TULSA, Okla. – The Memorial Day Weekend means that the summer travel season has arrived and passenger activity is already picking up at Tulsa International Airport. The peak travel days this summer will be Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays. Passengers should arrive 90 minutes before their scheduled departure time for domestic travel and 2 hours early for international travel. For the Memorial Day Weekend the airport is asking passengers to arrive 2 hours before your departure time for flights before 8AM.
In preparation for the increase in passenger activity, airport officials, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the airlines serving Tulsa are working together to help travelers move smoothly through the terminal. We have put together the following travel tips to make traveling by air this summer go as smoothly as possible:
Before leaving for the airport:
– Liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces should be packed in checked luggage.
– Liquids and gels in containers 3.4 ounces and smaller may be packed in carry-on bags, as long as the following conditions are met:
• The containers are 3.4 ounces or less.
• All containers must fit into one quart sized or smaller Ziploc bag.
• Passengers are limited to one bag.
– Travelers may carry on board one bag that fits in the overhead bin or under the seat, plus one personal item. Personal items include things such as purses, briefcases or laptops. A list of permitted and prohibited carry-on items is available at www.tsa.gov. Some airlines serving Tulsa charge a fee for carry-on bags placed in overhead bins, so please check with your airline before heading to the airport to avoid any surprises.
– Valuables including cameras, jewelry, documents, prescription medicine, and car keys should be placed in your carry-on luggage and kept with you at all times.
– Suitcases should be properly labeled on the exterior and interior of the bag with the passenger’s name and cell phone number.
– Passengers should have the address of their hotel or final destination available should their suitcase be delayed. This will need to be given to the airline so the bag can be delivered upon its arrival.
– All passengers (other than minors) are required to present a government issued photo ID. International travelers of any age must have a passport and other required documents. Passengers should make copies of these documents and carry an extra set with them or electronically scan them and e-mail themselves a copy to have available should their original identification be lost or stolen.
– Many airlines now allow passengers to check in for their flight up to 24 hours prior to its scheduled departure. Passengers should check with their airline’s website for additional information.
– Passengers should plan to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time for domestic flights and two hours early for international flights. Passengers should also verify the airport arrival times for their return flights as some airports experience lengthier delays.
At the airport:
– Passengers have three convenient parking options when traveling from TUL – garage, economy, and valet. Travelers in a rush or wanting to avoid inclement weather will have the option of dropping their cars off at a curbside valet kiosk with direct access to the airline ticket counters. The airport will have passenger’s valet parked cars waiting for them at the curb when they return to Tulsa, provided they give the airport their return flight information.
– Passengers can reduce their time in line at the ticket counters by utilizing self-service check-in machines. All airlines at TUL offer this service at their ticket counters. These machines allow passengers to print boarding passes, check luggage, select or change seats, and purchase upgrades. Passengers can also check in online at home, or with most airline mobile apps. Several of TUL’s airlines now accept electronic boarding passes eliminating the need for the passenger to keep track of a paper boarding pass. Passengers should check with their airline to see if this is an option for them. Some airlines serving Tulsa charge a fee to print a boarding card at the airport, so be sure to check with your airline before heading out to avoid any surprises.
– When approaching the security checkpoint, passengers should have their government issued photo ID or passport available with their paper boarding pass out (electronic ones should be pulled up and displayed on their smart phone). To expedite time through the security screening process, slip on shoes are recommended. All shoes and jackets must be removed and screened. All laptops, portable DVD players or large electronic items must be removed from their cases and placed into their own bin. Passengers should place keys, cell phones, pagers, and loose change in their carry on bags before getting in the security line.
– Because of TSA security restrictions regarding liquids, passengers should plan on purchasing their beverages after clearing security. TUL now has five shops and seven restaurants (including Starbuck’s) available for passengers in the secure area.
