Air travelers: "It wasn't that bad"

Updated: Sunday, 28 Nov 2010, 5:14 PM CST
Published : Sunday, 28 Nov 2010, 5:14 PM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Travelers returning to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after the long holiday weekend said things went smoothly.

AAA projected 42.2 million travelers over Thanksgiving weekend , up 11 percent from 2009.

While many of them expected big backups at security, they said they didn't see many.

"I thought it was going to be a lot more crowded," said Peggy Pletcher.

She flew back to Austin from Chicago's Midway airport.

"It was really easy travelling," she said. "I think the weather helped, there was not a lot of snow or rain."

Mary Meeh flew to North Carolina and back. She said she did get a pat down.

"I think because I was in a sweatshirt. It wasn't invasive at all, it wasn't uncomfortable," said Meeh.

Meeh said she did not encounter the new body scanners. She left 3 hours early for the airport just-in-case, but she said that was not necessary.

"I went to check in, there was no line. There was no line for coffee. The flight was smooth," she said.

AAA said it expected the number travelling this year wouldn't come close to pre-recession levels, down 30 percent from 2005. That year had a record 58.6 million Thanksgiving travellers.

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