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Fliers Thankful for Few Delays

Planning and good weather ease holiday congestion

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2007 8:37 AM CST

(Newser) – The Thanksgiving travel rush was smoother than expected, reports the New York Times, thanks to good weather, added airline agents, and the federal government giving   commercial airliners access to military airspace for the holiday. Many travelers helped reduce the crush Wednesday, the busiest single travel day of the year, by flying on Tuesday. Twenty-seven million Americans are expected to be airborne during the holiday period.

“I thought it was going to be much worse. This airport can be a mess,” said a travel agent in Denver's airport, which had the longest security lines this year, but added extra staff for the holiday. Others arrived three hours early to ensure making their flights. “I found a parking space, so I’m just relieved,” said one man.

Rosa Smith, left, her son Sidney, 5, second from left,  husband Sidney, center, son Bradley, center (in orange), from Washington state, walk to the Southwest Airlines baggage claim area at the San Jose International airport in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Rosa Smith, left, her son Sidney, 5, second from left, husband Sidney, center, son Bradley, center (in orange), from Washington state, walk to the Southwest Airlines baggage claim area at the San Jose...   (Associated Press)
Kara Jones, a member of  the Radio City Rockettes precision dance troupe gives a candy cane to Erik Wasendorf, 2, as he and his family wait to fly to Orlando for the Thanksgiving holiday Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. The Rockettes were at O'Hare to...
Kara Jones, a member of the Radio City Rockettes precision dance troupe gives a candy cane to Erik Wasendorf, 2, as he and his family wait to fly to Orlando for the Thanksgiving holiday Wednesday, Nov....   (Associated Press)
The Restrepo family of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., pick up their luggage at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colo. while en route to a Thanksgiving skiing holiday, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Peter M. Fredin)
The Restrepo family of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., pick up their luggage at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colo. while en route to a Thanksgiving skiing holiday, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Peter...   (Associated Press)
Peggie Smith, center, of San Martin, Calif., holds her grandson Rodney Smith, visiting from Washington state for Thanksgiving , at the San Jose International airport in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Peggie Smith, center, of San Martin, Calif., holds her grandson Rodney Smith, visiting from Washington state for Thanksgiving , at the San Jose International airport in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Nov....   (Associated Press)
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