Hundreds of holiday travelers line up at Houston airports

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The roads may be emptier than usual, but the airports in Houston are filled with people traveling to their Christmas destinations.

But, it's not just the crowds you'll have to beat this year. Bad weather could also put a damper on your travel plans.

At Hobby Airport, more than half a million people are expected to pass through the terminals in southeast Houston. A trickle turned into a flood this morning as hundreds of people began lining up to get through security with luggage in tow.

"People have to understand more than 38 million people are going to take their cup of holiday cheer to go. That's going to mean crowds at the airport. More than 2 million people are going to fly through the Houston airport system during the Christmas holiday season. So you have to be patient," said Bill Begley with the Houston Airport System. "To get through security a lot of times wrapped gifts get unwrapped. So if you're going to take a gift, take it unwrapped."

If you are traveling this year, make sure to give yourself extra time at the airport. Airport officials have also expressed the need to stay informed.

Travelers should check with airlines for their flight status and for available parking. You can check on parking lot conditions for both Bush and Hobby airports at fly2houston.com.

You will also want to think twice about the gifts you bring to the airport. Wrapped gifts often are unwrapped by security, so consider bringing packages without their gift paper.