Tis the Season

Airport provides tips for easy holiday travel

By: Ryan Amundson, Senior Director of Communications

Gifts are being wrapped. Menus are being prepared. Final preparations are coming into focus. You can certainly count on some things in the days leading up to the holidays.

Another one of those things is travelers descending on the airport.

According to AAA, 119.3 million people in the U.S. will travel 50 miles or more from home between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1. Of those, AAA is expecting nearly 8 million traveling by plane. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) will see its share of those holiday travelers. They’re ready for that surge.
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“With so many flight options to choose from this winter, those planning to travel this holiday season have more reasons than ever to fly from MKE,” said Airport Director Brian Dranzik. “As we prepare for the next influx of holiday travelers, we expect more than 250,000 people to travel through MKE between now and the end of the year.”
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With all of the hustle and bustle upon us, officials at MKE have provided some tips to make for seamless holiday air travel.
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Plan to arrive early

• Holidays are a busy time for air travel. We recommend travelers get to the airport at least two hours before departure time, especially if they are checking bags or traveling with children.​

Download MKE’s SmartPark app

•  By downloading the MKE SmartPark App, travelers can make a parking reservation ahead of time to guarantee parking availability and earn rewards for free parking. The app can also be used to reserve valet service and allows users to easily scan in and out of MKE’s parking facilities.
  • Pro tip: If the forecast is calling for snow while you’re on your trip, use MKE SmartPark to reserve a covered spot in the parking garage to avoid coming home to a snow-covered vehicle.

Check out MKE’s coat check

• If you’re flying somewhere warm, utilize the MKE Coat Check service for just $2 per day (with a maximum charge of $10 per trip) and avoid lugging around your heavy winter coat. Travel light and stay comfortable, no matter your destination's climate.​​

Wait to wrap gifts

• Packing gifts to bring along in your carry-on or checked luggage? It’s best to wait to wrap your gifts until after you’ve reached your destination just in case TSA needs to look inside. You can also opt for a gift bag instead of wrapping paper.​​

Prepare for a cold return

• If you come back to below-freezing temperatures and your car needs a jumpstart, MKE's parking team has your back with free jumpstart services to get your vehicle up and running. Just call ​(414) 747-4561, and they'll assist you promptly.

Picking someone up from MKE?

• If you’re picking someone up who is flying into MKE, we recommend you track the inbound flight online first. Plan to arrive at the airport after the flight has landed to avoid unnecessary waiting on the airport roadways.
  • Pro tip: Park in hourly parking when picking someone up so you can walk into the terminal to meet your arriving traveler. The first 30 minutes in the lot are free.