Check it out. The federal government is going to speed the flow of holiday travelers next week! Maybe you’re more optimistic than I am, but it’s just something about the government getting involved that typically results in a mess.

The Air Transport Association expects 27 million passengers during the 12 days surrounding Thanksgiving.

This is the worst year on record for aviation delays, and the White House is trying to ease congestion not just during the holidays - but for next summer’s busy travel season as well. ” We want to make sure next year does not duplicate what happened this year,” a White House official said.

I guess airline tickets must be less expensive for most folks. When I priced tickets for Thanksgiving break for Tieki Rae coming home they were well over $1000, many reaching $2000+. Needless to say, poor Tieki has to wait until Christmas break to come home.

Oh, and this little snippet:

President Bush is also expected to announce raising compensation for passengers who are bumped off an overbooked flight. The Transportation Department has been drafting proposed increases for passengers ranging from $200 to more than $600.

Additionally at New York’s JFK airport, one of the nation’s most delayed airports, the government is considering slightly altering landing and take-off patterns to speed up arrivals and departures.

First of all, I love it when Tieki gets bumped because it means a free trip. However, who’s going to pay for this increased compensation the White House is talking about?

I realize the federal government has to be involved in the aviation industry, but isn’t less really more? They think they can speed up travel and make the airlines run efficiently, when government itself runs so inefficiently? Just saying.

Are you traveling over Thanksgiving? Leave a comment regarding holiday plans. Don’t leave anything so specific that leftards and islamofascists can locate and harass you, but do share if you feel so inclined. For the first time ever (not counting last year when my husband was in the hospital) I have the entire week of Thanksgiving off. AND … I think we are just planning to stay home, relax, eat, and watch football! Doesn’t that sound spectacular? Of course, the only thing that could make it better would be if we were loaded and could afford those $1500 airline tickets to bring the Tiekster home. (Don’t tell her I called her that!)

Sending out some link love to: 2nd Verse Same as the 1st, 4Simpsons, Big Dog’s Weblog, Brit and Grit, Defiant Infidel, Doctor Bulldog, Foehammer, Grizzly Groundswell, Haemet, Helvidius a Pachyderm, I Pandora, John Kaiser, Mommyzabs, Next Stop Lauderdale, Nuke’s News & Views, Political Cowboy, Queen of Swords, Jeffrey Weaver, The Midnight Sun, Toast, TotalTransformation, Velvet Hammer, and Woman Honor Thyself.

Let’s not leave out some Conservablog Friends: Blogs for Thompson, Ohio for Fred, Wyoming Vote Tracker, Blue Collar Muse, Conservative Common Man, DPGI v.3, and Publius Forum