Remember: Permitless Carry Does NOT Mean You Can Bring Gun Into Airport…
BY: TRAVEL DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BROWARD COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — There was a time when Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport was a sleepy little airport that you could get into — and out of — in mere minutes. Those days are long gone. The airport expects nearly 100,000 passengers to pass through the airport each day during the July 4th holiday weekend. In an announcement to BocaNewsNow.com, the airport discussed travel exceptions, and tips, as we enter a busy few days:
For this year’s Independence Day holiday weekend, officials at Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) are forecasting 568,194 travelers to fly in and out between Friday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 5, 2023, a 9.1 percent increase from the 2022 holiday period projection. FLL’s busiest travel days during this six-day July Fourth holiday timeframe should be Saturday, July 1, and Sunday, July 2, with 108,412 and 104,669daily travelers, respectively. Overall, an average of nearly 95,000 daily passengers are expected to move through FLL for this holiday period.
Here are some travel tips and reminders if traveling through or visiting FLL this holiday:
PARKING (ONSITE)
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 July Fourth 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.
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.
