Travel Tips to Feel at Home Navigating Denver International Airport this Thanksgiving

DENVER — Nov. 20, 2013 — 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.

“We want our passengers to enjoy their holiday travel as they experience Denver International Airport this Thanksgiving,” said Manager of Aviation Kim Day. “We encourage everyone, whether they are traveling, picking-up or dropping-off family and friends, to follow our tips for easy, stress-free air travel.”

MEDIA NOTE: Daily passenger numbers for Thanksgiving week will be available Tuesday, Nov. 26. This Friday, Nov. 22 is expected to be the busiest day this week with 151,310 passengers. On an average day, 145,000 passengers travel through DIA. Preliminary forecasts are showing Wednesday, Nov. 27, Saturday, Nov. 30 and Sunday, Dec. 1 to be the busiest days.

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 unpleasant 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. Currently, restrictions are in place for oversized vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers on the east side of Jeppesen Terminal.

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 $12/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 Terminal Garages are rarely full during the holidays and are available for $3/hour or a $23/day maximum.
• Short-term parking is available in the East and West Terminal Garages for $4/hour.

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.
• Please note the new cell phone waiting lot is Final Approach. Final Approach 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. New signs are posted along all access routes. The previous waiting area is now permanently closed.
• 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.
• DIA offers free and premium 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 Guest 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-DIA-TIPS (342-8477) Information on security-screening wait times
  303-342-4059 Information on DIA ground transportation
  303-342-2000 DIA Guest Services
  1-800-AIR-2-DEN DIA Guest Services for out-of-town travelers

Get Home for the Holidays in Style with Branded DIA Travel Accessories by Entering our Social Media Contest

Enter DIA’s Home for the Holidays Facebook Contest to win branded Denver International Airport travel accessories! A roller-board suitcase will hold all you need, and you’ll be ready for rain or shine with a handy travel umbrella, a fleece blanket to keep you warm, (also can be used to support your neck while you snooze on a long flight!), and a travel alarm clock to guarantee you don’t oversleep and miss an early morning flight. One entry will be drawn randomly by Denver International Airport to receive the prize. The Contest begins at 10 a.m. Mountain Time (MT), Nov. 20, 2013. Entries must be submitted through the Facebook application by Nov. 29, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time (MT). Winners will be notified by Dec. 4, 2013.

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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