Busiest travel time of the year

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Christmas is less then a week away and people are busy wrapping their presents and packing their suitcases. Today is the busiest travel day of the year. Here are some tips on how to make your trip to the airport less stressful.

Some pack a little, some pack a lot. Some pack Christmas presents. But one thing you need to pack is your patience.

Long lineups, lots of waiting, and potential delays are a fact of holiday travel

The airport expects to see close to 130 000 travelers in a day and it will continue to be busy until about Christmas Eve.

“We are staffed up. We know that we are going to see higher levels so we are staffed to those levels.”

“Make sure that your passports are not going to expire anytime soon. I was actually at the passport office this morning for 2 of my kids because their passports were expired.”

“Have a pint of Guiness before. Try to pack lightly, but it doesn’t always work that way.”

And make sure you plan ahead. Check your flight status, reserve a parking spot and check in online.

Pack light. Leave holiday gifts unwrapped and know what you can and can’t take through security.

And if you’re traveling south of the border be frugal. This time last year a $1.15 Canadian would buy you $1 American. This year that $1 will cost you $1.40.

But our low dollar likely won’t have much of an impact on holiday air travel

“People this time of year have already purchased their flights say a month or two ago when the Canadian dollar was stronger than it is now. Not great but still stronger. And they are mostly travelling to visit family so they don’t have the same costs once they arrive.” said Marvin Ryder from the DeGroote School of Business.

And while it may be stressful, the airport is doing it’s best to keep people in the Christmas spirit.

Pearson Airport has lots of activities planned to get people in the Christmas spirit. Mrs. Claus will be visiting people who are waiting at gates. There are carolers, ornament decorating for kids and even gift wrapping. There are also stations set up to speak to Santa at the North Pole, to tell him all your Christmas wishes.