Busy travel day expected at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Busy day expected at ABIA as officials see record breaking numbers

The roads and skies are going to be busy today and the rest of the holiday weekend. This past week, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport says it saw its second busiest day in history. FOX 7 Austin's Kelly Saberi has details.

AUSTIN, Texas - Today is expected to be the second busiest travel day of the year at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

ABIA says it's already seeing up to 20,000 more people coming through its doors than last year. Officials say they expect around 30,000 passengers per day for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Austin-Bergstrom says that travelers should expect a "significantly busier than usual" experience due to increased vaccination rates and postponed travel plans from last year. This applies throughout the entire holiday travel period, from Friday, Nov. 19 through Monday, Nov. 29.

Austin-Bergstrom is also advising travelers who may not have flown in a while, particularly those traveling with children to familiarize themselves with some of the changes in place due to COVID-19. Inside both terminals, face masks are required for travelers over the age of two, as the requirement by TSA has been extended until January 18.

FOX Weather meteorologist Craig Herrera has holiday travel forecast

Millions of people will be traveling for Thanksgiving. Craig Herrera has a look at your weather forecast.

CHECK FOR CURRENT WAIT TIMES AT ABIA HERE

The airport also is advising to allow for time to park, return rental vehicles, check luggage, obtain boarding passes and get through security, especially in the morning for those traveling before 9 a.m. Security checkpoints open at 3:30 a.m. with TSA PreCheck and Clear screening available at Checkpoints 1 and 2.

Travelers getting dropped off in the morning can use both the upper and lower curbsides to help ease traffic, says the airport, as passengers can quickly get from the lower level upstairs to ticket and security via escalators and elevators.

Busy travel day expected at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

The airport says parking options are expected to quickly fill up and limited reservations for the Blue Garage and Red Garage are available online. If reservations are sold out, drive up options may be available. Travelers sit ABIAParking.com to reserve a space and to check for real-time parking availability prior to arriving to the airport.

Passengers needing wheelchair assistance should contact their airlines directly prior to arriving at the airport to arrange for wheelchair service at the terminal, says Austin-Bergstrom.

For those packing any holiday goodies, including leftovers, the airport says TSA rules regarding liquids still do apply, so any food items that could be considered liquid, such as gravy or cranberry sauce should be securely packed in checked luggage.

Thanksgiving travel: Best and worst times to go to airport, hit the road

Austin’s airport already saw its second-busiest travel day ever on Sunday, and it’s only expected to get busier.

Additionally, firearms are prohibited at passenger screening checkpoints and in any carry-on luggage and possession of them may result in arrest. For a comprehensive list of banned and permitted items in carry-on baggage, click here.

The airport is reminding all passengers that all Allegiant and Frontier flights operate at the South Terminal and their passengers should park at the South Terminal, accessed from Burleson Road, between US 183 South and FM 973. All other airlines operate from the airport’s main Barbara Jordan Terminal located off of SH 71.

Once inside the terminal, the airport says new mobile- and desktop-friendly digital maps provide real-time information on everything from locations for garage locations, shops, restaurants, as well as wayfinding options. The map also allows passengers to view the latest operating hours from shops and restaurants, view menus, and order in-airport food deliveries from select AUS concessions.