All systems go at Newark Liberty International Airport for post-holiday travelers and tourists alike
NEWARK, N.J. -- The post-holiday travel rush is far from over.
It was back to the skies for millions who were trying to make it back home.
CBS New York's Nick Caloway reported Tuesday from Newark Liberty International Airport, where plenty of people were trying to check their bags before flying out.
Last week, there were long lines.
"Six days ago, we missed a flight. We were in lines for three hours," traveler Mark Benjamin said.
By Tuesday, Newark Liberty International Airport was far less chaotic.
"Especially today. Everything's easy, nice," traveler Rosemonde Nazaire said.
"Went to L.A. first. Then we did New York for Christmas. Now San Fran, then Vegas, and then Hawaii," traveler Jennifer Lempke said.
The Lempke family is from Australia and is in the states for a month. So far, they've had good luck at the airports.
"Surprisingly pretty easy to get through," Lempke said.
"Just visiting, wanted to come out. First time in New York," traveler Florencio Cordero told Caloway. "Wanted to come and visit the Statue of Liberty, all that good stuff."
"Central Park, Rockettes, Broadway show -- all the things," traveler Katie Eckhoff said.
For the millions of people taking to the skies during the holiday rush, this year was much better than last. There were fewer than 200 cancellations over the Christmas holiday. That's despite a jump in passengers.
Officials with United Airlines said it is their second-busiest Christmas ever.
"We've had some weather incidents during the Christmas holidays in the plains states, also in Chicago with some fog on the runway at Midway. But, by and large, very few cancellations, relatively speaking. And things are, at least for the moment, moving smoothly," CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg said. "Both Christmas and New Years falls on a Monday. People have been able to stagger their departure times and, smartly, stagger their return times. So while there are more people traveling, the flow is spread out over a longer period of days."
Still, the holiday travel rush won't be done until the middle of next week.
"If you get to your flight early and allow enough time, you're fine. But if you don't, you're in trouble. You can't do the one hour before this time of year," Benjamin said.
Officials with the TSA recommend arriving at least two hours before departure time.
The TSA predicts this Friday, Dec. 29, and Monday, Jan. 1, will be the busiest days at airports across the U.S. as we round out the holiday travel rush.
