DENVER — Nov. 19, 2014 — Denver International Airport (DIA) is expecting high passenger volume during Thanksgiving week. The trend for the past couple of years has shown an average of one million passengers traveling through the airport from Tuesday through Monday of the holiday week.
“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest weeks of the year at Denver International Airport,” said Denver International Airport CEO Kim Day. “And we, the DIA community – our airport, our airlines and our concessions partners – are grateful for the million passengers who choose to travel through DIA this Thanksgiving. We wish them all safe and stress-free travels, and a joyous holiday season.”
According to preliminary forecasts, Nov. 30 is expected to be the busiest travel day with about 160,000 passengers followed by Nov. 25, 26 and Dec. 1, which will likely see at least 150,000 passengers. On an average day, 145,000 passengers travel through DIA. Actual daily passenger numbers for Thanksgiving week will be available Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Additionally, DIA is offering a variety of travel tips for passengers traveling during the upcoming holiday week:
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 to avoid surprises.
Before You Leave for 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.
- Read the latest on construction impacts around the airport.
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 rarely full during the holidays and 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.
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 and directly north of the previous waiting area 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. Denver police officers will strictly enforce this rule.
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.
- DIA offers free Wi-Fi Internet access, phone charging stations and free global calling throughout the airport.
Simply ask for help
- DIA’s Hospitality Ambassadors – easy to spot in their iconic cowboy hats – and Customer Services 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 720-408-5200 for 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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