As students around the country set down their books and ventured home this Thanksgiving, they took part in what is historically the most popular travel week of the year.
But even though passenger numbers are beginning to pick up following the Sept. 11 attacks, Thanksgiving travel through Dane County Regional Airport was lower than average, according to airport Deputy Director Rod McLean.
Northwest Airlines reported a 3 to 4 percent drop in passengers compared to previous Thanksgiving weekend records, Director of Communications Lisa Bailey said.
Some people who opted not to use airline travel this weekend chose other modes of transportation instead.
The Badger Bus/Greyhound Bus Depot, 2 S. Bedford St., seemed to service more people this Thanksgiving than in previous years, according to depot manager Scott Kreisler.
\It went as smoothly as can be. Both bus companies really covered their bases,"" he said. ""Everybody was able to get to and from [their destinations] easily.""
STA Travel Manager Deanna Schuppel said prices were much lower for students who flew during the Thanksgiving weekend, in part because less people were traveling.
""Usually it's the busiest time to travel, it just wasn't this year,"" she said.
Schuppel also said students looking for a bargain on a flight home this winter break can expect to see more discounts from airlines.
""Cheap prices are still out there,"" she said, adding that business has become more brisk for ticket sellers recently.
Heightened airport security dramatically altered the way passengers prepared for their Thanksgiving journeys. Security personnel, for example, asked travelers to empty everything from their pockets.
""I didn't even take a plastic fork,"" said UW-Madison freshman Brian O'Gara, who experienced only one short delay during his travels. ""You had to screen everything,"" he said.
Even though the extra safety precautions made the line through security quite a bit longer, some students said the wait remained relatively short.
""The line waiting to get through security was extremely long, but it was fast,"" said UW-Madison freshman Mike Wall, who flew from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago to the T.F. Green International Airport in Providence, R.I.
According to Bailey, waits were no longer than 15 minutes through the ticket counter.
People generally seemed to take the slight delay of passage with stride, McLean said.
""People realize that though there's a line, it's for their best interest,"" he said.
In fact, McLean said comments of passengers flying through Dane County tended to be more positive than in the past in part because of fewer overbooked flights.
He also said that the good weather contributed to a successful traveling season.
""The weather was terrific,"" McLean said.
