he Air Transport Association expects almost 22 million people to fly over the 11 days surrounding the Thanskgiving holiday. After weather delays, computer problems and baggage mishandling last holiday season affected about a half million travelers –– including my family on Christmas Day in Philadelphia on our way from Paris Orly to SFO — the airlines have beefed up their collective services this year.
To that end:
• US Airways has increased the nubmer of baggage handlers by 400 and added more equipment;
• DFW International Airport has added 8,100 more parking spaces;
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has opened six more security screening lanes; and
• Miami International has unveiled a 60-space “cellphone lot” where drivers can wait for arriving passengers to call them as they deplane — without having to pay a cent for parking. (Oakland International Airport also has this service, which I find to be wonderful.)