Delta Air. (Birmingham Airport Authority)

The Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is expecting big crowds over the Thanksgiving holiday travel season, which unofficially begins this Friday, November 22nd.

As reported by Bham Now, passenger traffic has increased for 40+ consecutive months at BHM.

AAA predicts Thanksgiving air travel this year will set a new record. The travel group projects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday—an increase of 2% compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019.

Birmingham Airport issues helpful tips

In response to the record number of holiday travelers expected to use Alabama’s largest airport and other destinations, BHM has issued the following tips:

Arrive at the airport 2 hours before your scheduled departure. This is particularly true if you plan to check bags at an airline ticket counter.
Consider all parking options. The BHM parking deck will be at or near capacity during peak travel days. The Economy lot is a great alternative. It’s located just east of the terminal. Shuttle buses run continuously. Valet parking is also available until it fills up.
Make sure you do not have prohibited items in your carry-on bags. Travelers who bring firearms through the checkpoint face hefty federal fines. The only acceptable way to travel with a firearm of any kind is in a checked bag after declaring it to your airline and following all rules regarding packing and placing it in a locked case.
Avoid bringing wrapped gifts. Security screening requirements may force TSA officers to unwrap gifts for inspection.
The 3-1-1 rule is still enforced at the regular checkpoint lanes. Passengers can carry on liquids if they are 3.4 oz or less, and all are placed in only (1) quart-sized Ziploc bag.

“Travelers who have the tendency to wait until the last minute to arrive at the airport can find themselves cutting it too close. And the last thing we want is for someone to miss a flight because they didn’t plan to arrive early enough.”
Kim Hunt, VP of Communications for the Birmingham Airport Authority

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