Sky Harbor bracing for its busiest month
Allow extra time when taking trips in March, officials warn
Flying into or out of Phoenix in March?
Get ready for a crush of people at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
March is the airport’s busiest month, as tourists swarm to Arizona for Major League Baseball spring training, NASCAR, golf, sun and fun, and locals depart for their own spring-break getaways.
Last year, nearly 4.3 million passengers traveled through Sky Harbor in March, the only month when passenger
traffic topped 4 million. That was nearly 1 million more passengers than in September, the slowest month.
Sky Harbor officials are warning travelers to be prepared. It’s not unusual, for example, for the airport to run out of rental cars.
The airport expects Sunday, March 11, to be one of the busiest days this year. It’s the final day of a weekend of NASCAR races at ISM Raceway.
Phoenix airport travel tips
❚ Get to the airport early, especially if you’re traveling Sunday, Monday, Thursday or Friday. Sky Harbor recommends arriving two hours before your flight — three hours if it’s an international flight.
❚ Dropping off or picking up passengers? Allow extra time if the destination is Terminal 3, currently under renovation. The eastbound inner lanes on the north side are closed, and the turnaround lane on the west end is closed. Passenger pick-up and drop-off is restricted to the westbound south inner curb. Shuttles, taxis, Uber and Lyft are still available on both sides of the terminal.
❚ Avoid the clogged airport roads altogether by dropping off or picking up passengers at the PHX Sky Train station on 44th Street south of Washington. The Sky Train is free and available from terminals 3 and 4. ❚ Book a rental car before you arrive to avoid paying a hefty premium or being left without a car.
❚ Don’t hold up the security line. Check the TSA’s handy “What can I bring on a plane” list online. ❚ If you have TSA PreCheck, a fast pass through security, make sure your Known Traveler Number is on your reservation now. This isn’t the time of year to be stuck in the regular long line because you forgot to add it. ❚ Put those souvenir mini baseball
bats in your checked baggage. TSA does not allow them in carry-on bags. ❚ Parking at the airport? Note that
parking fees went up Nov. 1. The airport offers discounts in some garages and lots if you prepay. There is a minimum stay of one week at the East Economy lot and garage to get the discount.
❚ Traveling on Southwest Airlines? Take advantage of its free early bagcheck option at the Rental Car Center and East Economy parking. Other airlines have discontinued the service.