Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is ramping up staffing to manage the increased holiday traffic as travelers flock to the airport for Thanksgiving. Officials are working to streamline the flow of passengers amid growing congestion and long lines.
"I came here early because I was expecting the holiday traffic," Preshant Dewan, who was capturing the scene at the airport as he awaited arriving kin, told FOX 7 Austin, and the airport's suggestion, bolstering Dewan's plan, nudges travelers towards arriving a standard two and a half hours before domestic flights and a more generous three hours before international jaunts.
Airport parking lots are crucial during the holiday rush. By Wednesday afternoon, the economy lots were full, while the blue and red garages were at 85% and 75% capacity, respectively, as detailed by KVUE. A contingency plan with a flat-rate parking option was implemented to manage the overflow.
Travelers, on their part, are encouraged to preview parking availabilities via the airport's website or call ahead to avoid the last-minute frenzies, not to mention staying abreast of TSA instructions, like a tip provided by KVUE around permissible quantities for carry-on foodstuffs, ensuring that potentially messy condiments like gravy, cranberry sauce and, of course, the festive libation—wine—are under 3.4 ounces for carry-ons, or otherwise need to join the checked baggage.
All standard checkpoints whip into action from as early as 3 a.m. for those with dawn-flights to catch and changes to the TSA checkpoints, which now see Precheck and CLEAR at Checkpoint 2 West and general screening funneled through Checkpoint 1 and Checkpoint 2 East, a detail that merits attention lest it adds an unexpected twist to your departure routine leading up to the 2026 slated completion of the checkpoint expansion project.
