AirTran Airways Offers Feast of Holiday Travel Tips

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), is helping passengers keep their holiday cheer as they travel during the frenzied Thanksgiving season. For the past nine years, the low-cost carrier has been offering helpful tips to customers traveling during the busiest season of the year.

New for the 2010 holiday travel season is free Wi-Fi on every AirTran Airways flight thanks to a partnership with Google's innovative Web browser, Google Chrome™.

"We understand that traveling during the holidays can be hectic, but it becomes a lot easier when you are prepared," said Tad Hutcheson, AirTran Airways' vice president of marketing and sales. "We encourage passengers to 'gobble up' these tips while taking advantage of our efficient online check-in and booking services on airtran.com for the best travel deals."  

AirTran Airways offers the following list of travel tips and guidelines as a service to holiday travelers:

• Layer your ingredients – Much like your favorite Thanksgiving dessert, layers work best. Pack a layer of clothes, then a layer of electronics, another layer of clothes and then any heavier items. This allows transportation security officers to see what's in your bag quickly, thus moving lines along faster.
• Set your timer – With increased airport traffic during the holidays, it's best to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to takeoff. Airport parking lots will be more crowded, ticket lines will invariably be longer and other passengers, who aren't as prepared as you, could hold up security check points. Arriving to the airport early helps to alleviate concerns about missed flights due to elongated check-in procedures.
• "Dressing" for success – Avoid wearing clothes and accessories that have metal, as they will certainly slow down the security process. All footwear must go through the security screening process as well.
• A liquid diet – Airport security guidelines do allow for travelers to bring liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on luggage. However, the items must be stored in containers no larger than three ounces and must be placed in a single, quart-sized zip-top, clear plastic bag.
• Protect your bounty – Place your wallet, keys, money clips and cell phone inside of your carry-on luggage prior to arriving to the security checkpoint. This is extra protection from thieves and will expedite the item retrieval process once you've passed the checkpoint.
• Check the status of your "pilgrim"age – It is a good idea to confirm your flight status before heading to the airport. Visit www.airtran.com to check the status of your flight, check in for your flight online and select your seat assignment. You can print your boarding pass and a receipt from your computer.
• Tag Your Luggage – A baggage tag with your name, home address and telephone number must be placed on the outside of your bag. For easy identification upon arrival, passengers may also want to use a ribbon or other easily identifiable item to mark their bag.
• Harvest Your IDs – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security procedures require that all travelers 18 years of age and older show a government-issued photo ID, such as a valid driver's license, a passport or military ID. If you do not have one of the above, you may show two forms of non-photo ID, at least one of which must be issued by a local, state or federal government agency such as the following: birth certificate, Medicare card, voter registration card or Social Security card. Ensure that the name on your itinerary matches the name on your identification.
• Invest in a security friendly laptop bag – If you want to avoid having to remove your laptop at the security checkpoint, buy a laptop bag that is free of outside pockets, metal snaps, zippers or thick padding that can obstruct a clear X-Ray view of the laptop. Also, keep cords and batteries separate from the laptop to avoid having to remove the laptop from your bag.

For more information on permitted or prohibited items, visit the TSA Web site at www.tsa.gov.

AirTran Airways is a Fortune 1000 company and has been ranked the number one low cost carrier in the Airline Quality Rating study for the past three years. AirTran Airways is the only major airline with Gogo Inflight Internet on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. Our low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit www.airtran.com.

SOURCE AirTran Airways