The busy spring break travel season begins March 9 and will last through the end of the month.  Passenger volumes are expected to increase as leisure travelers, including college students and families, start their vacations. Passengers should arrive two hours before their flight departure and anticipate that the security process will last at least 30 minutes. Check out the animated video above to check out exciting concessions and navigational tips. 

Houston Airports suggests these tips to make your travel easy and stress-free:

Before leaving for the airport:

• Verify airline departure time before leaving for the airport.
• All passengers — with the exception of minors— are required to present government issued photo identification.
• International travelers of any age must have a passport and other required documents.  Passengers should make copies of these documents and carry an extra set with them should the original identification be lost or stolen.
• Limit carry-on items to one bag and one personal item.
• Passengers are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in carry-on bags and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces or less per item. Placing these items in the small bag and separating from your carry-on baggage better facilitates the screening process.
• Many airlines offer online check-in up to 24 hours before flight departure.

At the airport:

• Arrive two hours before flight departure.
• Passengers have a variety of convenient parking options when flying from Houston Airports.

1. Valet Parking: enjoy the convenience of drop-off service available inside each terminal garage
2. ecopark:  on-airport economy parking lot. Reservations can be made in advance.
3. Terminal Parking: each terminal has a dedicated parking garage

• Finding your way around Houston’s airports is as simple as checking your smart phone now that a new way-finding technology launched on the Houston Airport System’s award-winning fly2houston.com website. Both graphic and text directions are provided, and each step of the path has turn-by-turn points listed, as well the estimated “walking time” it will take to walk to the destination. It also offers searchable navigation, with location information and search terms for points of interest including gates, ground transportation, ticket kiosks, shops, restaurants, security checkpoints, and more.
• Utilize the self-service check-in kiosks. These machines are offered by most airlines and allow passengers to print boarding passes, check luggage, select seats and purchase upgrades.
• When approaching the security checkpoint, passengers should have their government issued photo ID or passport available with their boarding pass.  To expedite time through the security screening process, slip-on shoes are recommended.  Passengers not eligible for TSA’s Pre✓™ program should be prepared to remove shoes and jackets for screening.  All laptops, portable DVD players or large electronic items must be removed from their cases and placed into their own bin.  Passengers should place keys, cell phones, pagers, and loose change in their carry-on bags before getting in the security line.
• Due to TSA security restrictions regarding liquids, passengers should plan on purchasing their beverages after clearing security.  Houston Airports offers a variety of food and beverage outlets for passengers in the secure area.
• Cell phone lots: Because the drop off and pick up ramps at both airports are active loading zones — meaning parking in those locations is prohibited — using cell phone lots are a great way to avoid driving laps around the roadways at the airports or parking in prohibited areas. Cell phone lot information on Bush Airport can be found online at this link, and for Hobby Airport at this link.

Additional travel tips can be found on the TSA web site at www.TSATravelTips.us.