Expecting holiday travel delays out of metro-east, St. Louis airports? How to check
More than 28% of flights departing from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and St. Louis Lambert International airport were delayed in September, according to a new report, and any wintry conditions this holiday season could increase travel hiccups for air travelers.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report, last released in September, reported MidAmerica’s on-time departure rate was 71.3% while Lambert’s was 68.4%.
Travel company AAA reported a record number of travelers for Thanksgiving this year, and more than 7 million Americans typically travel for winter holidays, around Christmastime, each year, according to the organization.
Lambert airport spokesperson Will Becker told the News-Democrat in a Dec. 4 email the St. Louis airport is fully staffed and ready for the holiday travel rush.
“For this winter holiday period, we do not expect any issues, however if there is severe weather here or other parts of the country, that could impact travelers,” Becker said.
The metro-east and St. Louis region has recently seen the third-snowiest start to the winter season on record, according to the National Weather Service, and there is a 40 to 50% chance the area will see more precipitation than usual from January through March.
Becker recommends travelers closely monitor their flight status through their airline to keep up-to-date on any potential delays or cancellations.
MidAmerica airport director Darren James wrote in a Dec. 3 email that Allegiant, the only commercial airline at MidAmerica, has an “extremely low” cancellation rate, at 0.4%.
“The winter weather could always play a role in delays. BLV looks forward to increased travel over the holidays,” James said.
MidAmerica airport does not have aircraft that are based there and stay there overnight, James continued, so delays at an aircraft’s original airport can affect timeliness at the metro-east airport.
“While we always strive for better on time rates, our Arrival and Departure statistics were above the Allegiant average,” James added.
Additionally, the director reported the MidAmerica airport does not have many “controllable delays,” or those that can be attributed to an occurrence at the facility. James said MidAmerica airport had zero controllable delays in October, and one in November.
You can check online to see if your flight is on-time for St. Louis Lambert International Airport and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.
What if you’re flying without a Real ID?
Those flying without a REAL ID from Lambert airport should expect extra screening and should arrive earlier to the airport.
“Acceptable alternatives for those flying without a REAL ID include a U.S. passport or other federally issued identification. Travelers without a REAL ID should expect additional screening at [Transportation Security Administration] checkpoints. Passengers should plan extra time and ideally arrive 2–3 hours or more before departure,” Becker said.
However, metro-east travelers leaving MidAmerica without REAL IDs have not been delayed so.
“To this point, BLV has not seen delays in processing passengers without REAL IDs,” James said. “I recommend passengers visit the TSA website to determine alternative forms of identification and arrive at the airport 2 hours before their scheduled departure time.”
The REAL ID requirement went into effect May 7 after several deadline extensions. If you have a REAL ID in Illinois, you can also display it on your phone via mobile ID at many airports. A passport can be used in place of a REAL ID card.
Beginning Sunday, Feb. 1, TSA will charge $45 to any traveler who wants to fly but does not have an acceptable form of ID, such as a REAL ID, a U.S. passport, a permanent resident card or other options. The full list of acceptable forms of ID is available online from TSA.
“With costs rising across the board, Illinoisans shouldn’t have to pay a $45 penalty just to get on a plane, especially when that fee is higher than some flights themselves,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a Dec. 3 news release. “We’re doing everything possible to remove barriers, save people time and make getting a REAL ID simple and stress-free. With a REAL ID in your wallet, you avoid TSA’s penalty entirely and skip a massive travel headache.”
Giannoulias’ office recommends Illinois residents use the office’s streamlined REAL ID portal to check what documents are required, and you can also call the state helpline at 800-252-8980 with any questions about getting your REAL ID.
Do you have a question about traveling in the metro-east or Illinois for the News-Democrat? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Metro-east Matters form below.
