Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Provides Travel Tips for a Busy

City of Austin

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is prepared to welcome holiday travelers and encourages passengers to plan ahead, arrive early and prepare for a busy terminal experience starting Friday, December 19 through Sunday, December 28. While exact passenger volume projections aren't yet available, last year's holiday travel period saw just under 357,000 people screened by TSA, with Friday, December 20 being the busiest day with just under 35,000 people screened through TSA.

To prepare for the busy holiday travel period, Austin Aviation has teamed up with partners across the airport to optimize staffing and operations. Additional Austin Aviation staff will be on-site to provide support to travelers throughout the terminal.
Passengers are encouraged to use the following airport travel tips to help prepare for their upcoming travels:

Getting to AUS

• Roadways around the airport are expected to be congested in the days before and after Thanksgiving. Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead and to allow extra time for traffic. For the most up-to-date road conditions, visit DriveTexas.org before heading to the airport.
• CapMetro offers airport service with Route 20 for a convenient airport connection.

Arriving at AUS

• Passengers who need to check luggage, return a rental car, are traveling in large groups, or need to complete other pre-security screening activities, should budget in extra time for their arrival. However, because the terminal will be busy in both pre- and post-security areas, AUS does not recommend more than 4 hours before a flight's departure.
• AUS has 3 security screening checkpoints, which lead to all gates.
• Travelers without PreCheck or Clear should use Checkpoints 1 or 2 East.
• Screening for passengers with both TSA PreCheck and Clear is available at Checkpoint 2 West.
• Screening for passengers with CLEAR only and not TSA PreCheck should use Checkpoint 1.
• TSA checkpoints open daily at 3 a.m.
• Airline ticket counters are expected to be busy, especially for airlines that offer free or discounted checked luggage.
• Visit ABIAParking.com if you plan to park at AUS. Parking spaces can be reserved on the Blue Garage, Red Garage, or Economy Lots. You can also check for real-time availability on the website before arriving at the airport.
• Parking reservations for the garages or economy lots will not be accepted from December 23 through January 2, and on-site parking is expected to fill quickly during this travel season. Travelers are encouraged to have a backup plan in case their first choice for parking is unavailable. Travelers can use one of various off-site lots to park their vehicle, get dropped off by someone else, or use a rideshare service.
• Passengers should account for extra arrival time if they plan to use a shuttle service to the terminal, as the shuttle tends to run about every 15-20 minutes.
• You can use the upper level for departures or the lower level for arrivals to drop off passengers and vice versa.

Checking into your flight

• Passengers without checked luggage can bypass the busy ticket counters and head immediately to TSA screening checkpoints using the following time-saving flight check-in options:
• Use a mobile boarding pass to skip the airline ticket counters.
• Use a self-service kiosk located inside the terminal to print boarding passes.
• In addition to traditional check-in procedures, some airlines offer outside curbside check-in on the upper level.

Security screening and packing correctly

• Active-duty military (in or out of uniform) lanes are available at Checkpoint 2 West.
• Recent TSA changes mean passengers no longer need to remove shoes during screening.
• Avoid packing prohibited items or liquids exceeding 3.4 ounces in carry-on bags.
• Non-liquid, solid food items are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags. For example, potatoes are allowed through the checkpoints, but mashed potatoes are not.
• If food is packed with ice or ice packs in a cooler or other container, the ice or ice packs are required to be completely frozen when brought through screening. If the ice or ice packs are partially melted and have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they will not be allowed.
• If traveling with gifts, TSA recommends waiting to wrap them until you arrive at your destination as they may have to be unwrapped at a checkpoint or send the gifts ahead by mail.
• AUS Guest Services will be providing free gift wrap services by Gate 13 to passengers in celebration of the holidays. Hours will be 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. daily beginning Thursday, December 18th through Wednesday, December 24th.
• If you are traveling with a firearm, review the TSA guidelines to learn how to travel properly with a firearm and avoid a penalty.
• Visit TSA.gov for guidance on how to pack and to check what items are allowed in carry-on luggage.

Accessibility services for departing passengers

• Passengers needing wheelchair assistance should contact their airline to coordinate this service.
• TSA offers a passenger assistance program, TSA Cares, which connects passengers with a Passenger Support Specialist to accompany them during the security screening process (this service must be booked 72 hours in advance of the flight). Learn more about or request assistance through TSA Cares online or reach them at (855) 787-2227.
• Mobility Trams are available to transport passengers from the garages and terminal to the general public rideshare pick-up area and Rental Car Facility.
• AUS's Mobility Lounge is located by the Southwest Airlines ticket counters for departing passengers with mobility assistive devices or mobility limitations who need a place to rest or wait ahead of their flight.
• AUS participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program; passengers with non-visible disabilities can request a lanyard ahead of their trip for additional support and time while at AUS.

Getting the most out of your AUS experience

• Once inside the Barbara Jordan Terminal, enjoy food from various local Austin restaurants, discover new art installations, listen to live music at one of our stages, and more. You can find step-by-step directions to any location within the airport using the AUS interactive map.

Important for Allegiant and Frontier Passengers

• Passengers flying with Allegiant or Frontier will depart from The South Terminal, which is a separate terminal located near US 183 and Burleson Road at 10000 Logistics Lane.
• This terminal is not accessible from the main Barbara Jordan Terminal. Allegiant and Frontier passengers are encouraged to park onsite at the South Terminal to save time.
• Shuttle services run every 15-20 minutes to and from the Barbara Jordan Terminal and the South Terminal.

Construction Activities

• Journey With AUS airport improvement construction projects are ongoing throughout the airport campus and Barbara Jordan terminal. Construction walls and scaffolding are in place on the Departures and Arrivals levels of the Barbara Jordan Terminal to ensure passenger safety.
• Passengers may hear construction activity between midnight and 8 a.m.
• Visit AustinTexas.gov/AUSConstructionUpdates for a list of scheduled and active construction activities.

Passengers needing assistance at any point during their journey at AUS are encouraged to call the Airport Operations Center at (512) 530-2242 or to ask any Department of Aviation staff member for assistance.

AUS PIO representatives will be on-site and available the morning of Monday, December 22, to share travel tips with local media.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Date: Monday, December 22, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Place: Barbara Jordan Terminal, Baggage Claim 1
Who: Sydney Edwards, AUS Public Information Specialist, Sr.
Samantha Rojas, AUS Public Information Specialist, Sr.
Interviews in English and Spanish
RSVP: Preferred by Friday, December 19, at 5 p.m.
[email protected] or (512) 715-4287

INFORMATION FOR MEDIA
The AUS Public Information Office aims to make it simple and easy for media to access and cover the airport. View our media guide here for information and resources. Prior to arriving to the airport, please call the on-call PIO at 512-715-4287 or email us at [email protected] to arrange to park in media parking. All vehicles in media parking will require a brief security inspection prior to leaving the vehicle unattended.