Security

At the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, we’re your friendly and convenient alternative to larger airports. You can expect faster check-in times and shorter lines to wait in. Here are some important tips you should be aware of when you fly from Ithaca.

You are required to be at the airport 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure time for check-in and security screening procedures, which is significantly less when compared to larger airports.

TSA PreCheck

While ITH is not a full service TSA PreCheck airport, TSA PreCheck passengers flying out of ITH will still enjoy some of the benefits at ITH. You can keep your shoes on as well as lightweight jackets.

Parking

Federal regulations prohibit unattended vehicles from parking at the curbside.  You may position at the curb to drop off or pick up passengers but you may not leave the vehicle unattended, not even for a second. Our concierge  service is provided free of charge, so please ask them for any help or assistance you might require.

Recognizing that this is sometimes inconvenient, we are providing Free Parking for the first half an hour in our public parking lots, only a few steps away. In addition, we are making baggage carts available, also Free of Charge, and will try to maintain a supply of them in the public parking lots, front entrance way, and baggage claim areas.

Prohibited Items

Many travelers are not aware of items that are prohibited on-board an aircraft. You will also have an opportunity at the airline check-in desk, to see which objects are prohibited in your carry-on baggage. If these objects are noticed at check-in, you will be allowed to transfer them to your checked baggage. Once that baggage has been checked in you will have no further access to it. For a complete and up-to-date list of prohibited items please click on the link at the bottom of this page. Illegal items, as opposed to prohibited items, will be confiscated and the passenger will be subject to arrest.

In the event you reach the screening point and discover a prohibited item, you will be afforded the opportunity to place it in your vehicle, time allowing. You will not be able to retrieve your checked baggage to place it in there. If you have no vehicle, you will be able to purchase a padded envelope and postage from the airport shop to mail the object back to yourself. This facility will only be possible for fairly small objects. You will be asked to voluntarily surrender those prohibited items that can’t be mailed. If you do not voluntarily surrender these items, you will not be allowed to board the aircraft.

Photography in Security

Due to the sensitive nature of the area, people are requested not to film or take photos in the vicinity of the security screening checkpoint.

It is the airport’s mission to provide absolute security for all airport users while ensuring minimum inconvenience and maximum customer service.

For more information, visit the Transportation Security Administration Website.

Ithaca Tompkins International Airport Emergency Contingency Plan:

The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport has prepared this Emergency Contingency Plan
pursuant to §42301 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Questions regarding this
plan can be directed to Roxan E. Noble, Airport Director, rnoble@tompkins-co.org. The Ithaca
Tompkins International Airport is filing this plan with the Department of Transportation because
it is (1) a commercial airport and (2) may be used by an air carrier described in USC 42301 (a)(1)
for diversions.

This plan describes how, following excessive tarmac delays and to the extent practicable, the
Ithaca Tompkins International will:

• Provide for the deplanement of passengers;
• Provide for the sharing of facilities and make gates available at the airport; and
• Provide a sterile area following excessive tarmac delays for passengers who have not yet
cleared United States Customs & Border Protection (CBP).

The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport does not have a United States Customs & Border
Protection (CBP) presence to accommodate diverted international flights and strongly
encourages aircraft operators operating international flights to contact the Fire Chief/Airport
Deputy Director Josh Nalley, at (607) 266-2641 for prior coordination of diverted international
flights, except in the case of a declared in-flight emergency. Specific facility constraints
include the following: a lack of United States Customs & Border Protection (CBP) presence,
aircraft handling capability is limited to the hours of airline employees and airline scheduled
operations. In addition, the Air Traffic Control Tower hours of operation are 0500 until 2100.
We have noted these constraints in the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport/Facility
Directory record.

Airport Information
Name of Airport: Ithaca Tompkins International Airport
Name and title of person preparing the plan: Roxan E. Noble, Airport Director
Preparer contact number: (607)266-2645
Preparer contact e-mail: rnoble@tompkins-co.org
Date of submission of plan: June 1, 2022
Airport Category: Large Hub * Medium Hub * Small Hub * Non Hub x

Contact Information
In the event of diversion or other irregular operations events, aircraft operators should contact
the Airport Operations Shift leader at (607)592-5351 for assistance.

