AUSTIN, Texas – Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is excited to welcome both Formula 1 race fans and SEC football fans to Central Texas this weekend. As October is notably a lively travel month for Austin, AUS asks passengers to plan for record-breaking busy days at the airport. High passenger days are those with 30,000+ departing passengers. AUS is expecting its busiest Formula 1 travel weekend, and the day after the race, Monday, October 21, could break a record for the airport's busiest day ever with approximately 44,000 departing passengers.

Busy travel days are expected from Thursday, October 17th through Tuesday, October 22 due to the back-to-back dates of the University of Texas at Austin vs. University of Georgia football game on Saturday and the United States Grand Prix race at Circuit of The Americas on Sunday.

To prepare for this record-breaking busy travel period, the City of Austin Department of Aviation has been working with partners across the airport to ensure adequate staffing levels for airline, TSA, concession and other operations that are critical to ensuring a safe and comfortable journey for all travelers. Additional Department of Aviation staff will be on-site to provide face-to-face support to travelers throughout the terminal.

 When to arrive to the airport  

• Passengers using general Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening should arrive at the terminal at least 2.5 hours, before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours before departure for international flights.
• Passengers who need to check luggage, return a rental car, are traveling in large groups, or need to complete other pre-security screening activities, should budget in extra time to their arrival. However, because the terminal will be busy in both pre and post-security areas, AUS does not recommend more than 4 hours before a flight’s departure.
• To prevent passengers from arriving to AUS too early in advance, Visit Austin offers a luggage storage center at their Visitor Center. Passengers can drop their bags off and explore downtown Austin before heading to the airport if passengers have several hours between hotel check-out and their flight’s departure.
• Airline ticket counters are expected to be busy, especially for airlines that offer free or discounted checked luggage.
• Highways near the airport are expected to be busy during the days surrounding the events, and passengers are encouraged to plan their route and travel time to the airport accordingly. Travelers can use DriveTexas.org to see real-time traffic conditions.

Security screening and packing correctly

• AUS has 3 security screening checkpoints, which lead to all gates. TSA PreCheck and Clear are available at Checkpoint 2 West.
• TSA checkpoints open daily at 3 a.m.; Checkpoint 2 West will remain open overnight between Sunday and Monday.
• You can visit TSA.gov for guidance on how to pack and to check what items are allowed in carry-on luggage.

Parking and dropping off/picking up passengers

• Visit ABIAParking.com if you plan to park at AUS. Parking spaces can be reserved on the Blue Garage, Red Garage, or Economy Lots. You can also check for real-time availability on the website before arriving at the airport.
• Passengers should account for extra arrival time if using a shuttle service to the terminal, as the shuttle tends to run about every 15-20 minutes.
• You can use the upper level for departures or the lower level for arrivals to drop off passengers and vice versa.

Accessibility services for arriving passengers

• Trams are available to transport passengers from the terminal to the rideshare pick-up area and Rental Car Facility.
• ADA-compliant shuttles are available for passengers from the terminal to the Economy Lots.
• Arriving passengers with mobility assistive devices can be picked up by rideshares, taxis, and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) at the Mobility Assistance Zone on the lower Arrivals level.

Accessibility services for departing passengers

• Passengers needing wheelchair assistance should contact their airline to coordinate this service.
• TSA offers a passenger assistance program, TSA Cares, for departing travelers who may want more help during the security screening process at AUS. Contact TSA 72 hours before your trip to set this up.
• AUS’s Mobility Lounge is located by the Southwest Airlines ticket counters for departing passengers with mobility assistive devices or mobility limitations who need a place to rest or wait ahead of their flight.
• AUS participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program; passengers with non-visible disabilities can request a lanyard ahead of their trip for additional support and time while at AUS.

Checking into your flight

• Passengers without checked luggage can bypass the busy ticket counters and head immediately to TSA screening checkpoints using the following time-saving flight check-in options:
• Use a mobile boarding pass or print a boarding pass from a self-service kiosk to skip the busy airline ticket counters.
• In addition to traditional check-in procedures, some airlines offer outside curbside check-in on the Departures level.
• Passengers who have extensive wait times before check-in may be asked to wait in Baggage Claim due to limited space in the Ticket Counter area.

Getting the most out of your AUS experience

• Once inside the Barbara Jordan Terminal, enjoy food from various local Austin restaurants, discover new art installations, listen to live music at one of our stages, and more. You can find step-by-step directions to any location within the airport using the AUS interactive map.

Information for travelers using Allegiant and Frontier: Know your terminal

• Passengers flying with Allegiant or Frontier will depart from The South Terminal, which is a separate terminal located near US 183 and Burleson Road at 10000 Logistics Lane.
• This terminal is not accessible from the main Barbara Jordan Terminal. Allegiant and Frontier passengers are encouraged to park onsite at the South Terminal to save time.

Construction activities

• Journey With AUS airport improvement construction projects may be noticeable to passengers in the terminal. Visit AustinTexas.gov/AUSConstructionUpdates for a list of scheduled and active construction activities.

Passengers needing assistance at any point during their journey at AUS are encouraged to call the Airport Operations Center at (512) 530-2242 or to ask any Department of Aviation staff member for assistance.