AUSTIN, Texas — Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) shared travel tips to help passengers avoid long wait times following lengthy TSA lines and rental car traffic earlier this week.
Twitter lit up with travelers flying out of the Austin airport reporting TSA lines that stretched outside and rental cars abandoned far from the drop-off area on Monday.
The airport told KVUE in a statement Wednesday that the airport continues to see high volumes of passengers, especially after events like Texas Relays, Dell Match Play, NASCAR and more.
In an attempt to better manage the busy travel season, AUS also shared tips for passengers.
Passenger travel
The airport recommended that travelers only bringing carry-on luggage arrive at least two hours before their boarding time for domestic flights and three hours before their boarding time for international flights.
Travelers checking luggage, traveling with small children or in a large group, and those flying out of the airport for the first time in a while should give themselves extra time in addition to the 2- and 3-hour recommendation to make it to their gate on time.
Flight check-in
Travelers without checked luggage can skip the airline ticket counters and head to security screening checkpoints using these options:
- Using the lower curbside and upper curbside for drop-off. From the lower level, passengers can quickly get upstairs to ticketing and security via escalators and elevators.
- Self-service flight check-in kiosks that allow travelers to print their boarding passes and bag tags are available inside the terminal, across from the airline ticket counters.
- In addition to traditional check-in procedures, select airlines offer outside curbside check-in
- Checking in for flights using airlines’ mobile app and a mobile boarding pass
TSA screening and packing
Staffing at security screening checkpoints is the responsibility of the TSA, the airport said. Checkpoints open at 3:30 a.m. with TSA PreCheck and Clear screening available at Checkpoints 1 and 2 West.
A new security checkpoint near Southwest ticketing, Checkpoint 2 East, will be open during peak travel periods for all passengers going through general screening. All checkpoints lead to all gates and airlines in the Barbara Jordan Terminal.
See what can and cannot be brought through TSA security here.
Parking and passenger drop-off
The airport encourages drivers and passengers to “switch,” using whichever level has the least congestion for drop-off for departures. The airport said passengers can quickly get upstairs to ticketing and security using escalators and elevators from the lower arrivals level. If the lower level is congested, arriving passengers can use escalators and elevators to be picked up on the upper level.
Travelers looking to park onsite can visit the airport parking website to reserve a parking space and check for real-time parking availability before arriving at the airport.
For arriving passengers getting picked up by rideshares, a tram service is available on the first floor of the Red garage to take passengers from the terminal to the rideshare pick-up area on the ground floor underneath the rental car facility.
Health and safety
The TSA mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the U.S., including airports, has been extended through April 18, 2022. Passengers who do not comply with this mask requirement may be denied entry or boarding and could face civil penalties.
Allegiant and Frontier travelers
Travelers flying with Allegiant and Frontier will depart from the South Terminal. All other airlines operate out of the main Barbara Jordan Terminal.
The two terminals are not connected and must be accessed separately. The South Terminal is located at 10000 Logistics Lane, near US 183 and Burleson Road. If dropped off at the Barbara Jordan Terminal, passengers can use a shuttle bus, which picks up from the curb-side departure level, to get to the South Terminal.
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