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SALT LAKE CITY — From roads to skies, lines are quickly forming as Americans begin their holiday travels.
It’s expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the season.
Issues were minimal at Salt Lake International Airport on Friday morning, even as airports in cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami were dealing with delays. However, the lines were growing quickly.
Airport officials said 30,000 travelers are expected at Salt Lake International Airport from Friday until Monday. Nationally, it’s reported that 6.7 million people will be flying ahead of Christmas. The increased traffic has some travelers not risking being late.
“I told him flat out: ‘It’s the holidays. We’ve got to get there,’” traveler Nia Folaumahima said of her husband.
Others didn’t take any chances either and showed up extra early.
“We travel every year on Christmas,” said a traveler, whose holiday tradition is flying to California. “We minimize the gifts and we try to create the memories instead.”
Travelers are encouraged to keep an eye on their flight statuses to accommodate for delays, and those picking up friends or family from an airport are encouraged to wait in the parking lot instead of coming inside. This will help minimize the congestion as the thousands of people arrive and depart.
It’s also a good idea to print boarding passes and also check the Transportation Security Administration’s “What Can I Bring?” website to make sure your bag will get through TSA checkpoints.
On Christmas Eve, there will be a live band at the airport, and Santa Claus will be taking last-minute wishes.
On the roads, 102 million people are expected to be traveling by car, according to AAA. Another 3.7 million will be traveling by bus, train or cruise ship.
In all, more than one-third of the entire United States will be traveling this holiday season.
