NBC reports that in the run-up to the holidays at the US airports, the flow of passengers has considerably increased. Sometimes, it leads to some conflicts, to resolve which it's necessary to involve the police. In addition, due to the challenging situation with the new Omicron variant, many people feel a certain nervousness. US authorities, meanwhile, insist that the best way for passengers to protect themselves at crowded airports is to keep a social distance and wear a mask.
Today, airports are jammed with travelers planning to travel during the holiday, and at times airport employees have to deal with violent passengers. For example, at Miami International Airport, two people were arrested after a fight in one of the terminals.
The video shows a group of people surrounding an officer who gets his gun. According to the officials, police arrived in the departure area after a man prevented an airport officer from driving a car and then got into the car and broke its key.
When police arrived, the two passengers were charged with battery. The airport director said the influx of passengers had led to an increase in destructive behavior. However, aggressive passengers, be careful! You could end up with handcuffs and a hefty fine, and possibly even a flight ban.
Travelers & Passengers Interview
Here's a small interview of people who are traveling right now. They tell about the current situation at the US airports.
Quincy January, passenger
"We're happy we have an opportunity to travel, but it's a lot busier, so it's pretty hard to make a trip."
Atlanta, the busiest US airport, is having a quieter day. The increase in the number of Omicron's cases hasn't affected the stir of people traveling during the holidays.
The Transportation Security Administration reports that about eight million people have taken their flights since Friday (December 17th).
Dr. Anand Swaminathan, emergency physician
"It's the most contagious of all the variants we've seen in terms of transmissibility. Remarkably, we had 10 or 13 percent of cases caused by Omicron a week ago. Now, in turn, we're probably overcoming the 80 percent mark."
Health officials insist the best way for passengers to protect themselves in crowded airports is to keep a social distance and wear a mask.
Daphne Powell, passenger
"I'm thrilled. It's my first trip during the pandemic. So we're just reading all the recommendations that Delta has posted online. They say everything is clean, and the airport doesn't seem to be highly crowded. So the experience is going pretty good right now."
It's not just air travel that's surging. The American Automobile Association predicts that at least 100 million people will travel by car between December 23rd and January 2nd, a 34 percent increase over last year.
It means the following: thanks to many families' combined efforts, this could be the busiest travel week in the past two years. While families were advised not to get together last year, officials say that's not the case this year. Provided, of course, that people have been vaccinated and boosted.
Dr. Anand Swaminathan, emergency physician
"If you're getting together with your family, ideally, everyone should get tested before, and these family gatherings should be small or take place outside the home. But indoors, I wouldn't have meetings with those not vaccinated, although they're vaccine-eligible."
Is everyone comfortable traveling right now?
Ellison Barber, NBC correspondent
"You know, many people have told us they feel like they're in a kind of a gray area. They feel a little bit nervous and, at times, stressed about traveling right now because they see what the numbers are. They know there is a surge in cities now. But at the same time, they tell us they're trying to trust the safety nets around them, from vaccines and masks to better airplane ventilation systems."
Travelers, there you’ll find some helpful tips!
Have you ever heard something about off-site parking? If not, we recommend you take a closer look at this part of the article, as this information will be handy for those who prefer to travel by air and get to the airport by their own car.
Most people suppose that parking at the airport is the fastest and most convenient option for them. However, it's not actually true. We'll explain to you why.
To be true, being in a terminal parking lot isn't convenient at all. Although on-site airport parking is the nearest place where you can leave your vehicle for the period of a trip, you can face the following difficulties:
- You will need to find a spot in a crowded lot,
- You will need to carry the luggage all the way through the parking lot,
- You must pay expensive fees without great service.
Sounds not good, right? However, we found an excellent solution for you - in this case, off-site parking can become a savior for you. So if you're trying to find a parking spot with great service nearby the airport you're flying from and don't want to leave there the most significant part of your budget, pay attention to this option.
How does it work?
Obviously, people who chose a car as a way to get to the airport want to leave their vehicle safely while traveling and not to face the problems we described above. So what can off-site airport parking offer its customers?
Although a few miles usually separate such parking from the airport, you shouldn’t worry about this. Off-site parking provides free shuttles going back and forth between the parking lot and the airport. Thanks to this, it removes any worries about getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport during peak times. So all you need to do is choose the best time for you and inform the parking lot staff.
How does it work? Actually, everything is straightforward: when you come to the entrance, the staff will remove your luggage from your car and load it onto the shuttle, which will take you and your bags to the terminal. Then, the vehicle will be parked securely.
In addition, this type of parking is much cheaper, and this is good news, as nobody wants to waste money. Therefore, off-site parking is the perfect option to receive excellent service and save money at the same time.
Want to find some great offers? You don't need to go somewhere - just find it right here!
We're glad to inform you that you can find this solution right here. Our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, offers the best prices on airport car parking and bundles hotel and parking packages. Besides, we provide the services for top cruise ports in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas.
Our platform allows you to reserve a parking spot through a few clicks within the application. As a result, customers receive a booking confirmation and a guaranteed parking spot upon arrival at the off-airport lot. Besides, if plans change, you can cancel hassle-free and receive a refund.
To understand it better, we would like to give you an example. Let's imagine that you live in Houston, Texas. If you're planning a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, you can use the services of cheap parking near George Bush Airport. If you're coming from Knoxville, the situation is the same - you can choose affordable long-term parking Knoxville Airport. So it just depends on the place you're flying from.
Also, ParkingNearAirports.io offers its customers special airport parking reservations coupons. With the help of these coupons, you can make the price for parking even two times less. So don't forget to use them to save as much money as possible.
You can find all the necessary and helpful information connected with the off-site airport parking on our official website. Enjoy traveling!