RDU Offers Year-End Holiday Travel Tips
Southern Heritage Music Series Continues
RDU Airport, NC — Approximately 15 percent more passengers will pass through Raleigh-Durham International Airport during the year-end holiday travel period, which kicks off today and lasts until Monday, January 3, 2005. Calendar year-to-date statistics reflect a nearly nine percent increase in travel compared to 2003.
The busiest days of the travel period will be Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24.
Following are RDU's tips for holiday travelers.
1. Arrive early.
RDU officials are recommending passengers give themselves plenty of time for parking, luggage check-in and security screening.
2. Leave gifts unwrapped.
Gifts may be inspected at any point in the screening process.
3. Follow the electronic signs to available parking.
RDU offers motorists over 11,000 spaces located within walking distance of the terminals. In addition, Park and Ride Lots 3 and 4 will be open. Additional remote parking will be open when all other parking spaces have been filled.
4. Confirm the status of your flight before you leave home by calling your airline or checking its web site.
5. Check in online in advance.
If you have Internet access, check-in with your airline by printing your boarding pass from the airline's web site.
6. Use your airline's electronic kiosks.
Passengers with electronic tickets are encouraged to use their airline's self-service kiosks to print boarding passes, choose seats and, where available, check luggage. Nine out of 10 airlines at RDU offer electronic check-in.
7. Be prepared for security checkpoint.
Before proceeding through security checkpoint, travelers should remove coats, jackets, blazers and shoes. All metal objects should be placed in carry-on luggage. These items include cell phones, pagers, keys, large amounts of jewelry, large belt buckles and coins.
Other tips for security checkpoint include:
Keep boarding passess and photo IDs on hand until you have exited the security checkpoint.
Remove all knives, scissors and blades of any type or size from your carry-on luggage. If taking these items with you, place them in your checked luggage.
Leave gifts unwrapped, as they may need to be opened and are subject to search.
8. Pay for parking with ExitExpress.
Motorists parking between the terminals are reminded to avoid the lines at the exit plaza by paying for parking using ExitExpress. To use the automated payment program, motorists should keep their ticket with them and pay for parking before returning to their car. ExitExpress pay stations are located along the pedestrian walkways between the terminals and parking garages.
Southern Heritage Music Series
RDU's holiday music series will bring the sounds of the season to airport travelers. Following is a schedule of featured artists. All performances are from 4 – 6 p.m.
December 19
Artist: Cool John Ferguson
Local blues legend and electric and acoustic guitar player
Location: Terminal A
December 20
Artist: George Higgs
Harmonica and guitar player
Location: Terminal A
December 21
Artist: Cool John Ferguson
Local blues legend and electric and acoustic guitar player
Location: Terminal A
December 22
Artist: Andy McKee
Jazz saxophone
Location: Terminal A
December 23
John Dee Holman
Local bluesman who learned from Blind Boy Fuller
Terminal A
December 26
Artist: Scott Sawyer
Jazz guitar
Location: Terminal A
A complete list of holiday travel tips can be found at www.rdu.com.
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