With passenger traffic at a seasonal high, the Prince George Airport Authority has some tips on making holiday travel easier.
According to the airport authority, the local airport has already started to see an increase in passengers and things will only get busier the closer it gets to Dec. 25. Traffic generally picks up during the Christmas season right through the second week of January.
Last December, approximately 1,338 passengers passed through the airport every day.
The biggest advice: arrive early. Getting to the airport 90 minutes before your flight is recommended, said airport authority communications manager Lindsay Cotter, especially for those travelling in the morning.
"This season we have three flights departing within 30 minutes of each other, starting at 6 a.m.; that means up to 230 people need to check in and go through the passenger screening checkpoint," she said, in a press release.
Other travel tips from YXS:
• Check the weather conditions in Prince George and at connecting airports and destinations, as poor conditions can significantly impact flight schedules.
• Check your airline's website for baggage size, weight restrictions and costs associated with checking your bags.
• Place identification in both the inside and outside of your bags and make sure they're not carrying any items prohibited by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority.
• Leave gifts unwrapped as they may be opened by screening officials for inspection.
• Don't pack fragile or valuable items in checked bags; place them in carry-on baggage or ship them to your final destination instead.
• Check in online if given the option – it's faster and you can do it up to 24 hours before the flight with most airlines.
