HOUSTON — Getting ready for spring break means more than just making sure you have plenty of sun screen in your suit case.

The busy spring break travel season begins March 11 and will last through March 20.  Passenger volumes are expected to increase as leisure travelers, including college students and families, start vacations.  More than 875,000 passengers are expected to travel through George Bush Intercontinental Airport during that period, and more than 320,000 are projected to travel through William P. Hobby Airport at the same time.

With the higher numbers traveling, passengers should arrive at least two hours before their flight departure and anticipate that the security process will last at least 30 minutes.

Houston Airports also suggests these tips to make your travel easy and stress-free:

Get plugged in

Technology is making travel easier and more convenient. Take advantage of that using the free high-speed WiFi available at all Houston airports. Use the web to get the latest flight information and check in for your flight 24 hours prior to departure. The digital bar code on the screen of your Smartphone can often be used during the check-in process. And, there are plenty of outlets and “charging” stands available at both airports to allow you to recharge all your electronics before the flight. Also, passengers can utilize the self-service check-in kiosks. These machines are offered by most airlines and allow passengers to print boarding passes, check luggage, select seats and purchase upgrades.

Parking

There are plenty of options at both airports for parking, both at the terminals and at the affordable ecopark locations. There are nearly 25,000 spaces available at Bush Intercontinental, and with additional spaces now available in the new parking garage, nearly 7,000 spaces available at Hobby Airport. You can check Fly2Houston.com to see how many spaces are available at the terminal garages and ecopark lots. Valet parking at the terminals also is an option. More information on those options are available online both for Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airport. You also can reserve a parking space at either airport online at this link. If you prefer to not park at the airport consider asking friends or family to drop you off at your departure point or use SuperShuttle, which will pick you up at home or work. For more information on the shuttle service, visit the website here.

Getting to your flight

Along with an early arrival — did we mention that it’s a good idea to arrive two hours before your scheduled departure, if possible? — it’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with Transportation Security Administration procedures at www.tsa.gov to ensure what you pack in your carry-on is compliant with TSA standards. Passengers are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in carry-on bags and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces or less per item. Placing these items in the small bag and separating from your carry-on baggage better facilitates the screening process. To make getting through security checkpoints easier and quicker, have your boarding pass and ID ready for display, remove your shoes and everything from your pockets before going through the metal detector or whole body imaging technology. If you’re a member of TSA Pre✓, follow the signs at checkpoints to participate in expedited screening. If you are taking an international flight, make sure your passport is with you and up to date. It’s a good idea to make copies of these documents and carry an extra set with them should the original identification be lost or stolen.

Getting back home

All Houston Airports are “active loading” facilities — which means parking is not permitted near terminals in designated loading and unloading areas — however, there is a way to get to the airport early without having to park in a terminal garage or drive laps in the traffic circling the facilities. Cell phone lots at both Bush Airport and Hobby Airport are available for those waiting to pick up arriving passengers. There are two cell phone lots at Bush Airport — one just off northbound John F. Kennedy Boulevard and one off westbound Will Clayton Boulevard — and at Hobby Airport a cell phone lot is available on westbound Airport Boulevard, just before the entrance to the airport. The lots are open every day, and there is no charge to park at the cell phone lots for short term waits. Signage marks all three locations, and drivers can wait there until their arriving party calls to tell you they have picked up their checked bags and are ready for you to pick them up at curbside. Using the cell phone lots can alleviate both congestion on the pickup and drop off locations and provide a quick, stress-free trip to the airport.

Passengers also can find valuable information about parking, terminal location and access and more at the Houston Airport System’s website, and can get updates on available parking and more by following the HAS Twitter accounts @IAH and @HobbyAirport.

Learn more about both airports at the Houston Airport System website.