November 2024
Travel Tips Make the Trip Easy
The holidays are getting near, and planning your trip ahead of time is the first step to a successful voyage.
Thanksgiving is the unofficial kickoff to holiday travel. Historically, it’s the busiest travel period of the year in the air and on the roads at America’s Friendliest Airport, ® and our roadways will be very busy the Wednesday before and the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Avoid congestion on airport roadways and outside terminals by picking up and dropping off passengers on either end of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at the 24th Street or 44th Street PHX Sky Train® Stations. Passengers arriving from the west will find easy access to the 24th Street Station while the 44th Street Station is ideal for travelers arriving from the east. Learn more about the PHX Sky Train®.
The freeways surrounding the airport will have signs giving drivers traffic updates and recommended alternate routes. Once at Phoenix Sky Harbor, please watch your speed and keep an eye out for officers directing traffic. Don’t circle the terminals and use the Cell Phone Lots located east of Terminal 4, west of the West Economy Garage and at the 44th Street PHX Sky Train® Station.
Here are some additional travel tips for travelers:
- Reserve your parking before your trip at skyharbor.com/parking. Even with a reservation, give yourself time to navigate the busy lots and added passenger volumes.
- Double-check what’s in your bags. Make sure to look through your bags and review the TSA Prohibited Items List the night before your flight.
- If you’re planning on bringing home some of grandma’s famous Thanksgiving leftovers, check out TSA’s list of holiday-related food items that can be brought aboard a plane at its "What Can I Bring?" page.
- Remember to check your flight status with your airline before coming to the airport for your flight or to pick up or drop off a loved one. If you are flying domestically, arrive at least two hours prior to your flight departure and three hours if you are traveling internationally.
- Passengers can reserve a time to go through the TSA Security Checkpoint by using the PHX RESERVE program. Schedule your time prior to arriving at the airport on our website. Reservations can be made up to six days in advance.
- Look for our Navigators dressed in purple. These volunteers serve all over the airport by providing directions, information, and friendly assistance, truly making this America’s Friendliest Airport®.
- Travelers with special needs can arrange to pick up a Compassion Cacti™ lanyard prior to their trip, and even schedule a Navigator Guide to accompany them through the travel process. The Compassion Cacti™ lanyard signals to airport employees that a customer may need extra assistance or time as they pass through Phoenix Sky Harbor.
- As always, explore some local art. Both terminals showcase art exhibitions created by talented Arizona painters, photographers, sculptors, and other artists. These beautiful Phoenix Airport Museum exhibitions can be seen both before and after security.
For more travel tips, visit www.skyharbor.com/flying-from-phx/travel-tips.