If you’re flying out of Austin for the holidays, be ready to arrive at the airport early and expect long lines. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is advising travelers to arrive 90 minutes before their departure time from today through Dec. 21.
Checkpoints open at 4 a.m. to give passengers on the earliest flights ample time to get check their bags and get through security. ABIA has also temporarily opened a fourth security checkpoint to handle the high volume of holiday travelers and reduce security wait times.
Airport security is advising travelers not to bring wrapped presents with them, as TSA agents may have to unwrap them during security checks.
According to AAA’s annual Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast projects that 5.6 million people will fly to their holiday destinations between Dec. 19 and Jan. 1. But even more will be driving. 90 percent of holiday travelers is expected to be by car, which means more than 80 million Americans will be on the road this holiday season.
AAA estimates that they will have to come to the aid of 1.2 million stranded holiday drivers. The most common causes for calls to AAA are dead batteries, drivers locking their keys in their car and flat tires.
They’re advising drivers to check their fluids, tire pressure, wipers and battery to catch any potential problems ahead of time to avoid being stranded.
Drivers are also encouraged to have a roadside emergency kit, just in case. This kit should include jumper cables, a flashlight with extra batteries, a cell phone charger, first aid kit, water, a windshield scraper, a shovel, sand and emergency flares.
