Hassle-Free Holiday Travel

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Oct 31, 2014, 02:35 ET

CHICAGO, Oct. 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of passengers will be traveling through U.S. airports during the 2014 holiday season. This translates into long lines, congested traffic and stress, particularly for those traveling with small children. To help make the process go more smoothly, the travel experts at The GO Group, LLC have these recommendations:

Check your flight before you leave for the airport
Nothing is worse than arriving at the airport and discovering that your flight has been delayed or cancelled. To ensure this won't happen, opt to have your airline notify you about flight status via text or email, or phone your airline before you leave.

Avoid rush hour
Try to avoid departing during rush hours, which are 6:45 to 9:30 a.m. and 3:45 to 6:30 p.m. Both the traffic to and at the airport will slow you down.

Arrive early
Domestic and international passengers should arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure during the holidays when crowds and security are greatest. Be prepared for even longer times in the event of inclement weather and increased security during unforeseen crises or security threats.

Skip the boarding pass line
If your airline has the option, print your boarding pass before you get to the airport so you do not have to wait in line. Even easier, store your boarding pass in your phone which can be scanned at the airport.

Bypass lengthy TSA screening
The holidays draw people who don't travel frequently and aren't familiar with the screening process. Traveling with children always takes more time, too. Avoid the aggravation by applying for The TSA Precheck™ which, for a fee, allows low-risk travelers to experience expedited security screening at the 300 participating U.S. airport checkpoints. Click here for details.

Attire
Be prepared to remove jackets and footwear; wear slip-ons to speed up the process. Note that children 12 and under are not required to remove their shoes. Because of the sensitivity of Advanced Imaging Technology, remove all items from your pockets, including wallets, paper products and cell phones to reduce the chance of additional screening.

Children and pets
Children must be removed from strollers and carriers; folding and collapsing items while in line will save time. All child-related equipment must then go through the X-ray machine. TSA is not allowed to separate parents or guardians from their children. Pets too must be removed from carriers, which will then be X-rayed.

Double-check luggage guidelines
The size and number of allowed carry-ons varies according to airlines. Check ahead of time and be sure to weigh your luggage before you leave home. Each passenger is allowed one, clear quart-sized bag for liquids under 4 oz. For a complete list of allowed and banned items visit www.tsa.gov.

Packages:
Do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may have to unwrap them for security reasons.

Follow these tips for safe, stress free and happy travels!

The GO Group, LLC provides both shared-ride shuttles and private cars at some 66 airports in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe. For a complete list, visit the website at www.GoAirportShuttle.com The company serves some 13 million passengers per year.

SOURCE The GO Group, LLC