Go Group Offers Travel Tips Just In Time For Holiday Travel Crush

For Immediate Release: CHICAGO (December 19, 2007) — "Cheer" may not be the word air travelers have in mind when embarking on their holiday travels, given the prospects of traffic jams, long lines and short tempers during the busiest time of the year at airports.

But members of GO Group, a global consortium of 39 independent airport shuttle operators, have collected their best suggestions for smoothing out the stress factors in hopes of making journeys more joyful.

On the planning and packing front, GO Shuttle Express in Seattle suggests layering the contents of your carry-on bag. Layering clothes, then electronics, more clothes, and then any heavier items will help security officers see what's in your bag when x-raying it, and offset security line delays.

And don't forget to bring your cell phone charger in your carry-on (in case you become stranded or delayed by poor weather conditions) — it can be a lifesaver, says GO Airport Passenger Service in Minneapolis.

Yellow Checker Shuttle in Dallas recommends checking your arrival and departure airport's Web sites before leaving the house for terminal maps and local weather conditions.

Alternatives to driving and parking at the airport are a must at the holidays when the parking lots fill up fast and it?s hard to find a space. GO Airport Connection in Milwaukee points out that more than one person has missed a flight for want of a place to park. And GO Airport Shuttle in Baltimore adds that anyone weighing parking versus a shuttle should, "think of returning to a snow-covered car in a distant parking lot."

Some other tips from GO Group members include:

• Do not carry wrapped gifts in carry-on or checked luggage. Any wrapped packages in your carry-on will be opened when going through security. The TSA will also unwrap presents in checked luggage if they open you bag during screening.
• Keep undeveloped film in your carry-on bag, and avoid x-raying film that is faster than 800-speed by reporting it to a security agent for inspection.
• View the latest security changes and the TSA's prohibited items list by checking the TSA Web site at www.tsa.gov before packing.
• International travelers should check the U.S. Department of State Web site at www.state.gov for the nearest U.S. consulate in the country you are visiting. Bring copies of your passport and/or visa. In the event you lose either, the copies will help you get a replacement faster. The Web site also gives information about any foreign travel warnings.

Launched in August to serve as a convenient, one-stop source for door-to-door airport shuttle services, GO Airport Shuttle serves 110 airports around the world with a fleet of 3,765 vehicles that transport close to 29 million passengers annually.

Through GO's Web site, www.goairportshuttle.com, travelers can easily book ground transportation to and from both departure and destination airports.