The summer travel season is heating up and officials with the Asheville Regional Airport are sharing some simple steps for preparing ahead of time.
Below are the five tips airport officials suggest for smooth sailing (or, flying) this summer season:
1. More time = less stress:
It’s extremely important to allow extra time before a flight. Asheville Regional Airport encourages flyers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before boarding time (not departing time).
Flights can begin boarding up to 45 minutes prior to departure.
2. Know the rules and pack smart:
Certain items cannot be packed in a carry-on bag. To save time at the TSA checkpoint, know the rules about packing liquids in carry-on bags and the items that are prohibited. Failing to do so could lead to hold-ups at the checkpoint.
With the scanners at Asheville’s checkpoint, officials say travelers can leave 3-1-1 liquids and electronics in their carry on bags. Those bags must be placed in a bin, so make sure those carry-ons meet the size requirements.
3. Make a plan for parking:
Parking lots at the airport are anticipated to fill up fast this summer. CLICK HERE to read about AVL’s parking options. Travelers can familiarize themselves with the layout by looking at a parking map ahead of time. Travelers can also watch parking numbers and the status of each lot in real-time on the website.
4. Check-in online if you’re not checking a bag:
Those not checking any bags can check in online via the airport’s app or website. This allows travelers to download a digital boarding pass (with a QR code) so they can proceed directly to TSA security, skipping the lines at ticket counters.
Those checking backs should allow for extra time at the lines.
5. Be flexible:
“This will be a busy summer, and it can be stressful when there are full parking lots and long lines,” the airport’s release says. “Allowing yourself extra time is an important step, but also being flexible and patient is the way to go.”
Know before you go
According to a news release from the airport, July is set to be the busiest travel month this year. In January 2024, the airport said it was celebrating a record-breaking 2023 with more than 2 millions travelers passing through.
“In 2023, an impressive 2,246,411 passengers traveled to or from AVL, a 22.2% increase over 2022 figures, catapulting the airport’s annual passenger count beyond the historic 2 million mark for the first time ever,” the airport said in its January release.
In order to reduce congestion at the ticket counter lobby this summer, the airport says it has plans in place for an outside ticket queue during busier times.
“When you arrive at the terminal, look to see if the outdoor queue is open,” the airport said in a release. “If it is, and you are economy or main cabin seating, proceed to the outdoor queue and friendly staff will direct lines into the lobby as space allows.”
Something else to keep in mind: The ground transportation pickup area, where passengers can access taxis and ride app services (such as Uber, Lyft) was relocated to the north end of Shuttle Lot South, which is located on Airport Rd./ Highway 280, south of the airport, across from the WNC Ag Center.
CLICK HERE for flight times, parking and more information from the Asheville Regional Airport.