Albany International Airport: the complete ALB guide

Plan your ALB journey from parking space to boarding gate

Albany International Airport serves New York's Capital Region and surrounding communities. For drivers, the practical starting point is deciding where the car will stay, how everyone and their luggage will reach the terminal, and how the return pickup will work. Airport-owned parking, privately operated off-airport parking and a hotel stay with parking are different products. Compare the complete arrangement rather than assuming that every booking labeled “Albany Airport Parking” uses the same entrance or shuttle.

The airport's public address is 737 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211 . Use that address for the passenger terminal. If you reserve a private parking facility, navigate to the address in the parking confirmation instead: driving to the terminal first can add an unnecessary loop to the journey. Keep the confirmation and return instructions available offline, particularly if someone else will collect the car.

Sources: Airport directions .

Terminal layout and finding your gate

ALB uses one main passenger terminal with Concourses A, B and C. Check-in, baggage claim and rental-car counters are on the lower public level; security leads to the gate areas. Signs and the current airport map should guide the final route because construction and airline gate assignments can change. Use the current interactive terminal map to locate your airline counter, security checkpoint and departure gate.

Concourse A has changed substantially. The airport announced that new upper-level, jet-bridge-equipped Gates A1 and A2 entered service in July 2025. Travelers familiar with the former ground-level boarding arrangement should check their boarding pass and current displays rather than follow an old route from memory.

For a connecting itinerary, read the boarding time as carefully as the flight departure time. When travelling as a family or group, identify the gate before stopping for food. If a gate changes after you have settled down, check the walking route again and make sure everyone in the group has the updated information.

Sources: Map · Albany International Airport Completes First Phase Concourse Modernization .

Check-in, security and arrival timing

The airport advises passengers to arrive at least two hours before departure . For off-airport parking, build the parking check-in, loading, shuttle wait and transfer into the journey before that terminal-arrival target. A short advertised drive does not include every part of the transfer. Allow additional time for bad weather, busy departure periods, mobility assistance or unusually bulky luggage.

The airport's TSA information page lists a 3:00 a.m. checkpoint opening . Airline bag-drop counters and individual parking shuttles can have different hours, so an early departure needs three separate checks: when the lot accepts vehicles, when the transfer runs and when the airline accepts baggage. Online check-in does not remove an airline's bag-drop deadline.

Bring a TSA-accepted form of identification, such as a compliant REAL ID or another accepted document, and follow the current TSA guidance. Check the airline's conditions for your itinerary, including overseas travel documents where relevant. Arrange assistance before the travel day and put medicines, documents, chargers and the essentials for children in accessible carry-on storage.

Sources: Current airport travel notices · TSA information · Identification .

Choosing official airport parking

The airport publishes separate tariffs for short-term parking, the two garages, long-term parking and the Economy E-Lot. Short term is intended for close terminal access and brief visits; the garages offer a different balance of proximity and price; the economy option includes a terminal shuttle. Off-airport reservations apply to the named private lot and follow that operator's arrival instructions.

Current published daily ceilings are $24 short term, $18 in either garage, $12 long term and $7 in Economy E-Lot . The live rates page lists the first hour free, with short term charged at $2 per hour thereafter. Recheck prices and entrance terms before travel. Availability, walking routes and any construction diversion also matter when deciding where to park.

Sources: Official airport parking rates · Parking locations and map .

These tariffs apply to the five airport-operated parking areas listed above. Check the current official tariff and entrance signs before travel.

Parking payment and collecting the car

The airport supports E-ZPass Plus and credit-card payment. For a credit-card entry, keep the same card available for departure. Drivers preferring a ticket can use the ticket option and follow the posted payment instructions. Cash payment is described at the pay-on-foot station in baggage claim near Carousel 2. Airport parking inquiries are handled on (518) 242-2277 .

A privately booked lot will have its own payment and redemption procedure. Show the reservation as instructed, keep any claim ticket and make sure the planned return time includes the time needed to retrieve baggage and get back to the car. A flight's landing time is not the same as the time you will leave the parking facility. If a delay is likely to extend the stay, contact the operator promptly about its extension procedure.

Sources: New Parking System .

Passenger pickup and drop-off during construction

The terminal forecourt is for active loading and unloading. Do not park and wait at the curb. Wait until the arriving passenger has collected bags and can tell you where to meet, then follow the signed pickup route. If you want to greet someone inside or help with luggage, use a parking area and allow time to walk to baggage claim.

