Leaving BHM on a jet plane over the July 4th weekend? Here are some useful tips

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American Eagle
courtesy of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport

Summer is in full swing, so it’s the perfect time to pack your bags and break your routine. I have made it my personal goal to travel to all 50 states (currently at 18), so I make sure I go somewhere every year. Flying is back in Birmingham as Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) continues to add new non-stop flights,making my goal even easier to accomplish. 

Here’s how to make flying from Birmingham as easy as one, two, three

Birmingham Airport
Photo gallery of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Photo via Pat Byington for Bham Now
  1. Plan ahead 
Birmingham airport
Want a cool view of the airport and city? You can find it in Airport Hills. Photo via flybirmingham.com.

Most of the time, you will have your phone in your hand. Use it to make your trip simple. Most airlines have an app that will make airport travel easy. Here are a few things your airline app can do: 

  • Check-in for your flight
  • Check your boarding pass
  • Keep track of your bags
  • Much more

PS – make sure you have plenty of face masks as they are required in the airport and on the plane. 

  1. Pack smart
Delta in Birmingham
Delta Air Lines in Birmingham, Alabama. Photo via Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport

Keep all prohibited items out of your bags. You can review the TSA’s prohibited items list to make your vacation go a lot smoother. 

Don’t forget to check your airline’s policy on luggage, and make sure to leave some space in your suitcase for items you may want to bring back. It wouldn’t be fun if you had to wear three shirts because you didn’t have enough space in your suitcase. Just trust me on that one.  

  1. Arrive early
Birmingham, Birmingham airport, airports, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
Photo via Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport’s Facebook page.

Make sure you’re at the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight. You want to give yourself plenty of time to get through security and check in your bags. You can also check out the shops in the airport and get some food. Make sure you get that pre-flight beer in. 

Want even more info? Check out THIS LINK for all the important deets.

Where are you heading this summer, Birmingham? Let us know by tagging @bhamnow on social!

* This story was written by Joshua Pleasants

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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