Skip to main content
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Logo

Press Releases

May 19, 2025

Summer Travel Starts with Memorial Day

Travelers should plan ahead, allow time to get through security and find gate

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer travel season. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport can be busy during vacation travel periods like summer break and holidays, and travelers can get a head start on preparations for that fun family trip.

Travel tips always come in handy to ensure that summer getaway starts off great:

  • Plan ahead for parking. If you plan to park at the airport, reserve your parking in advance and check availability at com/parking. Come early even if you have a reservation to give yourself enough time to enter the parking facilities and find a space. Bonus Tip: Snap a pic of the numbered parking pillar closest to your car or the spot you’re in to find it easily when you return.
  • Arrive early and check TSA Security Checkpoint wait times. If you are traveling domestically, arrive two hours before your flight, three hours if you are traveling internationally. The TSA Security Checkpoint wait times are on the front page of com and on the flight information screens in the airport terminals. Bonus Tip: If you’re flying from Terminal 4, you can go through any TSA Security Checkpoint to get to your gate.
  • Have REAL ID, will travel. The TSA is now enforcing REAL ID-compliant licenses, state IDs, or other acceptable forms of identification to fly within the United States. Bonus Tip: You can still fly if you don’t yet have a compliant identification, but you’ll have to go through additional screening, so plan to spend more time going through security.
  • You’ve planned for extra time, now save time at the checkpoint. PHX RESERVE allows travelers to reserve a place in line and reduce their wait. Make a reservation up to six days before your flight departs, and you’ll get a time to enter a designated checkpoint to begin the standard security process. This program is open to travelers of any airline and it's free at com/phxreserve. Bonus Tip: Did we mention it’s free?
  • Take advantage of the PHX Sky Train® Stations to pick up and drop off your loved ones. Avoid terminal curb congestion and roadway traffic. The 44th Street PHX Sky Train® Station on the east side of the aiport and the 24th Street PHX Sky Train® Station on the west end are easily reached from highways and major streets. Bonus Tip: The 44th Street PHX Sky Train® Station connects to Valley Metro Rail and downtown Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.
  • Look for our Navigators dressed in purple. Navigator volunteers throughout the airport provide directions, information and friendly assistance. Bonus Tip: Navigator Buddies, the popular therapy dogs, are also here to help de-stress your trip.

These tips and more can be found at skyharbor.com.

 

– 30 –

 

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, America’s Friendliest Airport®, has an annual economic impact of more than $44 billion. On an average day, approximately 1,000 aircraft and more than 130,000 passengers arrive at and depart from Phoenix Sky Harbor every day. PHX Sky Harbor is funded with airport revenue. No tax dollars are used to support the airport.

Celebrating 90 Years of Ownership by the City of Phoenix