Plan to Provide for the Deplanement of Passengers Following Excessive Tarmac Delays
The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport does not own or operate any of the equipment
needed to safely deplane passengers from air carrier aircraft and is, therefore, unable on its
own to provide for the deplanement of passengers. Additionally airport personnel are not
trained to assist in the deplanement of passengers using equipment owned or operated by air
carriers or contract service providers. We will provide a list of airlines, ground handlers, the
fixed base operator and others, who may have the necessary equipment and personnel to
safely deplane passengers, to airlines as soon as practicable after receiving requests from
such airlines experiencing excessive tarmac delays at the contact number listed above.

Plan to Provide for the Sharing of Facilities and Making Gates Available in an
Emergency

The gates at the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport are considered common use and are
defined as such in all airport/airline use agreements. We direct our common use air carrier
users to make gates and other facilities available to an air carrier seeking to deplane at a gate
to the maximum extent practicable.

Plan to Provide a Sterile Area for Passengers Who Have Not Cleared United States
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

In the event that an international flight should divert to the Ithaca Tompkins International
Airport we will coordinate with local CBP and law enforcement officials to identify suitable
areas and procedures for establishing a temporary sterile area into which international
passengers on diverted aircraft who have not yet cleared United States Customs and Border
Protection can be deplaned. Once these efforts are complete, we will coordinate with local
CBP officials to develop procedures that will allow international passengers who have not
yet cleared United States Customs and Border Protection to be deplaned into these sterile
areas to the extent practicable.

Plan to Provide for Passengers on Diverted Flights when the Airline Does Not Serve the
Ithaca Tompkins International Airport

The airline will contact airport administration which will coordinate with tenant airlines and FBO
to provide requested services. Flight deck and cabin crew will be expected to oversee their
passengers in the departure lounge and act as liaisons for any required passengers services.
Plan to Provide Food, Potable Water, Bathroom Facilities, and Medical Treatment
The departure lounge is equipped with vending machines providing snacks, beverages and
bottled water. There are bathroom facilities for men and women and each Airport Operations

Technician is a fully trained Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). There are a minimum of
two Airport Operations Technicians during normal airport operating hours (0430 – 2400). The
Airport Operations Technicians will maintain a presence for all irregular operations. The airport
staff will call for additional medical assistance if the required treatment is beyond their
expertise or capabilities.

In the event of a prolonged delay within the passenger departure lounge, the terminal café is
capable of providing hot and cold meals and a variety of beverages. Outside of the normal
café operational times, the owner can respond at short notice to provide the needed service.
She may be reached through liaison with the Airport Operations Technician on duty. The TSA
would need to be present to screen any items of food or drink entering the passenger
departure lounge.

Plan to Provide Security for Passengers Wishing to Leave the Sterile Area (Passenger
Departure Lounge)

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) maintains a presence in the terminal for all
scheduled airline operations, including delayed flights. The same TSA staff would provide
oversight of activities within the passenger departure lounge, including oversight of
passengers from diverted flights and delayed flights originating from Ithaca.
In the event of departed flights returning to the gate or the arrival of diverted flights,
passengers would be held inside the passenger departure lounge with the exit manned to
prevent egress or it will be placed in the down position. The TSA will be immediately notified
by the Airport Operations Technician and requested to provide coverage of the passenger
departure lounge.

In the event of a prolonged delay, and at the discretion of the TSA and the airline, domestic
passengers only may be allowed to leave the passenger departure lounge to use the
restaurant or other airport facilities, provided that they are properly screened upon re-entering
the passenger departure lounge.

Public Access to the Emergency Contingency Plan
The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport will provide public access to its emergency
contingency plan through one or more of the following means:
• Posting in a conspicuous location on the airport website (http://FlyIthaca.com)
• Providing notice of the availability of the plan on the airport’s social media accounts.
• Posting signs in conspicuous locations in the terminals.
• Advertising the availability of the plan in local newspapers of record.

View a PDF of the Contingency Plan here: FINALIZED 2022 ITHACA TOMPKINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLAN.

