Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Encourages Travelers to Prepare for Increased Passenger Volumes During ACL Fest

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is preparing for a busy October as the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) returns to center stage bringing live music and large crowds. With hundreds of thousands of festivalgoers expected, AUS anticipates several high-volume travel days. The following days are especially busy with more than 35,000 departing passengers:

• Weekend One: Monday, October 5
• Weekend Two: Monday, October 12

To help travelers avoid delays and reduce stress, AUS encourages passengers to arrive early, plan ahead, and use the following resources:

• Current passenger travel tips and airport busy day FAQs.
• Current construction activities that passengers may encounter.
• Interactive maps for wayfinding and exploring food and shopping options.

Other important AUS travel tips include:

Prepare for arrival: timing, parking, and terminal access

• Arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours before departure for international flights.
• Allow extra time for checking luggage, returning rental cars, or completing other activities before joining the TSA security line.
• Plan your route and travel time to the airport accordingly as highways near the airport are expected to be busy during the days surrounding the festival.
• Visit ABIAParking.com if you're parking at AUS. While on-site parking is not expected to sell out, parking spaces can be reserved for the Blue Garage, Red Garage, or Economy Lots. You can also check for real-time availability on the website before arriving at the airport.
• Shuttle services run every 15–20 minutes but may be delayed due to festival traffic, especially from the Economy Lot.
• Use either the upper level for departures or the lower level for arrivals when dropping off passengers. Choose the least congested to save time and reduce traffic backups.

Streamline your check-in: Use time-saving options

• Expect busy airline ticket counters, especially for carriers offering free or discounted checked luggage.
• Passengers without checked bags can skip the counter by using mobile boarding passes, self-service kiosks inside the terminal, and curbside check-in (available with select airlines on the upper level).

Follow screening guidelines: Pack smart and travel safe

• AUS has four security screening checkpoints leading to all gates. The first checkpoints open at 3 a.m., with TSA PreCheck and Clear, and active-duty military (in or out of uniform) lanes available at Checkpoint 2. Screening for passengers with CLEAR only and not TSA PreCheck should use Checkpoint 1.
• Event promotional items, bulky souvenirs, and giveaways should be packed in carry-on bags instead of checked luggage. These items often trigger security systems in checked baggage and may delay outbound luggage.
• Do not pack prohibited items or liquids exceeding 3.4 ounces in carry-on bags.
• If you are traveling with a firearm, review the TSA guidelines to learn how to travel properly with a firearm and avoid a penalty. Visit TSA.gov for guidance on how to pack and to check what items are allowed in carry-on luggage.

Access support services: Navigate AUS with ease

• Travelers who are blind or have low vision can use the Aira Explorer app for on-demand visual interpreting assistance to help navigate the airport, read signs, and receive real-time support from trained agents during their journey.
• The GoodMap app also offers wayfinding assistance for travelers who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard-of-hearing, or have other accessibility needs.
• ADA-compliant shuttles are available for passengers traveling between the terminal and Economy Lots.
• Wheelchair assistance should be coordinated directly with your airline.
• TSA offers a passenger assistance program, TSA Cares, which connects passengers with a Passenger Support Specialist to accompany them during the security screening process (this service must be booked 72 hours in advance of the flight). Learn more about or request assistance through TSA Cares online or reach them at (855) 787-2227.
• The Mobility Assistance Zone (MAZ) located on the lower level of the terminal accommodates rideshares, taxis, and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs).
• Mobility trams are available to transport passengers from the garages and terminal to the rideshare pick-up area and Rental Car Facility.
• AUS’s Mobility Lounge, near the Southwest Airlines ticket counters, offers a comfortable space for departing passengers with mobility limitations or assistive devices.
• AUS participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program; passengers with non-visible disabilities can request a lanyard ahead of their trip for additional support and time while at AUS.

Explore the terminal: Savor local flavor and live music

• Once inside the Barbara Jordan Terminal, enjoy food from local Austin restaurants, discover new art installations, listen to live music at one of our stages, and more.
• Use the AUS interactive map for step-by-step directions to food, shopping, gates, and amenities.

Expect construction: Stay informed about AUS improvements

• The Atrium Infill queuing space is opening ahead of schedule, just in time to welcome travelers to the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL)! The project adds 12,000 sq. ft. to the existing Departures level, providing additional TSA and bag check queuing space to help accommodate increased passenger traffic during Austin’s busy October festival season.
• Journey With AUS airport improvement construction projects are ongoing throughout the airport campus and Barbara Jordan terminal.
• Visit AustinTexas.gov/AUSConstructionUpdates for a list of scheduled and active construction activities.

Passengers needing assistance at any point during their time at AUS are encouraged to call the Airport Operations Center at 512-530-2242 or to ask any Austin Aviation staff member for assistance.

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Information for Media
The AUS Public Information Office aims to make it simple and easy for media to access and cover the airport. View our media guide here for information and resources. Prior to arriving to the airport, please call the on-call PIO at 512-715-4287 or email us at AUSMedia@FlyAustin.com to arrange to park in media parking. All vehicles in media parking will require a brief security inspection. Please call Airport Communications at 512-530-2242 to request a vehicle inspection before leaving the vehicle unattended.

About Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Owned by the City of Austin and operated by Austin Aviation, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport achieved large-hub status by the Federal Aviation Administration for the first time in 2022. Austin-Bergstrom is an economic engine, supplying over 74,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Central Texas region.

The airport serves approximately 20 million passengers a year and is home to over 40 local brands to shop and dine at, 8 live music stages and more than 15 airlines. As we build the airport’s largest improvement program in its history, we are redefining the travel experience in one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.

For the latest news, real-time flight information, careers information, and details on the many services provided at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport visit FlyAustin.com. You can also follow Austin-Bergstrom on Facebook, X, and Instagram. 

About Journey With AUS
Journey With AUS is the Austin-Bergstrom Airport Expansion and Development program. The program is a strategic, phased approach to guiding construction and improvement projects, including select 2040 Master Plan projects and near-term improvements to address record-breaking growth at AUS. Journey With AUS projects will improve the passenger experience and meet the rising demand for air service at AUS through optimizing the Barbara Jordan Terminal through improvements that accommodate forecasted demand and enhance operations; expanding infrastructure to increase gates; constructing a new midfield concourse, and connecting tunnel. Driving regional economic recovery and supporting Austin’s growth is a primary goal of the program. The expansion program will make ~$400 million in funding available for small businesses.