COLUMBUS, Ohio — Edward Vandenbulke has been helping travelers find their way for the past three years. 

Vandenbulke’s an airport ambassador at the John Glenn International Airport in Columbus. He’s lived in Ohio all his life but has traveled around the world, making him perfect for the job. Although his job description requires him to help travelers find lost luggage or navigate the gates, he says having a sense of humor can also get the job done.

“Many people that come to us they’re stressed out, they’ve missed a flight, their bag is in Toronto or something like that,” said Vandenbulke. “If you can just try to help them and get through it smoothly, it’ll make their day a little bit better.” 

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the airport saw a 45% increase in scheduled departures from last year, and expect the trend to continue during the Christmas season. 

Airport ambassadors returned in May, after taking almost a year off due to the pandemic.  Vandenbulke is excited to be back helping families get where they need to go. “Everybody's happy,” said Vandenbulke.

”That's what I especially like in ticketing because all these people, they’re going home to be with their families. in a few hours, they’re going to be in Topeka, Los Angeles, someplace warmer than Ohio and they’re going to be with their families and that makes it all worthwhile," Vandenbulke said.

Although the airport can have long wait times, and flights can take off without you, the travelers at John Glenn can ensure an ambassador like Vandenbulke will be there to help.

“Meeting with the people and answering questions and having someone leave here happy, that's great,” said Vadenbulke.

If you are traveling this holiday season, the airport recommends getting there two hours before your plane begins to board and to empty your bag before packing to make sure you don’t have any no-fly items.