• Find Great Fares

  Our experts share tips to help you find great fares.

  Search Early

  Lower cost fares exist on almost every commercial plane, but they get snapped up early by those who plan ahead. To find the best fares on a trip, check at least a month before you plan to fly. If you see a great fare early, snap it up, it’s more likely to increase in price before it gets any cheaper.

  Search Often

  Fares change constantly throughout the day — major booking systems receive price updates on an ongoing basis. Check for low fares throughout the day and into the evening. Prices often seem to creep up during the business day and fall back to more reasonable fares late at night. To really find the lowest fares, search at odd times. For example, some great values are often found late on a Tuesday night.

  Ask a Professional

  Your local or corporate travel agent can often get you better fares than you can find online and a person on the phone is guaranteed not to crash your operating system. Travel agents often have corporate deals with the major carriers that allow them to offer lower prices to their customers and are experts at combining hotel and other costs into packages that can save you money and time in the long run.

  Search Multiple Sources

  As online shopping becomes more complex, going to different sources may be more important than ever. Some sites such as Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity have been around for years. Other site aggregators search the web for sites for the best fares. Be sure to compare the results and try multiple routing options.

  Extend to a Saturday Night Stay

  Commercial airlines almost always have lower prices for flights that include a Saturday night stay at you destination. Book opera tickets on a Saturday in San Francisco, stay an extra day and save the difference on airfare.

  Check the “Code-Share” – United from Ithaca

  Airlines often partner to offer tickets on planes that fly other corporate colors. You can fly from Ithaca to hundreds of destinations across the globe on a United Airlines ticket and a first leg on American Airlines to Philadelphia or New York City.

  Return Mid-Week

  Consider returning from your trip on a Tuesday or a Wednesday to save some travel cash. Sunday and Monday returns often carry a premium on certain tickets. Think about catching another ball game or day at the beach and use up one more day of vacation to catch that lower fare for your flights.

• FAQs

  • Who can we contact at the airport if we have special needs when flying with children?

    While you are with us the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, please feel free to contact any of our airport employees who work as Concierges for Customer Service and Security for additional assistance and support for all your flying questions and needs. We welcome your comments and suggestions at: https://flyithaca.com/information/contact/.

  • How do I make sure my laptop bag is “checkpoint friendly”?

    With welcome news for frequent travelers, the TSA now allows laptops to remain inside bags that meet new checkpoint friendly guidelines. The TSA has links to this information at the following link: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/checkpoint-friendly-laptop-bags

  • Where can I find out more about what I’m allowed to bring on a flight?

    Guidelines for keeping safe, getting through screening and what you’re allowed to bring on a plane are found at the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) web site at: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information

    At this site you can learn more about what to expect, what to bring and when to arrive. Although our lines are shorter and check-in is much quicker than at other larger airports, please leave yourself enough time pending any unforeseen contingencies.

  • Where can we find information about flying with children?

    Anticipating flying with children can often elevate the stress often related with flying. Often, tips for flying with kids can help alleviate some of the stress associated with air travel. You can find a special page on flying with your children by logging on to: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

    There is also a website devoted to this entire subject found at: http://www.flyingwithkids.com/

• Fear of Flying

  Fear of flying can be a serious anxiety issue affecting millions. If you have a fear of flying, talk it over with a health care professional with experience with anxiety disorders. Programs that use virtual reality to treat anxiety have in many cases, proven effective in treatment. One such program is administered by Cornell University: http://www.patss.com/hea_ser/index.html

  There are also numerous articles and programs designed to address the fear of flying. Here’s one example of a story about this fear than ran in a recent USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/baskas/2008-07-08-fear-of-flying-classes_N.htm

   

• Travel Experience

  Your travel experience from our airport is important to us. Please take a moment to provide feedback directly to the airline you traveled on so they can pass along your compliments or address any concerns you may have experienced during your most recent trip. Feedback directly to the airlines and the DOT helps us identify and address specific concerns in order to improve your future travel experiences.

  • United Customer Care
  • American Customer Relations
  • Delta Customer Care
  • DOT Air Travel Complaint – Comment Form