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Thanksgiving Travel
Weekend
October 20/21, 2001
On the busiest travel day of the year next month, airline passengers may actually have something to be thankful for. Travel expert Peter Greenberg says that compared to flying today, Thanksgiving weekend will bring more convenience and safety. He says, “By Thanksgiving 2001, there won’t be an airline in the country that doesn’t have a secure, newly-installed, reinforced cockpit door that will prevent access to the cockpit."
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Less certain are improvements in carry-on baggage screening and beefing up the ranks of sky marshals. Those security measures are included in a bill still awaiting passage by Congress. Greenberg is one travel expert who says marshals offer a false sense of security. He says, “I’m not sure Sky Marshals are really the answer, not a true physical deterrent. There are 28,000 flights a day, they are not going to be hiring enough Sky Marshals."
There's no doubt fear of more terrorism will ground many travelers this Thanksgiving, but the experts don’t expect many empty seats. Experts advise if you are going to fly, book now. And if you already have a reservation, re-confirm it. Greenberg says, “Airlines cut 20 to 25 percent of flights, United even more. What you’re seeing are flights more full with fewer people and it will still be crowded."
But there are plenty of bargains out there. American Airlines is slashing 50 percent off regular coach fares in its "back to business" sale. Cruise lines are offering bargains and hotels in Hawaii and New York have slashed rates.
What about the threat of more hijackings? Al Qeada has warned about "storms of planes,” but Greenberg doubts it. He says, “When you think how lucky they were to do all that, I don’t think they’re thinking of going in that direction right now because that's where they believe we think they're going to be."
This frequent flyer says he's decided where he'll be on the holiday. Greenberg says, “The bottom line for me is I’m going to be flying over Thanksgiving. The odds are still in your favor."
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