BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Thanksgiving Day is a holiday that puts gratefulness on full display and brings people closer together. The airport becomes even more significant in connecting family and friends during this special time of year.   

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) officials anticipate approximately 760,000 travelers to fly in and out over the seven-day Thanksgiving Day holiday travel period from Tuesday, November 21, to Monday, November 27, 2023. That is a 10 percent increase in projected holiday passenger volume versus the same 2022 holiday period. This year's busiest travel days are expected to be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, followed by the Monday after the holiday. Overall, FLL anticipates an average of over 108,000 daily passengers during this week-long 2023 holiday travel period. 

"As we reflect on the essence of this holiday, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to our patrons for choosing FLL and our partner airlines for your travel plans, as well as all of our airport employees for their hard work and dedication," said Mark E. Gale, FLL CEO/Director of Aviation. "We can't wait to see FLL bustling with holiday excitement and wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving."

Here are some tips for passengers traveling through FLL during this Thanksgiving holiday timeframe:  

ARRIVE EARLY
Typically, travelers are advised to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours if flying internationally. However, during peak holiday periods, it's best to follow any updated guidance from your airline, as more time may be required for check-in/bag processing. Security processing may also take longer due to increased passenger activity. 

PARKING (ONSITE)
With the ongoing high demand for curbside valet service and self-parking options at FLL this year, especially during the holidays, we recommend getting dropped off by family, friends, or a ride-share service instead (Uber, Lyft, etc.) as our onsite garages are likely to be sold out. Note: We do expect the onsite FLL garages to fill up, so our offsite Overflow Parking Lot will likely be activated if current demand trends hold as projected.

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 9,000-plus spaces, which is expected to fill up for the holiday weekend. Tap into the garage's smart parking technology to find the closest open spot. Then, in the garage driving lanes, look at the monitors mounted to the ceiling for the number of open 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. SunPass Plus entry does not require a ticket. 

Curbside Valet Parking service is offered at two drop-off/pickup locations. Both valet stations are located on the Departures (upper roadway) level at the west ends of Terminals 1 and 4. The first location serves guests traveling to/from Terminals 1 and 2, and the second site caters to travelers in Terminals 3 and 4. Valet Parking is $25 per day. 

OVERFLOW PARKING (OFF-SITE)
In anticipation of the airport's parking garages filling for the Thanksgiving holiday period, FLL's Overflow Parking Lot will begin accepting entries only when onsite parking reaches maximum 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 Overflow Parking Lot is located east of FLL at 1661 S.W. 40th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. Take Griffin Road just east of I-95 to Anglers Avenue and turn right (north). Then turn left (east) on Southwest 42nd Street and follow the orange wayfinding signs. A flat rate of $10 per day applies, as does a maximum stay of seven days. 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 and 2 and Terminals 3 and 4. View the attached parking map at the bottom of the page.

PICKUP/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 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 pickup and drop-off only. Unattended vehicles will be ticketed and towed.

TRAVEL & GUNS
If you plan to travel with a licensed firearm, follow the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) protocols to safely pack and transport your weapon as checked luggage. If caught with a gun at a TSA passenger screening checkpoint, this will disrupt your travel plans, and you could face a hefty penalty and an arrest.

Roadway traffic: Terminal roadways are expected to be busier, with increased vehicular activity during this holiday. When picking up family or friends at FLL after 9AM (and especially after 6PM), if traffic is congested on the approach to the airport's entrance roadways, consider using the Departures (upper) level roadway instead of the Arrivals (lower) level. 

REMINDERS
FLL participates in several expedited security and Customs processing programs, including TSA Pre-Check, Global Entry, 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 have 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.

* During this holiday season, the parking information on the FLL Airport App may not accurately reflect the exact number of available spaces due to the fluidity of parking in high-demand situations. As such, travelers intending to park at FLL should monitor the airport's Twitter or Facebook posts for the most up-to-date airport parking status.   

About Broward's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, FLL generated $37.5 billion in economic activity annually and nearly 18,000 direct, local jobs. In 2022, the airport served nearly 31.7 million passengers. FLL is located in Greater Fort Lauderdale in the heart of Florida's Gold Coast. The Aviation Department, FLL's operator, is a self-supporting agency of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners that does not rely on local tax dollars for operations and capital improvements. The department also operates North Perry Airport, a general aviation facility for private and charter aircraft operators. Call 954-359-6100 for more information. For updates on airport programs and services, follow us on X, like us on Facebook, or visit fll.net.

November 20, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT: Arlene Satchell, Public Information Officer
Broward County Aviation Department
954-359-6116
asatchell@broward.org