Holiday travelers fill North Texas airports, roadways

DALLAS - The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year. More than 2 million people are expected to fly in and out of North Texas airports for the holiday.

DFW Airport is the 12th busiest airport in the world. It is trying to cut stress and get travelers to their destinations on time.

FOX 4 reporter Shannon Murray said the lines weren’t too long early Wednesday morning. They started growing after dawn.

“We see the crowds starting to build up. If you've been watching the show this morning, it wasn’t too bad about an hour ago. It’s still not too bad here. We see people checking in for their flights and making their way through security. Keep in mind we are in Terminal D. This is the international terminal. DFW is a huge place. So it really is going to depend on where you're flying exactly and which terminal you're going through,” she said.

The airport said peak travel time lasts through 9 a.m. and then again in the afternoon between 2 and 5 p.m. Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead, check in online and familiarize themselves with the airport.

“You’ll want to know which terminal and gate you're flying out of. Get here early, of course. We always say that. That that's common sense. If you're driving, you can also pay to park ahead of time. Check online for real-time updates on where to park,” Shannon said.

Some experienced holiday travelers who flew out early to beat the rush also offered some advice.

“Get here early. Be prepared. Be patient. Be nice. And have a good time,” said Stephany Trammell, who was headed to Cancun.

“I pack the night before and have everything ready. I lock up my dogs and I’m ready to go. I even park in a parking spot so I don't have to drive and mess with traffic,” added Lester Bush, who was flying to Los Angeles.

Love Field Airport said it’s also prepared for the holiday travel season. There is now a third parking garage at the Dallas-owned airport which has 4,000 spaces plus additional reserved spots for valet parking.

Although the day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year, the airport said the end of the week will actually be busier as people are heading home.

AAA says nearly 4 million Texans will drive at least 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving. That’s nearly the same as last year.

The price of gas is also nearly the same as last year but it’s slightly lower in the DFW area. It’s also down about 40 cents in the last month because oil prices have dropped.