Albany International Airport

The driving directions to the Albany International Airport are very easy to follow. If you are traveling from the north, you would travel south on I-87 to the number 4 exit. When you reach the bottom of the exit ramp, you will make a left onto that road. You will take that road to the stoplights and turn right. The road is called Albany Shaker Road, you will then follow the signs to the airport.

If you are coming from the south, you will take the north I-87 to the number 24 exit. Then take the I-87 north to the number 4 exit, at the bottom of the ramp, make a left turn and travel to the stoplights. Turn right at Albany Shaker Road and follow the signs to the airport. If you are coming from the east, take west I-90 to the 1-N exit to the north I-87 and exit at the number 4 exit. Make a left onto Wolf Road and at the stoplights, turn left and follow the signs.

If you are traveling from the west, you will take the I-90 east to the number 24 exit. Take the north I-87 to the exit number 4. At the bottom of the ramp, make a left onto Wolf Road. Drive to the stoplights, turn left, and follow the signs to the airport.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

The restaurants at Albany International Airport are located at the Concourses after the security checkpoints and in the Food Court. There are a few operating before the security checkpoints such as Checkpoint Café, which is on the second floor. They offer beverages and light foods for greeters and departing arrivals. There are vending machines on the first floor by the baggage claim area.

Located in the Food Court is a Saranac Brew House, for dinner, lunch and breakfast as well as beverages. The Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen is located in the Food court serving Italian foods, Calzones and pizza. They do have a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu as well. McDonald's and Coffee Beanery are located in the Food Court as well. The Coffee Beanery offers juices, coffees and pastry.

Concourse C has a Coffee Beanery, while Concourse B has a Capital Deli and Pub that serves beverages and light foods. Concourse A has an Arrezzio's serving breakfast, Italian foods and pizza. There is a Saranac Street Pub the serves beverages in Concourse A as well. You will not find any of these places allowing you to smoke because the airport is completely smoke free. You can however, buy foods to go and sit outside the terminals in designated areas to eat and smoke.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

For shopping at Albany International Airport, you will find a few shops to delight you while waiting for your flight to depart. The airport does not have many shops, but the ones they have do have something for the entire family. The most popular shop at the airport is located at the top of the escalator. DEPARTURE is a unique shopping experience as they have historical items, artwork and handcrafted gifts. DEPARTURE generates revenue for area museums and some other organizations.

At the security checkpoint on the second level, you will find Paradies Newsstand featuring personal items, soda, snacks, batteries, magazines and newspapers. They do have some clothing and luggage as well. Concourse C has a Capital Gifts with adult and children's clothing, jewelry, gift baskets and perfumes. Capital Book Sellers sells luggage, magazines, newspapers and candy along with beverages.

You will find a Capital News and Gifts in the Concourse A terminal and a Capital News and Gifts in Concourse B. If you buy from the shops after the security checkpoints, you can carry them onboard. If the products are bought before the checkpoints, they must be checked and all rules and regulations apply. This goes for the drinks and perfumes as well as any personal products. Leave items out of your carry on bag until after you pass through the checkpoints.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

Albany International Airport has an Interfaith Prayer Room located on the Concourse C level of the terminal. The room is open all day at the airport and has a guestbook where you can share your thoughts. On the first floor of the airport, you will find an Operations Center for lost and found items that are found in the airport or on the planes. If you have lost something and have left the airport, you can call the airport and ask for the Lost and Found office.

The airport has two services that assist you when you arrive at the terminal doors. There are Skycaps who can assist you with your luggage and can provide you with check in processes before you even enter the terminal. If you are disabled and need assistance through the airport to your departure gate, Skycaps will perform this service as well. Baggage carts are available in the parking garages and at the baggage claim areas of the airport. There is a small fee for using the carts with an even smaller refund when you return the cart.

Skycaps will have wheelchairs available for those who need this service. You may find a wheelchair at the information desk on the first floor of the airport terminal. The airport does provide Wireless connection throughout the entire airport. If you smoke, you will not be smoking in this airport. You can smoke outside the terminal or in the parking garage, but inside the airport is smoke free.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

ATM machines are found around the Albany International Airport on the Concourse A and C. There is an ATM machine by the baggage claim area as well. KeyBank ATM machines accept Pulse, Novus, Visa, MasterCard, Star, AFFN, Plus, The Exchange and MAC cards. Fleet Bank ATM machines accept Visa, MasterCard, Plus, Cirrus and NYCE. There will be an additional charge for using these machines, the cost is printed on the front of the ATM.

