The week of Thanksgiving is historically the busiest travel time of the year at RDU International airport. But with more people pinching pennies this year, travelers were surprised to see short lines and smaller-than-usual crowds in terminals Wednesday evening.

"I think it's great," said Bill Hiltenbrand, who was getting ready to board a plane to Chicago. "I think that the systems are working, and the weather's cooperating."

Some of those arriving in Raleigh said the scene was similar at airports across the country.

Bonnie Paige flew in from New York's JFK International.

"The only places there were lines were at Starbucks and the newspaper stands," she said.

If not crowds, there are some changes to navigate are RDU. In late October, the airport opened the new Terminal 2 to replace the old Terminal C. What was formerly called Terminal A is renamed Terminal 1.

Airport officials expect about 280,000 travelers to pass through RDU between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1.

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