Ahead of the busy holiday travel season, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport offers the following tips to help passengers have a seamless travel experience.

• Start packing a bag that is already empty. Unzip every compartment and know what’s in your carry-on before arriving at the airport to avoid delays at the checkpoint. Have a question about what you can bring through security? Visit https://www.tsa.gov/travel or contact @AskTSA on social media to get answers in real-time.

• Download your airline’s mobile app to check-in up to 24 hours ahead of time, get the most up-to-date flight status, select seats, track checked bags, and more.

• Contact your airline before your flight if you are bringing car seats, strollers, and/or pet carriers to ensure they will be able to fly with you. At the airport, remove children from strollers and car seats before going through screening. Follow TSA officer instructions regarding pets and never send them through the X-ray machine.

• Give yourself plenty of time! Plan on getting to the airport at least 90 minutes - 2 hours before your scheduled departure time to park, check a bag, pass through security, grab a quick bite or coffee, and get to your gate. If you are traveling on one of the first flights out in the morning, give yourself extra time to get in line for security as this is a busy time at the checkpoint. TSA opens at 4:15 a.m.

• For stress-free parking, because the lots often fill up around the holidays (particularly the Long-term and East Short-term Lots), passengers will normally find the most availability in the West Short-term Lot. To access the lot, continue past the first short-term parking entrance and enter at the second entrance on the left, after passing in front of the terminal. Another option is the Overflow Lot across Aviation Drive from the terminal. Be sure to use the marked crosswalk with flashing caution lights.

• When arriving, tell family and friends to wait in the free Cellphone Lot until you have your bags and call them. They can also park in one of two Short-term Lots (closest to the terminal) and come into the terminal to welcome you home. The first 15 minutes in the lots are free; 15 - 30 minutes is just $1.00. Please tell them to avoid idling at the curb so that everyone can find space up front when their party is ready.