As the holiday season approaches, Nashville International Airport (BNA) wants to ensure that travelers, as well as guests picking them up and dropping them off at BNA, prepare for an expected increase in holiday air travel from mid-November until after the first of the year.

 

The following tips can help passengers and guests enjoy the Nashville Airports Experience - being great airports for passengers and partners - by staying on time and taking advantage of airport amenities – both pre- and post-security:

 

Allow Extra Time

All travelers are urged to arrive inside the terminal at least two hours before their flight due to the anticipated heavy volume of passenger traffic during the holidays. This will allow enough time for check-in, security screening and gate arrival. Travelers with children should consider allowing additional time. Call your airline in advance to obtain the status of your flight and its recommended check-in time. You may also log on to www.flynashville.com to check arrival and departure times.

 

Driving and Parking

Be aware of Terminal Access Roadway Improvements (TARI) project changes (download a map of BNA roadways and parking lots). The project was designed to increase safety while enhancing convenience for airport patrons and has changed traffic patterns and parking procedures. Patrons should be aware of the following changes, and follow traffic signs carefully:

·       The names of two parking lots have changed. The Long Term lot, adjacent to the Short Term garage, is now Long Term A. The former seasonal Overflow lot, east of Donelson Pike, is now open as Long Term B.

·       The entrance points to Short Term and Long Term A parking were relocated and consolidated to improve access to and from I-40 and Donelson Pike and to eliminate the need for vehicles to merge through multiple lanes of traffic over short distances. Because Short Term and Long Term A share a common entrance and parking ticket dispenser, Short Term parkers will stop at a second ticket dispenser at the entrance to the Short Term garage.

Take the correct exit from I-40 – tips for arriving at BNA

·       From downtown and west of BNA: For easy access to the terminal, valet parking, the Short Term garage and the Long Term A lot, visitors should use I-40 exit 216A. For all other parking, including Economy and Long Term B lots and the cell phone/waiting area, use the I-40 Donelson Pike exit 216B.

·       From east of BNA: Visitors should use the I-40 Donelson Pike exit 216 to access the terminal and all parking.

·       To access the cell phone/waiting area: Visitors should use the I-40 Donelson Pike exit 216B.

 

 

Choose the parking lot that is right for you. BNA has more than 11,250 available parking spaces in four lots. An additional Remote Holiday Parking Lot will be available if needed. As you enter the airport, check the display for latest parking updates. Courtesy transportation in the Long Term A, Long Term B and Economy parking lots begins at 3:30 a.m. daily and ends 45 minutes past last arrival. Additional shuttle bus service to and from these lots will also be provided.

 

Daily Parking Rates

Short Term: $22

Long Term A: $10

Long Term B: $10

Economy: $8

Remote Holiday Parking: $8

Valet: $20

 

Pre-security Flight Check-in

·       Use an airline kiosk to print your boarding pass, or print your boarding pass prior to arriving at the airport from your airline’s Web site.

·       Have your photo ID and flight information in hand.

·       Consult your airline regarding charges for checked baggage.

 

Luggage (checked and carry-on)

·       Place liquids in checked baggage when you can.

·       Log on to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Web site. Visit www.tsa.gov before you pack your luggage for a detailed list of what you can and cannot take on an airplane.

·       Use TSA-recognized locks if you choose to lock luggage. Visit www.tsa.gov for a listing of locks accepted and recognized by the TSA.

·       Carry your film with you.  Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.

·       Keep pets in their travel case when inside the terminal. This does not apply to service animals.

·       Don’t leave luggage unattended and label it with your name, address and phone number.

·       Don’t travel with wrapped holiday gifts. Do not carry wrapped gifts in your carry-on baggage. You may be asked to unwrap gifts in order to pass through security checkpoints.

·       Adhere to the liquids, aerosols and gels 3-1-1 rule for carry-on luggage:

o      Containers of liquid or gel can be no more than 3 ounces.

o      Liquids should be placed in a 1-quart, clear, plastic, zip-top bag.

o      Passengers are allowed only 1 plastic bag containing liquids and gels, which should be placed in a screening bin separate of other carry-on luggage.

Prescription medications, baby formula and milk are allowed in quantities exceeding 3 ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

 

Security Screening

·       Consolidate liquids and gels into one bag following 3-1-1 guidelines and place the bag in a screening bin separate from other carry-on luggage.

·       Choose the right lane. Self-select lanes are now in place at BNA, allowing passengers to choose the appropriate entry lane for their needs. Choose from Expert (designated by black diamond), Casual (designated by blue square) and Family/Special Assistance (designated by green circle) for smoother processing.

