Security Doesn't Slow down Most Folks at Jacksonville

David Herman was relieved Wednesday morning when he checked the content information on his toothpaste tube.

Three-quarters of an ounce. He stuck it in the plastic bag handed out by the airport volunteer behind him and was ready to go.

The recently enacted security regulations -- which say liquids and gels, like toothpaste, must be less than three ounces and must fit in a plastic bag -- led to few hold-ups Wednesday, a situation aviation officials were concerned about as less-than-frequent fliers showed up at the airport.

But Herman and the approximately 25,000 other travelers passing through Jacksonville International Airport seemed to have an easy time of it, as the biggest traveling day of the year passed with quickly moving security lines, an efficient baggage screening system and few flight delays.

"There was nothing to it," Herman said as he got ready to head to Hickory, N.C.

Although the number of passengers taking to the air was up -- about 2,000 more passed through JIA this year than last year -- more fliers started the holiday weekend early, with Tuesday and even Monday showing a bump in passenger counts.

Travelers are also extending the weekend, airport spokesman Michael Stewart said. Monday's passenger loads will be close to the number expected on Sunday, which is traditionally the second busiest travel day of the year.

That helped in making things go smoothly with the upgraded, behind-the-scenes baggage screening system at the airport.

The $18 million upgrade, which began in May, is designed to make the trip bags taken through automatic scanner machines more efficient. Since 2002, all bags were scanned in a central screening room; the new system will have a scanning room on each side of the check-in area, hidden under the mezzanine area.

The half of the new system that is installed was working "pretty good" Wednesday, Stewart said, although volunteers were on hand to help out if there were any snags.

A foreman with Milton J. Woods Co., which installed the system, also had a crew at the ready, although at midday Wednesday he said they hadn't had anything to do.

"The high volume worried me," Randy Reed said, "but I don't think we'll have any problems."

With more travelers leaving early, parking lots lining the entrance to the airport were busy, but not as busy as expected, workers at several lots said.

"It's been real smooth," said Alton Kitler, a shuttle driver for King Parking, "but the numbers are nothing like we expected today. People were leaving early."

Those traveling to and from Jacksonville were among an estimated 4.8 million people flying for the holiday. Traffic was moving smoothly at several other major airports, including the world's busiest, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

"I expected it to be a lot worse than it is, but the day is still young," Steve Miller told the Associated Press as he waited for relatives arriving in Atlanta from Fort Myers.

At Boston's Logan International Airport, wait times at security checkpoints were averaging less than 10 minutes, and there were no long lines at ticket counters at midday.

Roads were also crowded as 38.3 million people drove to their Thanksgiving destination, including 2.2 million Floridians.

Drivers in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia faced high winds and flooded roads Wednesday as an early winter storm swept across the South, according to the AP.

The weather slowed traffic between the Carolinas on Interstate 95, one of the main arteries for East Coast travel. Some ferry service along North Carolina's coast was halted on Wednesday due to the storm; the state transportation officials said it would likely not resume until today.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.