While not grammatically correct, just imagine 'It's the most busiest time of the year' set to the tune of the Christmas hit song 'It's the most wonderful time of the year' by Andy Williams.
That's what you'll get between Dec. 18 and Jan. 6 at Kelowna International Airport as 170,000 passengers come and go in a holiday frenzy.
That kind of festive hectic makes the 20 days surrounding Christmas the busiest time of the year at Kelowna airport.
"This holiday season we are expecting up to 40,000 more passengers than travelled through YLW at the same time last year," said Kelowna airport CEO Sam Samaddar.
"We are asking passengers to plan in advance and to expect longer than normal wait times."
That's right, while excitement abounds with Christmas travel because you're going to see loved ones or holiday in the sun, it can raise anxiety and be frustrating.
So, Kelowna airport recommends this five-point plan of action for coping:
1. Check out ylw.keowna.ca/traveltips.
The website will be updated daily to provide passengers with as much information as possible, from daily passenger volumes to anticipated peak times for security.
2. Keep in touch with your airline and ylw.kelowna.ca on your flight status.
There could be delays and changes this time of year, as there can be anytime of year.
Fingers crossed no cancellations because that really throws a spanner in the Christmas good times.
3. Don't park at the airport.
Parking lots are expected to be at capacity.
You can pre-book valet parking at ylw.kelowna.ca for a guaranteed spot.
Or, get to the airport any other way you can — cab, Uride, Uber, city bus, a ride from a relative, friend or neighbour.
4. Arrive at least two hours ahead of your flight.
And expect longer lines at the check-in counter.
To help speed up the process, check-in online, get your boarding pass online or print it out ahead of time, pay baggage fees online and print out luggage tags.
5. Expect line ups at security, too.
So, give yourself extra time by showing up early.
And, if you get through with time to spare, the airport suggests treating yourself at one of the food places past security — White Spot, Bright Jenny Coffee or Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate.
With all that said, now imagine yourself humming some of the lyrics to 'It's the most wonderful time of the year' — With the kids jingle belling/And everyone telling you: Be of good cheer/ It's the hap-happiest season of all.
Here's to smooth travels.
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Kelowna airport has about 70 flights a day to 18 destinations — cities near and far in Canada (Vancouver, Victoria, Comox, Nanaimo, Prince George, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal), Seattle and sunspots such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and Mazatlan.
