RDU prepares for one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season Friday

Friday is expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season at RDU and on the roads.

WRAL’s Kelsey Coffey is live at RDU Friday morning to show you what lines are looking like.

Here are some travel tips from RDU for those traveling by plane this holiday season.

• Allow Extra Driving Time: Visitors to RDU should keep in mind that the roads can be particularly congested during the late afternoon and early evening hours.
• Book Parking Online: Travelers can book parking at parkrdu.com for guaranteed entry into the deck or lot of their choice. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. If you did not book parking ahead of time, we recommend checking the home page at rdu.com to see which parking options are available before you leave for the airport.
• Download the App: Your airline’s mobile app can provide important information about the status of your flight, including departure and arrival times and schedule changes. You can also check the status board at rdu.com to learn if your flight is running on time. RDU recommends checking your flight status before you leave home.
• Get There Early: Travelers should allow plenty of time to park, check in and go through security. RDU recommends arriving two hours early for domestic flights and three hours in advance for international flights. Airlines begin boarding 30 – 40 minutes before departure, so start your trip off right by getting to the gate early.
• Prepare for Security: Brush up on what is allowed at the TSA checkpoint. Take a few minutes to learn about TSA policies and expedited screening options, including TSA PreCheck and CLEAR.
• Use the Cell Lot: If you are picking someone up from the airport, use our free Cell Lot to make curbside pickup run smoothly. Follow the signs on campus to the Cell Lot, located at 1000 Trade Drive, then wait for a call or text letting you know your party has arrived. Give them 30 minutes after they get off the plane to pick up their bags and meet you on the curb. To ease congestion at Terminal 2, you can pick passengers up at the arrivals or departures curb.

Millions of North Carolinians expected to hit the roads

AAA said North Carolinians are expected to travel in record numbers for the year-end holiday period from Saturday, Dec. 21, to Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.

AAA predicts 3.5 million North Carolinians will travel 50 miles or more from home. That’s 117,000 more travelers than the previous record high, set in 2023.

“Travelers should expect the roads, airports and cruise terminals to be more crowded than normal,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “So, finalize your travel plans now and give yourself extra time to get to your destination.”

You can find the cheapest gas prices near you with WRAL’s Fuel Tracker.