Tips for Traveling Through RDU
Below, find tips to allow a low-stress start to your vacation or trip!
- Traveling With Disabilities
- International Travel Tips
- Security Screening Tips
- Arriving at RDU
- Meeting Someone
- Traveling With Children
- Traveling With Pets
Before You Travel
As you prepare for your flight, remember these tips:
- Most airlines limit carry-on items to one bag and one personal item
- Clearly label all luggage
- Bring a government-issued ID that matches your name on your ticket.
- Be prepared for the TSA security checkpoint.
- Wait to wrap gifts until you arrive at your destination.
- Transporting firearms? Contact your airline for the correct procedure.
Arriving At RDU For Your Flight
- Arrive at RDU at least two hours before domestic flights to allow for parking, airline check-in and security. Contact your airline for requirements for international travel.
- The terminal curbs are only for cars loading or unloading passengers.
- Use ParkRDU Premier or Central to accompany someone indoors.
- Sports equipment, such as golf clubs, lacrosse sticks, tennis rackets and pool cues, must be checked as luggage.
Meeting/Picking-Up Someone?
- Parking or waiting at the terminal curb is prohibited. Please use our free cell phone lot.
- After the flight arrives, it can take 15 minutes for your loved one to exit the concourse.
- Learn where the designated meeting areas are in each terminal.
- When meeting someone in the terminal, choose ParkRDU Premier or Central.
- When traveling with children, please allow extra time for check in and proceeding through the security checkpoint.
- Prepare children by explaining the security process ahead of time.
- Children, as well as adults, must undergo screening.
- All child-related equipment must either go through the x–ray machine or be inspected by a checkpoint screener.
- Please contact your airline for ID requirements for children.
- Airlines may grant permission for an adult to accompany a child traveling alone to the gate. Check with your airline for details.
- Pack activities for children such as coloring books, crayons or reading material.
- Learn about traveling with service animals.
- Check with your airline concerning their policies on traveling with pets.
- Animals traveling in the passenger cabin must be screened at the security checkpoint.
- You may walk your animal through the metal detector with you. If this is not possible, your animal will have to undergo a secondary screening, including a visual and physical inspection.
- You may be asked to remove your animal from its carrier so that the carrier can be placed on the screening equipment.
- Pet relief areas are located outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.