http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/holidaytra_1583.mp3
For holiday travelers, airports may seem like the last place they want to be. But, K-S-M-U's Katie Hummel spoke with an airport official concenring holiday air travel tips and how travelers can avoid some common problems.
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHEN AIRPORTS BECOME CROWDED, PACKED WITH PEOPLE AND PROBLEMS.
SHERRY WALLACE IS THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR SPRINGFIELD-BRANSON REGIONAL AIRPORT
WALLACE SAYS TIME AND SPACE ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE HOLIDAY AIR TRAVEL PROBLEMS.
ARRIVING EARLY ENOUGH FOR A FLIGHT ISN'T ALWAYS EASY.
BUT WALLACE SAYS, IF POSSIBLE, PASSENGERS SHOULD ARRIVE AT LEAST AN HOUR OR TWO BEFORE THEIR FLIGHT.
AND, ACCORDING TO WALLACE, THOSE BUSY DAYS ARE THE ONES TRAVELERS NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
OVERCROWDING IS ONE KEY ISSUE FOR TRAVELERS AND AIRPORTS, BUT THERE ARE OTHER TIPS THAT CAN MAKE A PASSENGERS TRAVEL EXPERIENCE RUN SMOOTH.
WALLACE PROVIDES SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS.
ALL OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS, THOUGH, ARE FOR THE PASSENGERS.
MANY TRAVELERS DON'T REALIZE HOW HARD THE HOLIDAYS ARE ON THE AIRPORT ITSELF.
WALLACE SAYS THERE ARE MANY PREPARATIONS THAT AIRPORT PERSONNEL HAVE TO GO THROUGH EACH HOLIDAY SEASON.
AND SPEAKING OF BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, WALLACE REMEMBERS ONE OF THE WORST HOLIDAY TRAVEL INCIDENTS THAT THE SPRINGFIELD AIRPORT HAS EXPERIENCED.
IT'S A GOOD THAT AIRPORT PERSONNEL CAN LOOK AT THESE THINGS WITH HUMOR.
PERHAPS, PASSENGERS WILL DO THE SAME IF SOME PROBLEM ARISES DURING THEIR HOLIDAY TRAVELS.