(Cleveland) - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is offering important tips to ensure a positive travel experience during the busy holiday season.
While holiday travel this time of year is more spread out than the Thanksgiving travel period, CLE is still reminding guests to arrive early to ensure making their flight. CLE expects 500,000 passengers during the nineteen day travel period from December 15th through January 2nd. This is up 10% over 2019 (pre-Covid) passenger numbers and up 20% over last year’s passenger numbers for the same travel period.
Travelers should allow plenty of time to arrive at the airport, find parking, check in and pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security. Travelers should be aware of the airport’s peak activity times which include early morning from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., early afternoon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and late afternoon to early afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Airport officials encourage travelers to arrive at least two hours before scheduled departures to allow time for inclement weather, traffic, parking, checking-in and going through security checkpoints. Travelers should look for signs, Gold Coat Ambassadors and Landside Operation employees in blue for assistance.
CLE’s web site is a one-stop shop for travelers looking for travel information. Visit the web site at www.clevelandairport.com to learn about flight and parking status, as well as the status of TSA checkpoint wait times.
Airport parking (not including privately-owned lots) range from $35 per day for curbside valet, to $14 per day for the Brown Lot off Rocky River Drive.
Picking up friends and family at the airport? Park and wait in the either of the two CLE Cell Phone Lots. One is located off State Route 237 South, or can be accessed by Jackson Road, which is now a two-way street. The second lot is at the back of the Sheraton off of Hotel Road. The secondary Cell Phone Lot will be available for people picking up guests through the holiday, but will close down after January 2, 2024. Both lots are for temporary idling or stopping and NOT for parking. Follow the blue directional signs to easily locate these lots.
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) offers convenient service to and from CLE. RTA's Red Line provides regular service between CLE and downtown Cleveland via the Tower City Station. The trip takes less than 30 minutes and trains depart from CLE every 25 minutes for the majority of the day.
The TSA says always have a government-issued ID ready to present at the airline ticket counter and security checkpoint.
o Arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled flight. More people are traveling this time of year and you'll need more time.
o Know what is in your carry-on bags and checked bags. Do not bring any prohibited items with you. Don't know if an item is allowed or prohibited? Here's how to find out:
o Send a tweet to @AskTSA o Ask us via Facebook Messenger: http://www.tsa.gov/ has a feature in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage: Can I bring my? Click there and type in the item.
o Download the free myTSA app, which has the same "Can I bring my?" feature.
o Many people travel with food during the holidays. Foods like cakes, pies and cookies are allowed through a checkpoint, but may be subject to additional screening. However, spreadable and pourable food items must go in checked bags (maple syrup, jams, jellies, preserves). Not sure? See the 2nd bullet point above on how to ask TSA.
o Snow globes that are 3.4 ounces or smaller and fit into the 3-1-1 bag can go in a carry-on bag. If it's larger, pack it in a checked bag. Not sure? The basic rule of thumb is that if the snow globe is larger than a tennis ball, then it should go into a checked bag.
o It's a good idea not to wrap gifts using tape. If the gift triggers an alarm, TSA will need to open it to find out what the item is to ensure it is not a prohibited item. Instead, it is recommended that you:
o Use a gift bag or unsealed gift box
o Wrap the gift upon arrival
Copyright 2023, iHeartMedia
Listen to WTAM for news at the top and bottom of the hour