Travel update checked 22 October 2026: the normal cellphone/observation lot is temporarily closed for expansion, with a temporary waiting area at Heritage Lane and Albany Shaker Road. The airport expects work to continue into early November; check its live announcement before departure. Construction can alter lanes, vestibules, pedestrian crossings and shuttle meeting points, so the most recent signs and staff directions take precedence over old maps.

Sources: Current airport travel notices · Project Updates .

Accessible travel

ALB provides accessible parking spaces, elevators and accessible restrooms. The airport asks passengers to notify their airline of accessibility needs at least 48 hours ahead ; the airline arranges wheelchair and mobility assistance. Airport shuttle buses are described as equipped with wheelchair lifts. The airport also supports the Aira visual-interpretation service and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program.

For a private parking reservation, confirm the specific vehicle and transfer arrangement directly with the operator. Ask about wheelchair accommodation, whether transfer from a mobility device is necessary, luggage assistance and the practical route from the vehicle to check-in. Do not assume that an airport shuttle's facilities automatically apply to a separate hotel or private-lot shuttle.

Sources: Airport accessibility · Ground Transportation · Sunflower Program .

Travelling with children and sensory needs

The Adirondack Imaginarium is a children's play space on the first floor of Concourse B. Its regional themes include Adirondack nature and culture. The adjacent Sensory Room provides a quieter setting for passengers who need a break from terminal activity. A nursing mothers' room is also listed among the airport's facilities.

Plan the parking transfer around the youngest or least mobile member of the group. Ask a private shuttle operator about child-seat requirements and whether the family can travel together with the luggage. Keep snacks, comfort items and any medication in a bag that will remain with you during the transfer. A calmer journey usually comes from allowing more time between each step rather than relying on the minimum quoted transfer time.

Sources: Adirondack Imaginarium · Sensory Room · Airport accessibility .

Food, essentials, Wi-Fi and passenger help

The airport's directory lists food and coffee choices including Starbucks, Dunkin, Uncommon Grounds, Burger King, Silks Bistro and The Local @ ALB. Opening times vary; do not count on every outlet being available for the first or final flight of the day. Shops listed by the airport include On the Fly @ ALB, Tech Valley Connect and News Channel 13 Shop. Check the current terminal directory for their locations.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the terminal. Keep enough battery power for boarding passes and the return-shuttle telephone call, and save important booking details offline. The airport Information Center is on the first level, opposite Baggage Carousel 2, with telephone (518) 242-2299 . It can help with directions, transport information and general airport inquiries. Airline baggage problems should be taken to the relevant airline; items left at security follow TSA's lost-property process.

Sources: Airport Guide · Aira App · Information Desk · TSA information .

Pets and service animals

The airport lists pet-relief areas inside Concourse B and outside near baggage claim. Ordinary pets should travel in suitable carriers inside the terminal; service-animal arrangements are handled separately. Check the airline's size, carrier, documentation and reservation requirements before travel. At security, follow TSA instructions for screening the animal and empty carrier; request assistance if handling the animal safely will be difficult.

Ask the parking provider whether animals can travel on its shuttle and whether a carrier is required. Do this before reserving, especially if the journey involves a large animal or a mobility-related assistance need. Leave sufficient time for a relief stop before entering the terminal and before the return drive.

Sources: Airport accessibility · Pet Relief .

Rental cars and other ways to reach ALB

Rental-car counters are in baggage claim and the rental fleet is in the airport parking garage. The airport lists Avis, Budget, Hertz, Enterprise, National/Alamo and Dollar. Counter hours and after-hours return procedures vary, so check the provider's own reservation. Follow rental-return signs rather than entering a passenger parking lot by mistake.

Uber, Lyft, taxis, hotel shuttles and bus connections serve the airport. The airport lists CDTA for local buses, together with regional coach operators. Check the operator's timetable for the exact day and direction of travel. For a hotel shuttle, ask about first and last departures, whether a reservation is needed and where to meet after landing. Construction can change the final meeting point.

Sources: Car Rentals · Ground Transportation · Buses .

Map and official information

Use a terminal map for the route inside the airport, a road map for the approach and the booked parking confirmation for the private lot address. They answer different questions. The airport's interactive map is available at albanyairport.com/map . For general airport information, call (518) 242-2222 . For booking changes or a private-lot shuttle, use the supplier contact shown on the reservation rather than the airport's general telephone number.