INDIANAPOLIS– The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) will welcome tens of thousands of visitors this week during a peak summer travel season as the National Eucharistic Congress, Brickyard 400 and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Grand Boule get underway in the city. Departures on Sunday and Monday are expected to reach record levels, prompting the Indy airport to remind travelers about arriving at the airport early and planning ahead for their flights.
TSA officials anticipate more than 42,000 travelers will depart from Indy on July 21 and 22, with Sunday being the heaviest overall travel day and Monday being the heaviest travel morning.
Officials expect an average of more than 21,00 passengers to go through security screening daily July 21 – 22. Hoosiers flying out during and at the close of the congress are strongly urged to arrive a full two hours before their boarding time – particularly for passengers flying out on early morning flights.
Airport officials say early morning flights (5 a.m. – 6 a.m.) are the most impacted by the surge in travel and encourage travelers flying out during this timeframe to arrive at the terminal two hours before departure.
The IAA reminds passengers of the following travel tips.
PREPARING FOR THIS WEEKEND’S TRAVEL
It’s important for travelers to be prepared before arriving at the airport. Plan ahead, pack smart, and get to the airport early.
To accommodate an influx of passengers, TSA checkpoint A will open at 3:00 a.m. and B will open at 3:30 a.m. Hoosiers can process through either TSA checkpoint and proceed to their gate. TSA PreCheck is only available on checkpoint A. Airline ticket counters opening time varies, but generally they open two hours before flight departure.
The Indy airport also strongly encourages travelers to consider the following travel tips below, and to sign up for TSA PreCheck at https://www.tsa.gov/precheck for a smoother screening process, which eliminates the need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops or light jackets.
Before leaving for the airport
- Always check flight status with the airline prior to arriving at the airport
- Arrive a full two hours ahead of the departure time to get checked in, through security, and to the gate in plenty of time before boarding call
- Download the airline’s mobile app for all pertinent travel update
- Use a mobile boarding pass or print boarding passes ahead of time
- Download the MyTSA app for 24/7 access to the most frequently requested airport security information, including helpful tips for preparing for security, including a searchable database of items that can and can’t go in checked or carry-on bags
- Pack smart – check for prohibited items and follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule. Learn more at: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips/refresh-your-memory-liquid-rules
Plan ahead for parking
- For help determining parking options at IND, visit https://www.ind.com/parking
- The Economy Lot is a convenient and cost-effective option for travelers https://www.ind.com/parking/economy-lot
- For a contactless parking experience at IND, register for the free parkIND plus program https://www.ind.com/parking/parkind-plus-program
- Valet parking offers the closest proximity to the pedestrian walkway to the terminal. To learn more, visit https://www.ind.com/parking/valet
At the terminal
- Bring your own reusable water bottle and fill up at the numerous water bottle filling stations located throughout the terminal
- New restaurants are now open at IND offering a local flavor, see all available dining options and their operating hours at https://www.ind.com/dining-shopping-services/dining
- Use the Concourse Connector to explore available dining options in both concourses, no matter which one you are flying out of
- Explore new artwork throughout the terminal from local artists, and the new KIND Gallery space. Learn more at: https://www.ind.com/publicart
- When picking up friends or family, use the Cell Phone Lot to wait then proceed to the drive for pick-up or park in hourly parking and meet your guest inside
