Sunshine Sentinel

Thanksgiving Day is one of those favorite times of the year when food, family, and gratitude take center stage. It is a holiday when air travel is even more meaningful in connecting people to share in the festivities, sentiments, and excitement of the season.

At Broward County's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), officials are anticipating 689,775 travelers to fly in and out on Thanksgiving holiday getaways from Tuesday, November 22, to Monday, November 28, 2022. That's a 14 percent increase in projected holiday passenger volume versus the same 2021 holiday period. In 2019, the holiday passenger forecast was 800,000. For 2022, the busiest Thanksgiving travel days at FLL should be Wednesday before the holiday and Sunday and Monday after. Overall, FLL expects an average of 98,539 daily passengers during the seven-day holiday travel period. 

"After more than two years of battling COVID-19, we are thankful that the worst of the pandemic is behind us and that life for most of us has resumed with a degree of normalcy," said Mark E. Gale, FLL CEO/Director of Aviation. "At FLL, overall passenger traffic (domestic and international travel) is nearing pre-pandemic levels, and airport business activity is essentially back in full swing, albeit with a few new-normal adjustments. We look forward to serving our guests this week and wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday."

If you are traveling through FLL during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, consider these tips:

COVID-19 TESTING

The Nomi Health-operated testing service at FLL is located pre-security in Terminal 3 near baggage claim in a secluded area accessible curbside from Door 311. Holiday hours of 6AM-2PM will apply on Thanksgiving Day (November 24), while regular hours of 6AM-7PM apply on all other days. 

PARKING (ON-SITE)

FLL offers travelers a variety of parking options in its garages. Long Term Parking is $15 a day, and Short Term Parking, intended for dropping off or picking up passengers, is available for $3 an hour with a maximum daily rate of $36. Download the free FLL Airport App for information on parking, flights, restaurants, and shops before arriving at the airport. If you plan to park at FLL, allocate extra time to get here and secure a spot among the parking garage's 10,000-plus spaces, as we expect them to fill quickly during the holidays. Tap the smart parking technology in the garages to find the closest open spot. Then, in the garage driving lanes, look at the monitors mounted to the ceiling for the number of available spaces in each aisle.

Travelers can use SunPass Plus as a convenient way to pay for parking using a SunPass transponder in the Airport's three parking garages. The traveler must use a SunPass Plus lane to enter and exit for the account to be charged. No ticket is required with SunPass Plus entry. 

OVERFLOW PARKING (OFF-SITE)

FLL's Overflow Parking Lot will only begin accepting entries when the airport's parking garages reach full capacity. Watch for parking updates on the airport's social media pages. Travelers opting to use the Overflow Parking Lot should allow at least 45-60 minutes extra time to park and board a shuttle to their departure terminal. The primary lot is located west of the airport at 1661 S.W. 40th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. Take Griffin Road just west of I-95 to Anglers Avenue, and turn right (north). Then turn left (west) on Southwest 42nd Street and follow the orange wayfinding signs. A flat rate of $10 per day applies, and payment must be via credit card. The free shuttle service to and from the Overflow Lot will have designated stops along the upper-level airport roadway between Terminals 1-2 and Terminals 3-4. Additional overflow parking lots may open based on demand, so keep watch for parking updates on our social media pages. View the attached parking map at the bottom of the page.

FLL currently offers Curbside Valet Parking service at two drop-off/pick-up locations. Both valet stations are located on the Departures (Upper) Level at the west ends of Terminals 1 and 4. The first location serves guests traveling to/from Terminals 1 and 2, while the second site caters to travelers in Terminals 3 and 4. Note: Valet parking could also fill up quickly this holiday period. 

PICK-UP/DROP OFF

The Cell Phone Waiting Area is located under the main entrance roadway to the Airport. As you approach FLL's entrance, stay in the left lanes, follow the sign to All Parking, and bear left. Then follow the signs to the Cell Phone Waiting Area. This road will bring you around the Rental Car Center to the Cell Phone Waiting Area. If the free Cell Phone Waiting Area is full, please proceed to our Short Term Parking in the garages, which is available for $3 per hour with a grace period of under 20 minutes at no charge. Please remember that the curbside areas are for immediate pick-up and drop-off only. Unattended vehicles will be ticketed and towed.

REMINDERSFLL participates in several expedited security and Customs processing programs, including TSA Pre-Check, Global Entry, Mobile Passport, and CLEAR. Please visit their respective websites to learn more about the programs, how they work, and any associated costs.

If you are a traveler with a disability or a medical condition, you can plan ahead with TSA Cares or call their toll-free helpline at 1-855-787-2227 to enhance your airport experience.

Original source can be found here.