Insider Tips: How to Travel Like a Pro at PIT

The holiday travel season kicks off this week, with about 80 million travelers headed over the river and through the woods, AAA reports.

About 5.84 million people are traveling by air – and more than 230,000 will travel through Pittsburgh International Airport.

Allegheny County Airport Authority employees, TSA officers, and airline staff and crew are prepared to create a safe experience with minimal stress. But travelers can take steps to help cope with the inevitable wait times:

Tip 1: Visit FlyPittsburgh.com for the latest security line information.

You can access information from your phone on departure times and TSA wait times. (You may also want to check a map app to get an idea of travel time to the airport.)

Tip 2: Reserve a parking space

PIT offers many parking options, but during the holidays, the lots tend to fill to near-capacity. Reserve a space to make sure you nab one – and receive a discount. Visit flypittsburgh.com.

Tip 3: Check flight information often

PIT prides itself on keeping the airport open and operational during inclement weather (almost 30 years straight). But bad weather elsewhere can delay your flight by preventing your plane from arriving at PIT before ferrying you to your destination. Check flight status in the hours before your flight.

Tip 4: Give yourself plenty of time

Consider adding a few extra hours to arrive at the airport when flying during the holidays. You probably will need additional time to find a parking spot, get through lines at the ticket counter/baggage check-in and make your way through the TSA checkpoint.

“The Thanksgiving holiday is traditionally the busiest travel period of the year, and this year is no exception,” said Don Weston, acting Federal Security Director for the airport. “We expect to see record high checkpoint volume here at Pittsburgh and across the country. With that in mind, please plan to arrive in the terminal three hours before your scheduled flight out of PIT.”

(Check with your airline. Some ticketing counters do not open until two hours before their first flight.)

If you have extra time before your flight, you can take advantage of PIT’s dining and shopping options. Food ranges from local favorites to well-known national brands, whether you want to sit down and eat or grab something to go.