Summer travel tips from Buffalo airport officials

The summer travel season is already underway, but it will heat up even more in about a week as the summer vacation rush begins.

With this in mind, travelers taking flights from Buffalo Niagara International Airport to Cheektowaga are reminded to pack wisely and plan to arrive early for their flights to avoid any surprises or inconveniences.

“We would like to ensure that you arrive here in plenty of time to get through your ticketing, through security and to your boarding gate in as stress-free a travel experience as possible,” said Russell Stark, deputy director of the aviation, during a press conference Wednesday at the airport.

Stark was joined by Bart R. Johnson, the Transportation Security Administration's federal security director for upstate New York's 13 airports, including the one serving the Buffalo area. Johnson advised air travelers to plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight departs.

“I don’t mean leaving your house two hours early. I mean get here, park your car and be at check-in two hours early,” Johnson said.

“And it will allow you to be calm, cool and collected knowing that you are going to make your flight,” he added.

Johnson also reiterated well-known advice about air travel:

• Have a driving license or passport available.
• Do not attempt to travel with prohibited items.
• Remove any items that might set off an alarm when going through TSA equipment and place them in a carry-on bag instead.

If air travelers accidentally trigger the alarm, they are advised to cooperate with the TSA agent who will likely inspect their carry-on bags.

“We want you to get to your destination safely,” he said, adding, “Let’s also not forget the world we live in right now … what’s happening here, domestically, and the arrests of real terrorists. So that’s the case. Buffalo is not immune. It could happen at any time, anywhere, with little or no warning.”