Traveling during Thanksgiving can be a hectic and busy experience. Prices skyrocket during holiday travel as well as the amount of travelers increases. But what will Denver International Airport look like this Thanksgiving?
If you haven’t traveled lately, DIA may look and feel a little different.
The airport is in its final phase of the Great Hall Project. This means that portions of the terminal will be blocked off temporarily. This could cause some confusion and chaos.
There will be some closures to be aware of, including the interior corridor on the airport’s east side, most of the restrooms on the northside of level 6, and the first two lanes of traffic including sidewalks from doors 601 to 603.
All security checkpoints will remain open and operational during construction. The airport encourages travelers to check live TSA wait times online. Although travelers should expect busier than usual wait times, they can also expect security screenings to be more efficient and better-staffed this year compared to prior holiday travel years.
To make this experience smoother, here are a few travel tips:
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- Check your flight status to make sure you don’t miss a cancellation or delay.
- Arrive 2 hours before boarding time. This helps with the stress of wait times.
- Take the RTD’s A-Line, especially if there are icy road conditions.
- Use the A-Bridge Security Checkpoint, which opens at 4:30am and can be used for standard screening only. No TSA Precheck is available at this location.
- Avoid TSA screen checkpoints at the busiest times. These are between 5-10am, and from 1-4pm.
Hope these help to make the Thanksgiving travel experience just a little smoother. Remember to be kind and take deep breaths. Happy travels!
