AUSTIN, Texas — Officials at Austin's airport (AUS) are warning travelers to arrive even earlier than normal and "expect a busier than usual terminal experience" over the weekend through Monday, Oct. 18.
Austin airport officials said they recommend arriving at least 2.5 hours early for domestic flights and 3 hours early for international flights, regardless of departure time.
Security screening checkpoints will open at 3 a.m. this weekend, with TSA PreCheck and Clear screening available at Checkpoints 1 and 2., according to AUS officials.
"To help ease traffic and expedite the arrival process, departing passengers may be dropped off at both the upper and lower curbsides — from the lower level, passengers can quickly get upstairs to ticketing and security via escalators and elevators," an AUS press release stated. "Similarly, passengers who are being picked up and don’t need to stop by baggage claim can utilize either the arrivals or departure level."
The warning comes after thousands of Southwest flights were canceled last weekend nationwide, causing major travel delays across the country. At least 80 Southwest Flights were canceled last Sunday out of Austin's airport. At least 24 Southwest flights were canceled and 38 delayed last Saturday, according to FlightAware.
AUS officials said Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday remain the airport’s busiest days, with a high volume of passengers expected on the mornings of Sunday, Oct. 17, and Monday, Oct. 18.
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