Denver International Airport (DEN)

Denver International Airport (DEN)

Facility Representative Mike Coulter

1.  Passengers should be cautious of late afternoon and evening flights in and out of Denver in the summertime.  Thunderstorms roll through here almost every afternoon.  These produce high winds, rain and lightning.  While the airport can handle it, when lightning is within five miles of the airport, most airlines will keep their ramp personnel inside during the storm.  Aircraft will wait either on the tarmac or just feet short of the gate, but they will not be able to offload until the storm passes.  This could cause delays in arrivals and departures for short periods of time in the afternoon.  Fortunately these storms pass quickly and the suspensions usually only last 15-30 minutes or less.

2.  Book early and make sure you get a seat assignment.  Due to Denver’s elevation, many aircraft will leave here in the summer with many empty seats due to density altitude.  Aircraft just do not perform as well at our elevation and high heat.  Thus, you may go online and see plenty of seats, but many of them will go unused as the airline tries to keep the weight of the aircraft within certain parameters.  Don’t be confused by those empty seats when you look online.  Book early and make sure you get a seat assignment.  Those without seat assignments could be the ones who don’t make the flight if it gets too hot. 

3.  Security Tips.  Denver’s peak travel times are very early in the morning (7:00 a.m. thru 11:00 a.m.), and also later in the afternoon (4:00 p.m. thru 9:00 p.m.).  This usually results in longer security lines just before these departures times, especially early in the morning.  Some of the longest waits at security can be from 5:00 a.m. until about 8:00 a.m.  Many people are surprised when they get to the airport and find lines at 6:00 a.m.

There are three different areas to go through security.  Two are in the main terminal and one on Concourse A.  You can get to Concourse A by walking across the Sky Bridge.  This is a great view for kids as they can watch aircraft taxing underneath you.  You can then take the train to Concourse B and C if necessary.  If you get to either the North or South Security entrance in the main terminal and the lines are long, you may want to check the opposite security entrance.  Sometimes the lines are long on one side, but short on the other.  There are also TV monitors on the upper level that will show the wait at the opposite end security entrance.  This is also great place to view the lines before you get there.

4.  Parking Tips.  Outlying parking lots are much cheaper and have excellent shuttle service to the terminal.  It actually may be faster (and significantly cheaper) to park in those lots and take the free shuttle to the terminal than it is to drive around the main parking area looking for an empty spot. 

5.  Passenger Pick-up Tips.  There is a waiting area just before you get to the airport where you can wait in your car for someone who is arriving.  It is right on the main entrance to the airport and a quick 5-minute ride to the terminal.  Have your party call you as they get off the train heading for baggage claim.  You will be at the door waiting for them by the time they get their bags.  This will keep you from driving around in circles waiting for them as you are not allowed to wait at the terminal unless you park in short term parking.

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