Sky Harbor delivers travel tips
Airport warns of Terminal 3’s construction, road snarls
The season of travel stress has begun.
The Thanksgiving airport crush began Friday and runs through the Monday after Thanksgiving. And it begins again in mid-December as travelers head out in droves for Christmas, New Year’s and school break.
The busiest Thanksgiving travel days at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will be Sunday, Nov. 26; Wednesday, Nov. 22; and Saturday, Nov. 25.
The usual holiday travel tips apply, from getting to the airport early to making sure you have no oversize liquids or prohibited items in your carry-on. 8 things to know if you’re going to Sky Harbor Airport 1. Terminal 3 is still under construction. The terminal, home to Delta, Frontier, JetBlue and Hawaiian, is in the midst of a makeover that will continue into 2020. Sleek new ticket counters and security checkpoints opened just before last Christmas but the gate areas, restaurants and shops haven’t been redone. 2. The roads around Terminal 3 are a mess. You cannot drop off or pick up passengers on the north curb (eastbound Sky Harbor Boulevard). Pick-up and drop-off are allowed only on the south curb (westbound Sky Harbor Boulevard). Shuttle, taxi and Uber/Lyft service can still be obtained on both sides of the terminal. Want to avoid the mess? Pick up or drop off passengers at the PHX Sky Train station just south of 44th and Washington streets. The Sky Train is free and goes to Terminal 4 and Terminal 3, with a walkway to Terminal 2. 3. Parking fees are higher. Sky Harbor raised fees at its garages and parking lots on Nov. 1. The biggest increases were in East Economy. Off-airport lots have been touting their lower rates.
4. Thanksgiving is your last chance to use Sky Harbor’s early bagcheck service. The free service, available at East Economy parking, the PHX Sky Train Station and the Rental Car Center, is ending on Nov. 30 after five years.
5. New TSA rules are in place for tablets and other small electronics. In addition to laptops, travelers now have to remove all electronics larger than a cellphone from their carry-on bags during security screening and place them in a separate bin.
6. Flying internationally? Expect extra security measures on your return trip. Major airlines have added preflight passenger interviews on some U.S.bound flights as part of tightened U.S. security measures.
7. You won’t be bored while waiting if you’re using Terminal 4. In addition to its lineup of local restaurants, Sky Harbor has added new shops in the terminal, home to American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and international carriers. New stores include Bunky Boutique, a branch of a
popular Phoenix shop; Brooks Brothers; and Johnston & Murphy.
8. Massages and manicures are available, too. XpresSpa has opened two locations in Terminal 4, one in the D gates (home to Southwest Airlines) and one in the B gates, home to American Airlines and international flights. They are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
In addition to laptops, travelers now have to remove all electronics larger than a cellphone from their carry-on bags.