The Currency Exchange is located on the Concourse C at the Albany International Airport. They exchange currency for British Pounds, Canadian, Yen, Pesos and Yen as well as Euros. There is a small fee for exchanging the currency. The information center is fully staffed with members of the community, including the Visitors Bureau who can provide you with any information about the area and any transportation questions you may have to ask.

The airport has over one hundred telephones for public use. The phones are equipped with a credit card swipe and connection to hook up your laptop. There are phones that especially marked for the hearing impaired. You can connect to the airport information center by pushing one button or you can connect to the paging office as well as the security office. If you would like a weather report, just press the weather button to hear local conditions.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

There are several means of transportation to and from the Albany International Airport. You can choose between a taxi, Limousine, Buses, Shuttles and hotel transportation. Many of the area hotels have available transportation to and from the airport. The list of hotels that offer transportation can be found on the airport website or you can obtain this information by calling the airport information desk for a listing of hotels prior to your flight.

Taxi's and Limousines are available at the stand right outside the baggage claims area door. Capitalland offers uniformed drivers with metered cars. Eight Limousine services operate with the airport. You can contact any of these services for a ride to and from the airport. The city does have other taxi services that you can use to travel to the airport other than the airport contract service.

There are two different bus services running to and from the airport for your convenience. The local bus lines run between six in the morning and eleven at night. The long distance bus service has direct and connecting buses to area cities throughout the state and New Jersey. You can find out the schedule and bus numbers at the information desk when you arrive at the airport or from the concierge desk of the hotel you are staying with in that particular city or area.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

As with any airport, Albany International Airport has different parking areas for different needs. The short-term parking lot is located on the first level of the garage by the front of the terminal. This parking is for anything under three days. The parking garage on the second, third, fourth and fifth floors are for parking more than three days. The rates are cheaper for the more days your car parks there.

The long term parking area is surrounding the parking garage and has cheaper rates than parking inside the parking garage, without the security. The Economy parking lot E has the lowest rates for long term parking, again without the security. There are special rates for those with disabilities who can park in the short term parking area on the first level with a special permit. The airport does have covered parking for up to twenty-four hundred cars with elevators and escalators to the baggage and ticket areas.

The lots outside the parking garage do have covered walkways to and from the airport terminals. You will find phones throughout the parking garage for emergency use only. There is a parking attendant on duty at all times. If you need help, you can call the attendant for assistance. They can call for service repairs or help with other vehicle assistance.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

Security at the airport is the same as it is anywhere in the world. You should arrive at least two hours before your flight departs or earlier depending on the time of year. If you are traveling overseas or to Mexico or Canada, you need to carry the appropriate documents with you in a carry on bag. Anything in your carry on bag will need to be x-rayed at the security checkpoint.

You can check with the airport to verify any changes in carry on items as well as any changes in liquid amounts. When you reach the security checkpoint, you need to place your laptop, digital camera, jacket, and purse as well as your carry on bag on the conveyor. After everything passes the scanners, you will then have permission to proceed to your departure gate. Anything you buy after the security checkpoint is approved to take on the plane with you.

You are allowed to take one carry on bag per person. If you have a purse and a carry on bag, they will make an exception to this rule. A diaper bag is considered a carry on bag and it makes sense to place your purse in the diaper bag. You will then have a diaper bag, purse and a carry on bag. If you take a stroller, this is not included in the description of carry on baggage.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

Car rental offices are located inside of the parking garage. The first one you see is Avis. You can rent a car at the time of arrival or you can make a reservation prior to your arrival. Avis rents GM cars that have anti-lock brakes and airbags on the driver and passenger sides. Avis car rental does have a plan for you to drop the car off at other Avis agencies if you do not want to keep the car the entire time.

The other car rental agencies are Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National/Alamo. Budget car rentals have mini vans, SUV's, cargo vans as well as small, medium and large size cars. Enterprise has economy, compact, medium, and standard, full size and luxury cars. They have mini vans, SUV's, sports utility vehicles, pick up trucks and cargo vans. They offer drop off points throughout the state as well.

Hertz car rental has all sizes of vehicles, as does National/Alamo. You can choose any car agency right at the airport or you can call ahead. Another car rental agency is located off the airlines grounds called Thrifty that has many different vehicles to choose from for your stay. However, this company may not have drop off sites other than the one you are renting from at the time.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303