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/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GTXVYF32QZHU3HFKQHXLNIZAYA.jpg?w=760&resize=760,400&ssl=1 "Holiday travel tips and trends from the Quad Cities International Airport")
MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) – As Thanksgiving approaches and people travel, TV6 spoke with the Quad Cities International Airport about the recent travel trends and tips for holiday travelers. Holiday Travel Ashleigh Davis, the PR and Marketing Manager for the airport, says there are some things …
Nothing drains the joy out of the holidays like travel delays and waiting in lines. This Thanksgiving is expected to look more like pre-pandemic holiday travel periods at Newark Liberty International Airport as more people are predicted to fly to visit family and friends. Ongoing …
Holiday travel is back in full swing after over a year of pandemic restrictions that left last year’s trips uncertain and even canceled. This year, however, airports are seeing many more passengers, so you’ll want to have a plan to cope with the crowds.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport expects a few busy days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday and through the weekend after. There are also still COVID-19 safety protocols in place at the airport and on your flight.
Here’s what to know before heading to Sky Harbor Airport for your Thanksgiving trip.
First look:Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport’s Rental Car Center Sky Train stop
A federal mandate still requires masks in terminals and on aircraft. The Transportation Security Administration has extended the mask requirement through Jan. 18, 2022. Masks are also required on other forms of public transit, including buses and rail systems.
If you approach security without a mask, the TSA agent will ask you to put one on. If you don’t have one, they will provide one. You won’t be allowed to board your flight unmasked and you could be banned from future flights if you violate the policy in flight.
Check with your airline for any additional requirements prior to your trip. Travelers also can check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website for more COVID-19 guidance.
Most COVID-19 travel restrictions in the U.S. have been lifted — Hawaii is a notable exception and requires vaccination or a negative test. If you’re traveling internationally, your destination might require testing.
You can get tested at the XpresCheck clinic in the Drugs & More store on Level 3 in Terminal 4. It’s open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. An airline ticket is not required to get tested.
You can get either a polymerase chain reaction test (results take 48-96 hours) or blood antibody test (results in about an hour). Book an appointment at https://www.xprescheck.com or walk in. (If it’s busy you might have to wait.)
Xprescheck recommends passengers get tested three hours before their flight. The length of testing time can vary but according to the testing company, to be seen can take around 20 minutes, plus another hour for the test and results.
More:Need a COVID-19 test at Phoenix airport? Here’s how to get one
According to Eric Everts, public information officer at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the airport will be busy the Tuesday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after the holiday.
Everts notes that travelers should keep road traffic in mind as well.
“The Wednesday before Thanksgiving will be especially busy on our roadways. We encourage travelers to give extra time and check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport,” he said via email.
For those planning to park at the airport, Everts recommends reserving a parking spot in advance at https://www.skyharbor.com/parkphx. The airport offers up to 50 percent off if you book early online. Multi-day parking discounts during the week and weekends are also available.
You don’t have to drive into the airport if you’re dropping off or picking up passengers. Drop them off at the PHX Sky Train Station at 44th and Washington streets in Phoenix.
“We highly recommend using the 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station for dropping off and picking up travelers,” Everts said. “Our roadways and terminal curbs are going to be especially busy. Using the 44th Street Station can help drivers avoid that traffic and congestion.
“There is a free cellphone waiting lot there as well as short-term parking meters. Travelers can ride the free PHX Sky Train to the terminals. Additionally, we have two other cellphone lots on the east and west sides of the airport.”
According to TSA.gov, if your drivers license or state-issued ID expired on or after March 1, 2020, and you have been unable to renew, you may still be able to use it as identification at the security checkpoint. TSA will accept expired drivers licenses or state-issued IDs a year after expiration.
If you have a valid license but it isn’t REAL ID compliant, don’t worry. The Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID deadline for upgraded drivers licenses until May 3, 2023.
More:Real ID deadline isn’t until 2023. Here’s what Arizonans need to know
The rules for driving with an expired Arizona drivers license are different, however. There is no longer a grace period for driving with an expired license, according to Doug Pacey, assistant communications director for the Arizona Department of Transportation.
“The license is no longer valid after its expiration date,” Pacey said in an email. “You will want to reach out to verifying entities like TSA, airlines, rental car companies, etc. for their policies on accepting an expired driver license.
“ADOT MVD encourages people to check that their credentials, driver license or state-issued ID card, are valid before embarking on travel. If a customer loses their driver license while traveling, they should contact MVD.”
Due to staffing issues brought on by the pandemic, shops and restaurants at Sky Harbor may be operating on limited hours. If you are flying early in the morning or late in the evening, don’t be surprised to see closed establishments. Visit the airport’s online map for hours the day you’ll be there.
‘We’re sick and tired’:Restaurant workers at Phoenix airport strike over understaffing
Everts said many airport shops and restaurants have coronavirus protocols in place.
“For many, this includes additional signage, barriers and queueing markers, increased sanitation, limiting the number of people in stores, and encouraging touchless transactions,” he said.
Thinking of bringing food gifts or Thanksgiving leftovers? There’s an entire food page on TSA’s website that tells you what’s allowed in your carry-on and checked luggage.
The general rule of thumb is anything liquid, gel or spreadable must be checked or be less than 3 ounces to go in your carry-on. There is one exception. TSA is still allowing travelers to bring up to 12 ounces of hand sanitizer through security.
Don’t want to take off your shoes, your belt, your gadgets when you go through the line? Apply for TSA PreCheck and get expedited screening. The agency says it typically takes three to five days to get an approval notification, although it could take as many as 60.
If you have a medical condition or disability, the TSA Cares program helps people who need extra support navigating the security process. Call 855-787-2227 to get information about what to expect at security. You can also complete a screening here: https://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares.
TSA Cares:How travelers who need a little extra help at an airport can get it
Airline apps do more than just download your boarding pass. Airlines are adding more features to make traveling more efficient and enjoyable.
For instance, airlines including American and Southwest send push notifications when your flight starts boarding. That means you can wait in a less busy part of the airport and still know when to board.
Here are your lounge options at Sky Harbor. Check their websites for admission fees and who is eligible to get in free.
Terminal 4
Terminal 3
More:The Phoenix airport Escape Lounge: Here’s how much it costs and what you get
You can connect with Arizona Republic Culture and Outdoors Reporter Shanti Lerner through email at shanti.lerner@gannett.com or you can also follow her on Twitter.
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