Smooth travels, small crowds at ABIA

AUSTIN(KXAN) - A winter storm expected across much of the country on Christmas Day could make a mess of holiday travel, but last minute travelers at ABIA on Christmas Eve found short security lines and few flights delays.

"It was kind of busy when we first came in but they filter the people through quite quickly so that was good," said traveler Judy Webster from Brenham.

Webster is traveling to Colorado with her entire family and said she prefers the Austin airport to the ones in Houston at the holidays.

"The family is all coming," said Webster. "I even have a daughter coming from Cincinnati with her little family so I am so excited."

AAA predicts 93 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles for the Christmas holidays. At ABIA, it was tough for the littlest travelers to be patient on Christmas Eve.

"Santa's going to come," said Andrew Higginbotham. "I might get a lot of presents."

Delays are expected Christmas Day and the day after as that winter storm hits part of the U.S.

Airport officials still recommend travelers arrive 90 minutes before their flight is expected to take off. The parking lots at ABIA are nearly full, officials report. They also remind travelers not to wrap gifts they expect to take on the plane.