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Thanksgiving travel doesn’t have to be stressful. Follow these tips to glide through PSP

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Thanksgiving travel doesn’t have to be stressful. Follow these tips to glide through PSP

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With Thanksgiving right around the corner, throngs of tourists and locals alike are expected to travel through the Palm Springs International Airport.

The airport says more than 34,000 departing passengers will be welcomed from Tuesday through Sunday, with an average of 6,500 travelers each on peak travel days.

Here are some travel tips to ensure a smooth flight experience, because even though spending Thanksgiving with family members can be stressful, there’s no reason holiday travel should be the same.

Arrive early to PSP

Palm Springs locals may be accustomed to pulling up less than an hour before their flight is scheduled to leave.

That may not be feasible during peak holiday traveling season.

Airport officials recommend travelers show up two hours before departing flights to check bags, and say those only traveling with carry-ons should arrive 90 minutes early.

The airport gets busiest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when about 3,000 passengers go through security. Wait times can reach 30 minutes in such cases.

To accommodate the increased travelers, the airport has added a seventh screening lane.

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Determine the best PSP parking choice beforehand

Open parking sports at the airport can sometimes be rare, especially around busy traveling weeks. The main terminal lot costs $20 per day, and could fill up fast this week.

Live parking updates are available at flypsp.com/parking.

An overflow lot on Kirk Douglas Way is available for overnight parking. Shuttle service to and from the terminal will operate from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Thanksgiving Day. The service will continue only for returning travelers from 8:30 a.m. through the last arrival from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.

Plan ahead if planning to dine at PSP

While new restaurant options are being rapidly added to the airport, the increased number of travelers means many of those venues will be full during peak travel times.

The airport advises passengers to plan ahead for dining. Grab-and-go options will be available at shops and kiosks throughout the property.

Other helpful tips

Check in online. By checking in through an airline app, passengers can save time when they arrive at the airport.

Each passenger can carry on a quart-sized bag of liquids, gels and aerosols with containers 3.4 ounces or less.

If you plan to bring back Thanksgiving food, it can be packed in carry-on or checked baggage as long as the items follow TSA liquid rules. Properly seal the items to avoid spills.

Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.

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