Holiday travel: Know the rules, be flexible

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By Marnie Hunter

(CNN) -- Holiday travel headaches can be alleviated by lining up strategies for a smooth trip.

If you're flying to join family and friends, review the rules for carry-on luggage to make security screening as painless as possible.

A ban on liquids implemented in August following a thwarted terror plot was modified in September to allow passengers to bring small, travel-size containers (3 ounces or less) on board in a single one-quart zip-top plastic bag. The bag must be removed from your carry-on and placed on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening.

Transportation Security Administration officials are working to get the word out on the new rules and hope most travelers will be familiar with them by the time the Thanksgiving crush sets in.

"Typically when we make any change, in the beginning days there's confusion and that confusion wanes as the time goes on," said TSA spokesman Christopher White.

One area of confusion so far has been the size of the bag -- the bag must be a 1-quart zip-top bag; one-gallon bags are not permitted. Passengers also have questioned whether larger containers that have been partially depleted are permitted under the 3-ounce rule -- they're not.

"It's impossible for our officers to determine how full a container is, generally. And we've done extensive explosive testing with the FBI, national labs and our international partners, and we have determined that 3-ounce containers and a 1-quart bag do not pose significant threat to aviation," White said.

If you're checking bags, the TSA recommends storing liquids in those bags rather than carrying them on. Shoes and outer jackets must be removed for screening, and wrapping gifts is discouraged as they may be unwrapped for screening.

Check with your airline for recommendations on how much time to allow for check-in and security screening and get to the airport in plenty of time.

Program the numbers of your airline, other travel providers and contacts at your destination into your cell phone so that you're ready to work on a solution if complications crop up.

Book early, be flexible

For a wider selection and a better shot at a good deal, book your holiday plane tickets well before you pack your zip-top plastic bag.

As soon as you decide what you're doing for the holiday, start comparison shopping and take advantage of great fares when you see them.

"Generally I would say summer might be a good time to start thinking about holiday travel because the dates aren't changing," said Barbara Messing, a consumer travel expert with Hotwire.

If you don't plan that far ahead, flexibility is key. Avoid the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday, Messing advised.

Tim Winship, editor and publisher of FrequentFlier.com, suggests avoiding the week of Thanksgiving altogether, if your schedule allows. Leave the Thursday or Friday prior to Turkey Day for more attractive prices and a smoother trip.

Traveling on the holidays themselves is another way to skirt some of the congestion and the high prices of peak travel days.

"If Christmas with your family starts at noon, or you can go for Christmas dinner, you could find yourself being able to afford a lot more presents for everyone," Messing said.

Fly direct and early in the day

Avoid connecting flights if you're traveling on peak days.

"It's such a busy travel day and everyone is under so much pressure, so you want to avoid stops if you can if you're traveling on Wednesday to Sunday," Messing said.

High passenger demand and cutbacks in capacity by the airlines will mean full and potentially overbooked flights, Winship said.

"One of the sort of classic ways of ... giving yourself a better set of options in the event that you are bumped is booking an early flight rather than a later flight," he said. That way you have a better chance of getting on another flight the same day.

Hitting the road

Advance planning and an early start pay off for road trips as well.

The AAA recommends mapping your route in advance using an online mapping tool. Buckle up, don't let the gas gauge dip into dangerous "E" territory, get a full night's rest before you set off and take a break every two hours or 100 miles.

And try to avoid peak travel times.

"The earlier in the week you can leave, the better off you are," said AAA spokesman Mike Pina.

"Wednesday afternoon [before Thanksgiving] is going to be bad, Thursday morning is going to be bad. If you're able to get out of there Wednesday morning, or better yet Tuesday night, you're probably going to be beating the crowds."

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