 

 

·       Remove your shoes, coats and jackets. Shoes and outer coats, including trench coats, ski jackets, leather jackets, overcoats and parkas, must go through the X-ray machine for inspection.

·       Have your boarding pass and photo ID in hand. Children under the age of 18 do not require an ID.

·       Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal. Place metal items in your carry-on. Avoid placing metal items such as keys, pagers, loose change, money clips, PDAs, large metal belt buckles, metal hair decorations and mobile phones in your pockets. 

·       Be mindful of electronic equipment. If you will be traveling with items such as laptops, portable DVD players and video cameras, remove them from their cases and place them in the TSA-provided plastic bins for screening. 

 

Interior Improvements

BNA added many improved vendors and amenities in Phase I of its interior renovations, and Phase II interior renovations are under way. Phase II renovations include updates to areas throughout the airport, including restrooms, holding areas/gates, walls, carpet and more.  

·       Check flight information display boards often, and listen carefully for flight status updates – particularly if the holding/waiting area at your departure gate is under construction.

·       Visit BNA’s vendors, new and old. Phase I renovations brought many new restaurants and shops to BNA. If you have extra time before your flight, see what is new. A list of BNA vendors can be found at www.flynashville.com.  

 

Complimentary Wi-Fi Access through Jan. 15, 2010

BNA is one of 47 airports nationwide partnering with Google to offer complimentary Wi-Fi to travelers passing through these cities during the holiday season through Jan. 15, 2010.

 

Travelers With Children

·       Utilize the Family Lane. The family self-select lane at the security checkpoint is designed to allow passengers traveling with small children a less stressful entry into the security screening area.

·       Allow extra time when traveling with children.  Please allow extra time for check-in and security checkpoint.    

·       Every person must be screened.  Even babies must be individually screened.  If your child can walk unassisted, it would be best to have the child walk through the metal detector independently.

·       Strollers must be examined. All child-related equipment must go through the X-ray machine or be inspected by a checkpoint screener.

·       Arrange for an escort. If a child is traveling alone, at least one parent or relative may receive a pass from the airline to escort the child to the boarding gate.  Call your airline ahead of time to make special arrangements.  If you require a companion or assistant to accompany you through the security checkpoint to reach your gate, speak with your airline representative about obtaining a gate pass for your companion before entering the security checkpoint.

·       Get a boarding pass for lap children. Children who do not require a seat on a plane do need a boarding pass.

·       Visit the new children’s play areas on Concourses A, B and C. 

·       Make arrangements in advance. Provide advance notice to your airline or travel agent if you require assistance, have special needs or have medical concerns.

·       Utilize the Special Assistance Lane. The special assistance self-select lane at the security checkpoint is designed to allow passengers with special needs a less stressful entry into the security screening area. 

 

 

Travelers With Special Needs

·       Simplify the process. If you have a medical implant or other device that is likely to set off the alarm on the metal detector, bring evidence verifying this condition.

·       Note these permitted items. Mobility aids and assistive devices permitted through the security checkpoint include: wheelchairs, scooters, canes, walkers, crutches, prosthetic devices, body braces, augmentation and communication devices (e.g., Braille note takers, slate and stylus), service animals, and diabetes-related equipment and supplies.

 

Picking Up/Dropping Off Travelers

·       Don’t leave vehicles unattended. Curbside access is for vehicles that are actively dropping off or picking up passengers. BNA offers a free cell phone/waiting area at the north end of the Long Term parking lot, and passengers can be picked up on the baggage claim level by vehicles utilizing the 10-minute waiting area. Vehicles left unattended within 300 feet of the terminal building will be ticketed and towed due to security restrictions. Also, 30 minutes of free parking is available in the Short Term parking lot. 

·       Wait for incoming passengers in your car, free, with up-to-the-minute flight information. The cell phone/waiting area, which gives drivers a free place to wait to pick up arriving passengers and reopened Oct. 22 as part of the airport’s TARI project, is in a new location and is more than twice its former size,.

·       Come inside. Enjoy the comfort of newly renovated and expanded waiting areas, and enjoy refreshments from pre-security vendors such as Starbucks, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Hudson News. Rent a movie at one of the two Redbox locations on the Baggage Claim Level and just past security before entering Concourse C.

·       Find out what is going on in Nashville. Print event coupons and tickets using BNA’s new NowPlayingNashville.com entertainment kiosk.

 

For a map of BNA roadways and parking lots, as well as up-to-date information on airport construction, visit www.flynashville.com and sign up for AIReport, the airport’s newsletter. Tune in to the airport’s radio station at 1610 AM for roadway information. For questions about parking changes, passengers can call (615) 275-1045.