now assist travelers on the curbside and in the terminals     with information about airport services and security requirements. --  Travelers will notice this holiday more pricing options available for     economy and daily parking rates at ONT.      

"Smart Traveler Tips for Holiday Travelers"

Before arriving at LAX and ONT, passengers should remember:

 --  Do not pack or bring prohibited items to LAX/ONT, especially those that     resemble any type of weapon.  Replicas of guns, lighters shaped like guns,     belt buckles shaped like grenades, and other similar items have delayed     passenger or checked-luggage screening while officials determine whether or     not these items were real. --  Leave gifts or large boxes unwrapped for inspection.  Bring materials to     wrap boxes that will be checked in. --  Save time at check-in by obtaining boarding passes electronically from     airlines' Internet websites, especially if traveling with carry-on bags     only. --  Eliminate the hassles of driving and parking at the airport.  Take     shared-ride alternative transportation, including taxis, door-to-door     shuttle vans, airporter buses such as the LAX FlyAway from Van Nuys and     Union Station, public buses and the Metro Green Line. --  Because of varying winter weather conditions across the country, check     with your airline before leaving for the airport to ensure your flight is     on time.      

While at the airport, travelers should remember:

 --  Take advantage of the convenient two hours free parking available in     Economy Lots B and C and take the free LAX shuttle buses to the terminals     to meet arriving passengers.  Or wait for free at the LAX Cell phone     Waiting Lot at 9011 Airport Blvd. and have arriving passengers call when     they are ready to be picked up curbside. --  Passenger drop-off and pick-up is allowed at terminal curbside only.     Drivers should not drop off or pick up passengers in the middle of traffic     or along prohibited curbs.  No parking or waiting curbside will be allowed.     Meet arriving passengers in the baggage claim areas on the Lower/Arrivals     Level. --  All metals should be placed inside carry-on bags.  This includes     jewelry, loose change, keys, mobile phones, pagers and personal digital     assistants.  Many Smart Travelers bring clear plastic zipped bags or use     the ones provided by LAX at the entrances to passenger security screening     lanes to place metal items inside so they can drop in and zip through     passenger screening checkpoints. --  Do not agree to watch strangers' luggage or personal belongings. --  Watch your personal belongings at all times. --  Report suspicious behavior to law enforcement or Transportation Security     Administration personnel.      

 CONTACT: Thomas Winfrey (310) 646-5260  

SOURCE: Los Angeles World Airports

Source: MARKET WIRE

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