Happy holiday travel for Central Oregonians
The holidays are here. and many of you are traveling to be with your loved ones. Whether it be by air or by ground, ’tis the season to be on the move.
“Most flights are full, some are over-full,” Nicole Jurgensen, the Redmond Airport’s security coordinator, said Tuesday
“This kind of a holiday, where it’s midweek, gives travelers some latitude,” said Peter Murphy of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Whether you’re going by car or by plane, you won’t be alone this holiday season.
“We’ve seen lots of families traveling through the airport in the last couple of days,” Jurgensen said. “We’re expecting it to be busier today, and going forward through about Jan. 4, is really the busy busy schedule.”
According to Jurgensen, all flights appear to be booked, other than on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
So if you can’t fly, you can drive, unless you’re from Seattle and aren’t too fond of the pass.
“Oh of course not — it’s much easier to take an hour flight,” said Robin Knepper, an air traveler from Seattle.
If you’re stuck on the road this holiday season, ODOT said the best time to hit the road is when the sun is up.
“Midday gives ODOT the time to get on the road and make sure the highway is as safe as it can be, and you’re still driving during daylight hours when you’re getting to your destination,” Murphy said.
Also, with favorable weather, all should be clear in the air.
“After going through some of our crazy severe weather bouts, it’s really great to see the sun and hopefully continue on with good weather for the planes,” Jurgensen said.
For the kids, going by plane was an easy choice.
“When you go on the planes, you get to see lots of new people and they’re — a lot of times they’re nice,” said Connor Monroe, a traveler from Anchorage.
“I just like getting food from the snack bars, I don’t know,” said Steven Bryant, who was traveling to Arizona.
For travel tips, either by air or ground, visit http://www.flyrdm.com/?newsDetail/42 or http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Pages/visiting.aspx.
