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Summer 2008 Travel Guide

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Written by Staff Friday, 20 June 2008

The South Terminal is a private venture developed by GE Commercial Aviation Services working in conjunction with ABIA and the City of Austin. It is the first dedicated facility constructed in the United States to accommodate low-cost airlines. VivaAerobus began service to Cancun and Monterrey, Mexico, May 1, and more airlines and destinations will be added this year.

The pared-down terminal was designed to reduce walking distance from the check-in station to the plane and from the plane to baggage claim.

Barbara Jordan Terminal (main terminal)

3600 Presidential Blvd., Austin
www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport

South Terminal

10,000 Logistics Lane, Austin
www.staustin.com

Liquid carry-on items must be in a container of 3 ounces or less. Consolidate bottles into one clear, quart-size plastic bag. Only one such bag per passenger is allowed. Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk and juice are allowed in containers larger than 3 ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag, but must be declared for inspection. Visit www.tsa.gov/travelers for the latest information on restricted items and other travel information.

Road conditions, information on road closures, maps, a summer events calendar, tourist destinations and more are available at www.dot.state.tx.us/travel.

Several Web sites, including www.gasbuddy.com and www.gaspricewatch.com, offer search functions to find low local gas prices.

Passports

A passport book is a travel document issued by the Department of State that verifies the identity and nationality of an individual. Passport books are required to enter and leave most foreign countries and are valid for travel by air, sea or land.

Applying for a passport

To obtain a passport for the first time, go in person to a passport acceptance facility with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Nearby passport acceptance facilities are located in the following post offices:

Austin Balcones Station, 11900 Jollyville Road, Austin, 331-9802, Hours: By appointment only
Frontier Station, 2250 Double Creek Drive, Round Rock, 244-0065, Hours: 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Bluebonnet Station, 1822 W. Braker Lane, Austin, 873-9289, Hours: 9 a.m.-noon; 12:30 p.m.- 2:45 p.m., by appointment only

Appointments at passport agencies are free; those seeking passports should not pay any person or business requesting a fee for appointments.

Passport applications are processed in less than four weeks from the time of application, and expedited service applications are processed within three weeks.

Passport fees

First-time applicant age 16 and older - $100
First-time applicant under 16 - $85
Renewal - $75 (Conditions apply, see travel.state.gov/passport for more information)
Expedited service - $60 in addition to the cost of the passport (Overnight delivery both ways is suggested. Add $14.85 for passport to be returned by overnight delivery.)

Passport cards

Passport cards are a new form of travel identification designed to expedite land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Mexico. The cards contain radio frequency chips that reference a stored record in a secure government database. No personal information is written into the chip itself. Production of the cards began this month.

Passport card fees