Airport prepares for spring break rush

Local News

March 15, 2010

By Ryan Palencer The Hendricks County Flyer Mon Mar 15, 2010, 03:58 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS — Along with Christmas and other major holidays, travel around spring break is amongst the most busy at airports around the country.

This past weekend, staff at the Indianapolis International Airport saw about 14,000 travelers Friday, about 12,000 Saturday, and about 13,000 Sunday.

Though those totals are slightly down from last year, airport officials know that the busiest times are still to come.

“We are not super busy until the K-12 students go on spring break,” Susan Sullivan, communications and media relations manager with the airport, said. “Many college students on spring break are going to drive where they are going. It is not until mom, dad, and the children are going somewhere that it picks up.”

Many Central Indiana schools will have spring break at the end of the month. Sullivan said the end of March will be one of the busiest times for the airport.

Travelers are encouraged to allow time for parking, checking bags, clearing security, and reaching the gate area to board flights, especially flights that depart in between 6 and 8 a.m.

With the often erratic weather in the Midwest, the Indianapolis International Airport will have another obstacle.

Airport officials released the following tips that may allow people to avoid travel headaches:

n Know the airline’s policies for changes and cancellations. In the event of weather-related delays or cancellations, be prepared to take a refund, delay the trip, or apply unused tickets toward the purchase of a new flight.

n Consider travel insurance to cover the cost of travel expenses like unused hotel rooms or prepaid deposits in the event that the flight is canceled or delayed.

n Anyone traveling to Mexico, Canada, or Europe should be certain they understand all passport requirements for leaving and re-entering the U.S.

n Congested airspace on the East Coast often leads to delays. Anyone with direct or connecting flights near LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark airports, for example, should be prepared for delays. JFK has also embarked on a four-month runway improvement project, which will also contribute to congestion.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has provided some information on their website — www.tsa.gov — that should also be helpful to those traveling by air.

They recommend that carry-on bags should be organized in layers, with plastic bags of liquids, gels, and aerosols on top, so they can be easily removed for screening.

The TSA also recommends wearing easy-on, easy-off footwear and says that travelers should avoid clothing with metal studs, buttons, or snaps, as well as belt buckles and accessories with large metal pieces.

Travelers should have their boarding passes and government-issued photo identifications in-hand before entering checkpoints.

Travelers can check the status of their flights on their airline’s website and also at indianapolisairport.org, where flight data is refreshed every 60 seconds to the most recent information that is available.

Travelers can also contact the airport’s Guest Services Department by calling 487-7243.

ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com

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