Point A to Point B

MAT-SU — Over the river and through the woods, people are traveling more this time of year.

With the extra onslaught of holiday travelers, the added stress of delays and clogged roadways can mount up. Thanksgiving has traditionally marked the start of the holiday season, and local officials are warning travelers to be prepared and plan ahead.

In Alaska, preparing for a trip to see friends or family takes on a whole new meaning. Location, weather and distance put Alaskans in a different position than many of their Lower 48 counterparts.

For many families heading south for Thanksgiving, flying is the likeliest choice — unless they don’t mind braving the Alaska Highway in winter. Flying is also often the safest way to visit other Alaska cities that would usually require a drive on icy roads for hours at a time.

Alaska Airlines, the major commercial carrier in Alaska that also serves some Outside destinations, is offering a few tips for air passengers. One of those tips, something that has caught on with most major airlines, is online check-in.

Typically available 24 hours before a flight, online check-in eliminates the need to stand in line for a kiosk to get a boarding pass at the airport’s front gate. Checking in online can save precious time needed to navigate security checkpoints and terminals. Alaska Airlines is also advising passengers to:

• Understand carry-on limits and increased fees for bags being checked.

• Prepare for long lines at the security checkpoints.

• Leave gifts unwrapped. The packages can be opened and inspected whether they are wrapped or not.

• Plan for extra time in getting to the airport. Parking could be limited and using shuttles is encouraged.

One variable travelers heading south will face this year is a cutback of flights leaving the state.

Kim Boggs, a travel agent with ABC Travel Time in Palmer, said some major carriers such as Delta Airlines are down to one flight per day out of Anchorage.

“With there only being one flight, there’s really nothing left for us to do,” Boggs said of the challenge agents have with booking flights.

Boggs said travelers seem to be heading out-of-town to visit family this year, as opposed to jetting off to Hawaii or other warm weather destinations.

“The flights are full,” Boggs said.

The warmer temperatures much of the Valley experienced Monday is expected to slide downward during Thanksgiving day.

“Temperatures will be falling Thursday into Thursday night,” said David Vonderheide, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Anchorage.

Vonderheide said while strong winds pushed much of the cold air from Palmer and Wasilla on Monday, making temperatures as high as 39 degrees, a high-pressure system expected over mainland Alaska will drive temperatures down later this week with clear skies.

There’s also a little snow expected, though Vonderheide said he doesn’t predict it will be enough to cause headaches on area roads.

Those roads are where local police and the Alaska State Troopers will have an increased presence for the long weekend.

In Palmer, police Cmdr. Tom Remaley said there will be more patrols on the street for Thanksgiving.

“There’s just a lot of increased travel,” Remaley said.

The idea of putting more officers on the street is meant as a deterrence, and police hope with a visual presence where motorists can see them it will stop red light and stop sign runners, among other violations, Remaley said.

He said he also hopes with more officers it will deter speeders driving on already dangerous roads.

“If we have a presence on the street, maybe they’ll slow down,” Remaley said.

And while police are always on the look-out for drunken drivers, officials say Thanksgiving doesn’t usually provide for a significant increase in DUI violations.

Regardless of what Valley residents are doing during Thanksgiving, the holiday tends to open the spigot to end-of-the-year celebrations.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252. The Associated Press contributed to this report.