By AVERY FEYRER
Cronkite News

Sky Harbor International Airport, dubbed America’s Friendliest Airport, is making a lot of friends this week.

Airport officials estimate 180,000 passengers will pass through the day after the Super Bowl. That’s up from its normal day of 110,000. Monday’s getaway is expected to be Sky Harbor’s busiest on record.

To ensure passengers the smoothest flight possible, Sky Harbor
has developed a passenger-friendly system for travelers to follow during
their time in the desert: 5-4-3-2-1.

Each number represents the amount of hours before departure. Hotels recommend vacationers check out of their respective hotels five hours before departure. At four hours, car rental companies want cars returned.

The Aviation Department recommends passengers check in at the ticket counter three hours before departure and proceed to the TSA security checkpoint two hours prior to departure.

Finally, passengers are suggested to arrive at their gate an hour before departure.

Acting Public Information Manager Heather Lissner is confident the 5-4-3-2-1 system will reach travelers. “The press release with the information about the ‘5-4-3-2-1’ tip is on our website, as well as our various social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google +,” said Lissner. “The Phoenix Commerce Center will transfer the information to various hotels. It will also be available on the Super Bowl Host Committee website, and rental car companions will hand out information to travelers.”

Volunteer Navigators are available throughout the airport to help
answer a questions from passengers. The volunteers wear bright purple suit jackets.

“They are bringing more of the purple jackets in to help out,” said Barry Solzberg, a Navigator for 11 years. “The NFL is sending about 200 people to stand next to us and help answer questions.”