March 2026
Basketball Championships Travel Tips
America’s Friendliest Airport® looks forward to welcoming basketball fans flying in for an upcoming major college basketball tournament and is offering the following tips to help travelers enjoy an easier trip.
Arriving Passengers
- If you plan to rent a car, book early. Car rental demand rises during heavy travel periods and walk up options may be limited.
- Save time and skip terminal traffic by getting picked up or dropped off at the 24th Street or 44th Street PHX Sky Train® stations, which offer a convenient alternative to driving into the airport.
- If you need assistance or directions, keep an eye out for Navigators in purple and NCAA volunteers throughout the terminals.
- To attend NCAA events in downtown Phoenix, take the PHX Sky Train® to the Valley Metro light rail station at 44th Street and Washington Street, then ride westbound.
Departing Passengers
- Pack smart and review TSA rules. Place all official game programs in your carry-on bag.
- Check your flight status, arrive at the ticket counter three hours before departure, be at security two hours early, and be at your gate one hour before your flight.
- Use PHX RESERVE to save your spot in the security line.
- Monitor security wait times on com.
- Lighten your load and save time by using Early Bag Check.