With Thanksgiving right around the corner, RDU is preparing for a busy holiday travel season. The Thanksgiving travel period officially kicks off at RDU on Monday, November 20 and will last through Monday, November 27. As always, the busiest day will be the day before Thanksgiving; more than 30,000 people are expected to fly in and out of RDU that day.

2007 Holiday Travel Checklist

• Arrive early.
  RDU recommends arriving at the airport two hours before your flight departs.
• Limit liquids and gels in your carry-on luggage.
  Liquids and gels permitted in carry-on luggage must be less than three ounces in size and fit in one quart-size, zip-top bag.
• There is a new commercial curb at Terminal C.
  All commercial shuttles, including Park & Ride and rental car shuttles, will pick-up and drop-off at an outer commercial curb. The most highly-used shuttle zones connect to crosswalks. See our map for more information.
• Follow the electronic signs to available parking.
  Electronic signs are located throughout the airport and will guide you to the parking garage and Park & Ride lots with available spaces.
• Visit www.rdu.com before you fly.
  Check your flight status, tips for navigating security checkpoint and information on where to park, eat and much more.
• Use ExitExpress to pay for parking.
  If parking in the garage between the terminals, remember to keep your parking ticket with you. Pay at an ExitExpress pay station before returning to your car.
• Print out your boarding pass from your airline’s Web site.
  Most airlines allow passengers to print their boarding pass up to 24 hours before your flight departs.
• Be prepared for security checkpoint.
  Before proceeding through the metal detector, remove coats, jackets, blazers and shoes. All metal objects, including cell phones and pagers, should be placed in carry-on luggage or in the containers provided at the checkpoint.
• Limit carry-on items.
  Each traveler is permitted to take one bag and one personal item, such as a purse, briefcase or laptop bag through the security checkpoint.
• Keep boarding passes and photo IDs out and visible.
  Your boarding pass and ID will be needed throughout the security screening process.

Family vacations can create long-lasting memories, but traveling with children can sometimes be a test of patience. The American Society of Travel Agents has a list of suggestions to help make the daunting task of traveling with children as manageable as possible:

• Before leaving, create a countdown calendar to build excitement for the trip. Try and choose loose and comfortable clothing for the trip. Allow children to choose their favorite toys and books for carry-on; then add hard candies, snacks, hand wipes, art supplies and maybe a surprise for each child.
• Update immunizations for the entire family. If traveling abroad, check with public health authorities for advisable additional vaccinations. Pack any medicines or prescriptions you use regularly in case they are not available at your destination.
• At the airport, allow plenty of time for parking, security and check-in. Arrive early to board together to prevent last minute delays or confusion. Be sure to have a safety plan, with where to meet and what to do, in case anyone gets separated at the airport or during any connections.
• Review how the security checkpoint works with young children to ease their anxiety. Remove babies and children from their strollers and infant carriers before proceeding through the metal detector. Place all child-related luggage and equipment on the X-ray machine. Strollers, baby carriers and children’s bags and toys should be placed on the X-ray machine.
• The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that children weighing less than 40 pounds should be placed in child/infant seats. Be sure to bring a child/infant seat on board that meets current safety standards and is not more than 16 inches wide.
• The best coach seats to have when flying with small children are the first row in economy class. There is a lot of legroom, and you'll need all you can get if the kids get cranky from the long flight. If the front row seats are not available, place children away from the aisle, preferably between responsible adults. Also, remember to get up, stretch and walk around with kids often during the flight, but do not allow children to walk around unsupervised.
• Getting your seat assignment in advance can help ensure families are seated together and that children and adults will be seated next to each other. If a flight is full and obtaining seat assignments in advance is not a possibility, advise the airline personnel at the airport. The airline may need to ask other passengers to change seats so children are not seated apart from parents.
• Bring gum, pacifiers and bottles to reduce air pressure on the children's ears; and a variety of toys in carry-on bags to keep the child's interest from waning.

For more information on traveling with children, review the tips from the TSA.