DENVER — Dec. 14, 2015 — As Denver International Airport (DIA) projects a possible record-setting December of passenger traffic, the airport will once again provide a variety of holiday entertainment to help ease the travel experience.
The airport is projecting above-average passenger traffic from Dec. 17 through Jan. 4. Preliminary forecasts show that Sunday, Dec. 27, and Sunday, Jan. 3, may both rank among the top-10 busiest days in DIA history, with more than 175,000 passengers during each of those days. On an average day, about 146,500 passengers travel through DIA.
“With the winter holiday season upon us, we are working to provide a smooth and relaxing travel experience as people connect with family and friends around the world,” said airport CEO Kim Day. “For the first time, the airport has set up lounge seating and cabaret tables in the center of the Great Hall along with the return of live musical performances, to help provide a more comfortable place to wait for arriving passengers.”
This year’s holiday “Wintertainment” series will include daily live musical performances from Dec. 16 through Dec. 30 in the center of the Great Hall on level 5, near passenger arrivals. Performances will generally take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with no performances scheduled on Dec. 25.
Additionally, The Dickens Original Carolers will perform carols throughout Jeppesen Terminal, and near baggage claim and security checkpoints. Performances will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on December 16 – 23. On December 24, the performance will end at 2 p.m. Each quartet learns more than 100 songs by heart.
DIA also has a number of new amenities and services available to travelers this year, including:
- The Westin Denver International Airport hotel is now open and accepting reservations online.
- The Canine Airport Therapy Squad, or CATS, in which certified therapy dogs will roam the concourses for travelers to pet, hug and relax with before takeoff.
- More than 140 shops and restaurants to choose from, including recent additions such as Time Travel watches and accessories, Happy Cakes teas and pastries, Victoria’s Secret, Green Bean & Tea Leaf, No Boundaries outdoor gear, Modern Market and more.
- New wayfinding touch screens are positioned throughout the concourses. These 10 digital directories provide flight and gate information, directions to nearby shops and restaurants and other helpful information.
Additionally, DIA is offering a variety of travel tips for passengers traveling during the holiday season:
Packing
- Travelers may bring one carry-on bag and one personal item (purse, laptop, etc.) through security. Put medications and other required items in your carry-on bag.
- The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) restrictions on taking liquids and gels through security remain in place. For more information on security screening and smart packing tips, visit www.TSA.gov.
- Leave holiday gifts unwrapped; TSA may open wrapped packages to check the contents.
- Know your airline’s checked bag policies and fees in advance.
Before You Leave for the Airport
- Procedural changes at TSA checkpoints throughout the United States may result in longer lines at security checkpoints. Please plan accordingly and allow for extra time at the airport. A good rule of thumb is to be inside the airport two hours prior to your flight departure time. This should allow for plenty of time to navigate flight check-in, security lines and travel to your gate.
- Before you leave the house, check with your airline to confirm that your flight is on time and check-in online if possible.
- Check parking availability at www.flydenver.com.
Parking
- For real-time parking information while you’re on the road, watch for electronic signs along inbound Peña Boulevard or call 303-DIA-PARK.
- The $13/day East and West Economy Lots, located next to the Jeppesen Terminal garages, usually fill up first. The $8/day Pikes Peak and Mt. Elbert shuttle lots are an alternative to economy and garage parking, but remember to allow an extra 30 minutes when using shuttle lots. The East and West garages are available for $3/hour or a $24/day maximum.
- For a guaranteed space, reserved parking is available in either garage for an additional fee of $4 per day, by visiting www.DIAReservedParking.com.
- Short-term parking is available in the East and West garages for $4/hour. This area is intended for passenger pick-up and drop-off.
- We offer free vehicle services for our customers including jump starts, tire inflation, and car key retrieval if they’ve been locked in your vehicle. For any of these services, call (303) 342-4645, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Checking-in
- If you didn’t check in online before leaving home, save time with self-service check-in kiosks near airline counters.
- Even if you checked in online or at a kiosk, passengers checking bags still need to go to a ticket counter to hand off luggage to the airline.
- Many airlines now offer smartphone apps for mobile check-in and flight information.
Picking up
- Check with your friend or family member’s airline, or visit www.flydenver.com, to confirm that the flight is on time before leaving for the airport.
- Curbside parking at Jeppesen Terminal is prohibited. Avoid the congestion on the passenger arrival level by parking in the East and West Terminal Garages for just $3/hour. With nearly 15,000 combined parking spaces, the garages provide convenient access to the terminal and are generally open during the holiday travel season.
- The Final Approach cell phone waiting lot is located at 7684 N. Wenatchee St, approximately three miles west of the Jeppesen Terminal along Peña Boulevard. It can be easily accessed via eastbound Peña Boulevard to 75th avenue and northbound Gun Club Road; westbound Peña Boulevard to Wenatchee Street; or from East 78th Avenue. Signs are posted along all access routes.
- Parking or stopping along any airport roadway is illegal and dangerous and violators are subject to ticketing.
Traveling with children or persons 75-years-old or older
- Traveling with children? Check out http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-children.
- If you are 75-years-old or older, you may leave on shoes and light jackets through security checkpoints. http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/screening-passengers-75-and-older
Technology tools
- Get flight status information, road conditions, parking lot availability, security wait times, airport maps, ground transportation and more at www.flydenver.com.
- DIA recommends passengers download the free FlySmart travel app for the Blackberry, iPhone and Android. FlySmart Airport is the only travel app that features content downloaded directly from www.flydenver.com.
- Follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook for frequent airport updates.
- DIA offers free Wi-Fi Internet access, phone charging stations and free global calling throughout the airport.
Simply ask for help
- DIA’s volunteer Ambassadors – easy to spot in their cowboy hats and suede vests – and Customer Service staff are available throughout the terminal and concourses to provide directions and information.
- Passengers without Internet access can use these helpful airport telephone numbers:
303-DIA-PARK (342-7275) – Select “option one” for information on parking availability in DIA lots
303-342-4059 – Information on DIA ground transportation
TEXT 720-370-9002 – General airport questions
303-342-2000 – DIA Customer Services
1-800-AIR-2-DEN – DIA Customer Services for out-of-town travelers
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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