Thanksgiving ILM airport travel brings reunions and talk on travel etiquette
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – Robert Lynch and his son, Trevor Lynch has a sweet reunion on Wednesday.
Trevor alongside his fiancé, Becky McCarty flew from Baltimore to Wilmington for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“It feels good, they enjoy coming down here and visiting us because of the warm weather,” Robert said.
The Lynch family was one of many reunions at the Wilmington International airport the day before Thanksgiving.
Over two million north Carolinians are expects to travel over the holiday, more than one hundred thousand will be traveling by plane.
While Trevor and Becky had an easy flight in, some travelers experienced delays, such as Jessie Wohner from West Palm Beach, Florida.
“It’s been pretty chaotic,” Wohner said.
Her flight got delayed and she came in a day late.
“We got here this morning, so everything is okay,” Wohner said.
At the Wilmington International Airport, with ongoing construction travelers are advised to get to the airport at least two hours early before their flight.
Jeff Bourke, the airport director said they are feeling the impact of a busy travel season.
“Well ILM is one of the fastest growing airports in the country we’ve seen lots of growth so this would be our busiest Thanksgiving ever, but that’s been the case for all of summer as well,” Bourke said.
As many travelers relax and enjoy a holiday off, many may not be thinking about their airport attire, but U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters this week that dressing and acting with respect would improve civility at airports.
“Don’t take your shoes off and put your feet on the chair ahead of you,” Duffy said. “Maybe don’t play your movie without headphones on just some simple things that can annoy the folks around you”
Travelers like Wohner said dressing nicer to the airport is an inconvenience.
“A flight at four in the morning, were not trying to be dressed to nines, we just want to be comfortable, especially considering we are flying for hours on end,” Wohner said.
Rober thinks differently.
“Yeah if someone walks by in pajamas, I’d say “come on now, really? Are you serious?’ So I think it would be nicer if people did put a little efforts into it,” Robert said.
Bourke said they appreciate all their customers no matter their attire.
“There’s a passenger walking by me right now with pajamas on and I don’t really care, we love our passengers,” Bourke said.
