Will Rogers World Airport Expects Busy Holiday Travel Week

Will Rogers World Airport are preparing for a busy holiday travel week.   An estimated 80,000 passengers will pass through Will Rogers World Airport this week, with Thursday and Friday anticipated to be the busiest days.  The airlines are predicting full flights.   

In preparation for the rush, TSA, airlines and concessions are gearing up by adjusting staffing and operating hours to best handle peak times.  This year, the airport worked with TSA to create an overflow lane that allows flight crews and airport employees to be screened separately at certain times of the day, helping to alleviate long wait times at the checkpoints.  Parking is also prepared with extra staff and courtesy patrols to assist customers with any problems.

Allowing enough time and being prepared for the checkpoint is still the key thing travelers need to remember this season.  Making sure that your carry-on does not contain prohibited items will greatly streamline the amount of time it takes to pass through screening.  Typical holiday items that can cause problems are liquid or gel-like foods, hunting gear and wrapped presents.  An excellent guide for What Can Fly, can be found at www.tsa.gov.

The TSA, airlines and airport always advise that travelers arrive at the terminal an hour-and-a-half before departure.  The line at the checkpoint is not the only thing to be factored into a flyer’s schedule; ticket counter lines are often not considered.  Additionally, several airlines have strict cut-off times to get checked-in or to check your bag.  It is important to verify those times on the websites of the airline prior to coming to the airport. 

The hourly parking is temporarily relocated due to improvements being done on the two-story parking garage.  The location can be found by following the bright yellow overhead roadway signs.  The temporary location is only on the first flour, the remaining spaces in both five-story garages are available for long-term parking.  Long-term parkers enter at the second garage entrance.  It is important to pay attention to the posted rates as parking long-term in the short-term area will result in a more expensive parking bill.

The airport would like to remind those that are picking up friends and family, that there is no parking or waiting at the terminal curbside.   Visitors should utilize the hourly-parking or the cell-phone waiting areas.  If using the cell-phone waiting area, do not move to the terminal area until the person being picked up is at the curbside.  

Weather can be unpredictable at this time of year so it is a good idea to track weather and flights.  Flights can be tracked via flyokc.com, flyokc.com/mobile  or the FlyOKC App for iPhone and IPad.

Posted: Monday, December 17 2012, 08:33 AM CST