Whether it’s your first flight with baby, or you’re embarking on a trip with your seasoned little travelers, this is the roundup for you. To us, Austin Bergstrom International Airport is perfect. Yes, we stole that from Love, Actually.
Okay so nothing is perfect and ABIA is always under construction to expand and improve to accommodate our growing city. But it’s easy to navigate, it’s clean, regularly adds new direct flights, and has a solid selection of restaurants and food. And our favorite part? The new(ish) system they have for airport security. Follow us down the rabbit hole on this one: imagine not having to do the baby-on-the hip-trick while closing your stroller with your other hand, and trying to take out laptops and iPads while simultaneously removing your shoes.
ABIA’s new security system doesn’t require shoe or device removal. Read on for more of our favorite tips for navigating Austin Bergstrom with kids.
Where to Eat
We recommend checking out kid favorites like JuiceLand, East Side Pies, and 24 Diner (don’t be deceived by the name though – it does close, like much of the rest of the airport in the wee hours). On a recent trip from ABIA, our editor’s kids loved that they got to have pizza for breakfast from East Side Pies. Before a long flight, there’s nothing like knowing everyone has full tummies.
You could also check out Austin staples that have restaurants and stands at the airport like Taco Deli, Salt Lick BBQ, Jo’s Coffee, Parkside, and Second Bar and Kitchen.
Lounges
Our bougie side recommends Delta Sky Club. If you have access, through your purchased ticket and/or qualifying American Express card, they have a wide selection of food and drinks included with admission, and it’s a nice place to charge your tech and let the kids spread out a bit. If you’re getting access through AmEx, you may also get free companion passes and they allow you to pay for additional passes if you have more people than passes. The Delta Sky Club is located upstairs, near Gate 4 at ABIA.
More:
- United Club (Upstairs, Gate 22) | Day Passes are $59, must have UA ticketed flight
- American Admirals Club (Upstairs, Gate 22) | Day Passes are $59, must have an AA ticketed flight
Family Restrooms, Lactation Areas, and More
ABIA has mother’s lounges and lactation suites at Gate 11, as well as across from Gate 11. For the record, we think you should breastfeed wherever you’re comfortable. There are also family restrooms, which you can find on the map here. If you’re traveling with your four-legged family member, there’s also a pet relief area inside the airport, after security, as well as two before you go through security.
Security
Austin Bergstrom’s new security system makes it super fast to get through security – no taking off shoes or removing laptops. On our recent trip, this made going through security a breeze. We also recommend the added bonus of Clear, which is available at ABIA. The Clear line is typically much shorter to get through security, especially when traveling with little ones.
How to Entertain the Kids
For us, travel days mean snack time is any time. Check out Toy Joy, and Amy’s Ice Cream to keep the kids happy. You can also grab books, toys, and other trinkets and entertainment at places like Book People, Toy Joy, and lots of other retail shops.
You can also check out this guide for ABIA by our friends at Do512
