With experts predicting a strong increase in Thanksgiving holiday travel throughout the region, Denver International Airport officials suggested air travelers plan ahead to avoid last- minute hassles.
Today, about 141,000 passengers will use DIA, up 43 percent from last Saturday’s volume, according to airport data.
Earlier this week, AAA Colorado said overall holiday travel in Colorado and surrounding Mountain States is expected to jump 10.7 percent from last year’s level, with about 3.1 million people taking a trip of at least 50 miles from home.
For AAA, the Thanksgiving holiday period is from Wednesday to Nov. 28.
“The forecasted double-digit increase would signify the first important upturn since 2008’s historic 25.2 percent decline in holiday travel,” AAA said.
Those driving to holiday gatherings in the region should check the Colorado Department of Transportation’s website, , for road conditions, highway closures and other travel information and tips.
For air travelers, DIA’s $10-a-day economy parking lots that flank the east- and west-side garages are expected to fill first. Travelers can monitor parking availability at all the airport’s lots by going to , said DIA spokesman Jeff Green.
In all, DIA has more than 40,000 parking spaces on airport property. Private companies also operate lots with thousands of spaces near the airport.
Once DIA’s economy lots fill, travelers will be directed to the airport’s outlying Pikes Peak and Mt. Elbert shuttle lots, which charge $6 a day.
Mt. Elbert, south of DIA’s air-cargo complex, offers a QuickPark service that allows motorists to avoid pulling a ticket by instead swiping credit cards upon entering and leaving the lot to record their transactions.
Electronic message signs on inbound Peña Boulevard will provide information on parking-lot availability. Travelers also can call 303-DIA-PARK (303-342-7275) for similar real-time parking information, Green said.
He said passengers can download the free goHow Airport travel app for the iPhone and BlackBerry that features updated content from . Travelers are encouraged to check with their airlines to confirm flights are on time, Green added.
For picking up friends and family members flying into DIA, airport officials said drivers can avoid congestion at the passenger-arrival level of the terminal by parking for $2 an hour in close-in spaces in the garages.
During holiday travel periods, the parking structures — which are more typically favored by business travelers — have a lot of empty spaces.
For passengers traveling with holiday gifts, DIA officials suggest they leave the items unwrapped because Transportation Security Administration screeners may open wrapped packages to check their contents.
Passengers can get information on TSA security-screening wait times by calling 303-DIA-TIPS (303-342-8477).
