TIA Hopes Changes Make Travel Season Smoother

Tulsa International Airport is gearing up for another round of busy holiday travel and making some improvements to get you around the airport better.

What looks like an empty parking lot is actually a new cell phone lot. It’s one of the new places the airport hopes people use when picking up loved ones.

The holiday travel season is here, and the Tulsa International Airport is ready as flights begin to trickle in.

The airport added another level to its parking garage; and with the 500 new spaces, they don’t want people sitting and waiting in the pick-up area.

Spokesperson Alexis Higgins said, "We really encourage people to use the cell phone lot, and we've also opened up a new entrance ramp off the arrivals roadway that takes you right up to the third deck of our parking garage - that's where short-term parking is."

The arrivals area can get congested when several flights arrive at once, so airport officials hope you use the new area to quickly pick up your loved one.

"The key here is to make sure you don't pull up to the curb and expect to sit and wait," Higgins said.

Officials are expecting a rush of passengers to be heading out of town on Sunday and Monday, so don't wait until the last minute to get checked-in.

Higgins said, “Tulsa is easy to get in and out of. The key is to make sure you're prepared - you don't wait till the last minute, you're giving yourself plenty of time."

Tulsa International Airport expects its busiest days to be on Sunday and Monday, that's when everyone leaves and more flights will be coming and going.