How to prepare for a vacation trip at San Diego International Airport

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) – Travelers, get ready for the holiday rush!

Between this Thursday and Sunday, January 5, up to 1.3 million people are expected to arrive and depart from San Diego International Airport.

SAN expects to welcome around 80,000 people on its busiest days, Friday to Monday. Thursday, December 26th to Sunday, December 29th; and Thursday, January 2nd to Sunday, January 5th.

Here are some tips the airport recommends before your trip:

• Reserve parking spaces in advance: With the opening of the new Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, there are now almost 5,000 covered parking spaces between car parks T1 and T2. Save 20% on curbside parking and valet reservations with promo code HOLIDAYS.

• Pay attention to the road signs: The roads around the airport are changing, so drivers should drive carefully and be prepared for road signage.

• Expect delays: Slow-moving construction vehicles may cause delays on northbound and eastbound North Harbor Drive.

• Pack wisely: Find out what travelers can and can’t bring in their luggage by downloading the MyTSA app and using the “What can I bring?” feature. Use the feature or take a photo of an item and send it to @AskTSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger for real-time help. Travelers can also submit a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).

• Check your flight status and arrive early: The busiest times on the roadside are 4:00 a.m. to 6:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to midnight

• Traveling to and around SAN: A free shuttle bus called the San Diego Flyer runs between the Old Town Transit Station and SAN seven days a week, with an average arrival time of every 20 to 30 minutes. To get to and from T1 and T2, passengers can use the Terminal Loop Shuttle. Use a rideshare vehicle to be dropped off or picked up at the airport.

The airport is forecasting a 4 to 5 percent increase in traveler numbers this year compared to the 2023 winter holiday travel period.

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