Airports in South Fla. Seem Ready for the Holiday Rush

"We haven't felt too much effects of it," Katrina Kirsch of Liberty Travel in Fort Lauderdale said of the strike. This time of year, she said, travelers tend to fly from cold New York to sunny Florida.

Ricki Blank of Traveleaders in Boca Raton said her office hasn't fielded a single call from someone worried about the strike. Most South Floridians trekking north are going to visit family, not heading to Manhattan, where the strike is most severe. "It's not really affecting them," Blank said.

But no traveler can escape the weather. A winter storm is now building over the Plains States, said meteorologist Bob Pifer, of the National Weather Service in Miami-Dade County. "It'll be starting about Friday night in the middle part of the country and moving east, hitting the eastern part of the country on Christmas," Pifer said. "Some people, I would say in the Ohio Valley or the Midwest, will probably have a white Christmas."

Those taking flights home early next week could see their travel plans affected by the storm, but not severely. "Depending on where they are, the weather could be rain or snow, low ceiling and visibility for the ones that are flying," the forecaster said.

But one holiday flier, who travels by sleigh, isn't likely to be deterred.

By Robert Nolin and Nancy Othon

Staff Writer Sean Gardiner contributed to this report.

TIPS

Don't wrap presents. Security officers must open them.

Check with your airline for how early you should arrive. Two hours for holiday domestic flights is often recommended, and even earlier for international flights.

Wear shoes that can be easily taken off and put on.

Keep cameras, undeveloped film, jewelry, laptops and other valuables in carry-on bags.

Avoid wearing jewelry or accessories with enough metal to set off detectors.

Do not bring lighters.

Closely follow posted instructions at checkpoints about what to do with keys, mobile phones, cameras, notebook computers and other items.

Scissors shorter than 4 inches and such tools as screwdrivers under 7 inches are now OK in carry-ons.

RESOURCES

www.fly.faa.gov

Gives the status of airports and delays around the country.

www.broward .org/airport

For information on Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

www.pbia.org

For information on Palm Beach County International Airport.

www.tsa.gov

For a complete list of prohibited items

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