Wicked weather delays East Coast travelers

Story Highlights

• Bad weather delaying some flights in Northeast
• Flights in NY, NJ, and Philadelphia delayed due to wicked weather
• 2.7 percent increase from 2005 expected, AAA says

By Marnie Hunter
CNN

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(CNN) -- Bad weather on the East Coast is complicating travel for some of the millions of Americans taking to the roads and skies to join family and friends for Thanksgiving.

Heavy rain and high winds moved north from the Carolinas through Virginia on Wednesday morning along the I-95 corridor.

Flooding in areas of Virginia snarled traffic, and high winds restricted travel to cars and pickup trucks across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

The storm appeared to be heading up the northeastern corridor.

At 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, the weather was causing average flight arrival delays of more than two hours at New York's LaGuardia Airport and at Newark International airport in New Jersey.

Flights were delayed about 30 minutes into JFK International Airport in New York.

Philadelphia International Airport was experiencing delays of about one hour and 15 minutes.

New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, which earlier had delayed flights up to a half hour, was running smoother, with flights delays hovering around fifteen minutes.

Unionized ground crews for Northwest Airlines mounted a brief work stoppage at the airline's Minneapolis, Minnesota, hub Wednesday. They were protesting the bankrupt airline's hiring of non-union vendors to clean aircraft, union officials said.

About 250 people participated in the demonstration that lasted less than half an hour, and Northwest said its operations in Minneapolis were "running smoothly and normally" Wednesday afternoon.

AAA, the automobile club, expects more than 38 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 2.7 percent increase from last year. (Watch how police make one interstate a nightmare for speeders )

The number of air travelers is expected to rise about 3 percent from last year to 4.8 million, despite an average 4 percent increase in airfares.

Confusion over the recent restrictions on liquids in carry-on luggage was expected to add to wait times at airport security checkpoints.

"We didn't have any trouble at all," said Jon Hoffmaster, 58, who traveled from Omaha, Nebraska, to Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday. "We travel quite a bit so we know the rules."

Wednesday evening, the average delay time across the nation was fifteen minutes, according to the TSA's Web site. (Watch some travelers get an express lane through airport security )

A ban on liquids implemented in August following a thwarted terror plot was modified in September to allow passengers to bring small containers -- 3 ounces or less -- on board in a one-quart zip-lock plastic bag. Each passenger is allowed one bag, which must be placed on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening.

TSA officials have been working to get the word out on the new rules, which the agency is referring to as "The 3-1-1 for Carry-ons." Passengers are encouraged to pack liquids in checked bags, if they have them.

Most of the TSA's 43,000 security officers will be working over the busy holiday period, and airports will have additional staff on duty. (Watch one TSA agent bring humor to his job )

David Biggs, 51, wasn't planning to take the 3-1-1 route on his flight from Boston, Massachusetts, to Philadelphia on Wednesday morning. He planned to check two large suitcases.

"The only thing I'll be bringing through the line is proper identification, a ticket and the clothes that I'm wearing," said Biggs, an academic adviser at Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts.

"So I'm putting a lot of faith in the airline situation to get my bags to me upon my arrival in Philadelphia."

A rise in checked bags since the initial ban on liquids may mean more mishandled bags. The number of mishandled baggage complaints in September nearly doubled from September 2005. (Watch the luggage nightmare that looms this travel holiday )

The vast majority of travelers, nearly 83 percent, will be driving this holiday.

Parker Sanders, 28, isn't concerned about his drive Wednesday from Atlanta to Columbus, Mississippi. Getting out of Atlanta is the hardest leg of the trip, and he knows better than to head out in 5 p.m. traffic.

"I just don't even bother to fight it. I would rather drive later. It's less stressful. I'd rather spend my time relaxing before I get on the road," said Sanders, who is an attorney.

According to a November 17 Lundberg Survey, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gas is $2.23, a penny lower than the same week a year ago and about 80 cents lower than summer prices.

Nearly 2 million Americans will travel by train, bus or another mode of transportation, according to AAA estimates.

Amtrak expects Wednesday to be its busiest travel day of the year and has added 16 extra trains to handle the increased volume.

"I don't like to drive in the traffic," said 24-year-old fashion assistant Rebecca Lipstock as she made her way through New York's Penn Station to board a train to Providence, Rhode Island.

Allan Chernoff and Diane Hawkins-Cox contributed to this report.