Denver International Airport Expecting Busy Thanksgiving Week

Travel Tips to Help Take the Stress out of Holiday Travel

DENVER – Nov. 22, 2019 – The holiday season has arrived! More than two-million travelers are expected to pass through Denver International Airport (DEN) between Nov. 22 and Dec. 2.

Sunday, Dec. 1 is projected to be both the busiest day of the week and the entire holiday season with over 211,000 travelers passing through DEN. The airport is working to make the busy travel season as smooth as possible for travelers, from parking their vehicle to arriving at their gate. The following tips will help take the stress out of holiday travel:

Drive-up Bag Check:

On Monday, Nov. 25, a new DEN drive-up bag check location will open on 75th Ave. To use the service, passengers should exit Peña Blvd. onto 75th Ave. and follow signs to the bag-check queue, where a greeter will remove the luggage from the car, check-in the passenger and even print boarding passes. Then, passengers can procced to park in one of DEN’s parking lots and take a shuttle or be dropped off at the terminal by a friend or a loved one, luggage free. Once in the terminal, passengers can go straight to security.

Ice Rink on the Plaza:

Lace-up your skates and start practicing your axels, jumps and spins as the free ice-skating rink on the DEN outdoor plaza returns for its fourth season. The ice-skating rink will be open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily from Nov. 22, 2019-Jan. 20, 2020. Attendees can pick up free skate rentals, then hit the ice before or after their flight, or for a fun winter activity. On Friday afternoons, enjoy winter activities and entertainment.

Beer Passport:

Cheers to the holidays with the Beer Passport which promises travelers a free pint of beer after purchasing a beer at each of the four Colorado local breweries at DEN: Tivoli Brewery inside Tom’s Urban – pre-security on the plaza between the terminal and the Westin; Breckenridge Brewery – Concourse A near Gate A71; New Belgium Brewing – Concourse B near Gate B30; Great Divide Brewing Co. – Concourse C near Gate C32. Passengers can pick up a free Beer Passport card at any participating brewery or information booth, located pre-security and on each concourse. After purchasing a beer at one of the participating breweries, users will receive a Beer Passport stamp. Once all four stamps are collected, the Passport can be redeemed at any participating brewery for the free pint of beer!

Guaranteed Economy-Parking Rates:

During the busiest times during the holidays, DEN is guaranteeing economy-rate availability. From Nov. 25-28 and Dec. 23-25, travelers who pull a parking ticket for the economy lots will be guaranteed a parking space at the economy rate. Look for signs on Peña Blvd. to direct you to the open economy lot. Economy parking is walkable to the terminal and there is also shuttle service to the DEN Transit Center.

Plan Ahead and Arrive Early:

• Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead by checking FlyDenver.com for real-time information on security screening wait times and for details on the status of the airport’s garages and parking lots.
• DEN has three security checkpoints. South Security is open 24 hours a day, North Security is open between 4 a.m.-9 p.m., and Bridge Security is open from 4:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
• TSA screening checkpoints are generally busiest early in the morning from about 5-10 a.m., and from 14 p.m. Arrive in the terminal at least two hours in advance for domestic flights to ensure the smoothest airport experience.

Park Like a Pro:

• There are a variety of parking options at DEN, including lower-priced shuttle lots, garages and reserved and valet parking. For real-time parking information, before heading to DEN, check FlyDenver.com. While on the road, watch for electronic signs along inbound Peña Blvd.
• DEN offers free vehicle services to customers, including jump starts, tire inflation, car key retrieval if they’ve been locked in vehicles and assistance finding lost vehicles. For any of these services, call (303) 342-4645, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Not driving? Take the RTD A Line from Union Station, or meet your Ride App (Uber, Lyft, etc.) driver for pickup On Level 5, Island 5 with other ground transportation services.

Take Security Seriously:

To help keep security screening times to a minimum, TSA recommends that passengers double check their personal belongings and carry-on bags for prohibited items and pack carry-on bags so they can be screened quickly and easily. Don’t forget to pick up all your belongings after being screened.

Get to Your Gate Efficiently:

• If your flight departs from an A gate, consider using the Bridge Security checkpoint, on the north end of Level 6.
• Check your boarding pass before boarding the train to determine which concourse to access. United Airlines now operates flights on Concourses A, B and C.
• Trains arrive every two minutes. Passengers should board quickly and move to the center of the train to make room for others.

Need Help Once You’re Here?

DEN’s volunteer ambassadors — easily identifiable in blue plaid uniforms — and customer service staff are available throughout the terminal and concourses to provide directions, information or advice. Check our information assistance webpage for more information about contacting customer service and finding various information booths.

Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36 billion for the region annually. For more information visit www.FlyDenver.com, check us out on YouTube and Instagram, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for DEN’s monthly newsletter Nonstop News.

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