Travelers navigate Terminal B at the Denver International Airport on March 21, 2025. (Alexia Bailey/CU Independent)
This piece is from the CU Independent’s opinion section. Any opinions or views do not represent the CU Independent.
Alexia: Hi! I’m Alexia Bailey, a freshman here at CU Boulder. While I may just be getting started, I’m here to share everything I’ve picked up so far, which is a surprising amount of information. “What’s eating at Alexia” is my unofficial and unfiltered guide to some of the things that being a CU Boulder Buff brings. Think of it as your guide to navigating everything that makes CU Boulder, well, CU Boulder. Whether you’re a freshman finding your footing or a senior with “no body, no crime” level grievances about finals week, I’m here to share my takes, tips and honest observations on everything from the sometimes-unpredictable Buff Bus system to navigating campus protests (or dodging them entirely). College is a wild, unforgettable ride, and “What’s eating at Alexia” is here to make sense of some of it, one opinion at a time.
Look, Denver International Airport is scary for people who fly often, let alone little old me, who’s never flown before.
DIA, from the outside, is absolutely huge and very complicated to people who have never graced the major airport, such as yours truly. No one, and I do mean no one, was as nervous as I was before flying out of DIA by myself for the very first time. And, dear reader, you might be asking, “Alexia, how did you go this long without flying home?” And to that I say: I have exactly two cousins on this side of Colorado, and tragically, neither of them could take me home this time. Believe me, I tried. So, if I had to brave DIA solo, best believe I’m going to give you the survival guide I wished I had.
We live in a modern world, my friends. Everything is online, including checking in for your flight! Checking in for your flight isn’t like checking in for a dentist appointment. When you check in, it isn’t you saying that you’re physically at the airport. It’s just you saying that you are, in fact, still planning on flying. I fly United, so I checked in online 24 hours before my flight.
In order to fly, we must first… drive? Yeah, that checks out. Nothing like a little road trip before soaring through the skies. If you don’t have a car, DIA is accessible via the AB1 and AB2 buses, which take about an hour and a half, depending on traffic. I, however, am blessed with a roommate who owns a car and had mercy on me. At this point, my greatest advice that I can give you, my dear reader, is that you need to always factor in traffic. Don’t do the Alexia and assume that no one is going to the airport the day before break. When I tell you that everyone and their mother is going to be on the roads going to DIA, I mean it. Anticipate traffic.
Once you get there, you may have to check your bag. If you do, make sure to check your airline’s baggage policy ahead of time because fees, weight limits and size restrictions can all vary depending on what airline you’re flying and what section of the plane you’re on. Most airlines allow one checked bag under 50 pounds, but if you go over, be prepared to have to pay for them to check your bag. Trust me, those checked bag fees can be absolutely brutal (not that I would know because I obviously read my airline’s baggage policy.)
After you check a bag, you move on to the next step, which is security. The Transportation Security Administration was created in 2001 in response to the 9/11 attacks, and its main goal is to prevent people from taking things they shouldn’t on planes. It’s really important to check the rules on TSA regarding what you can and cannot bring on an airplane. If you’re unsure whether something is allowed, Google it, and if worse comes to worst, it’s always safer to leave it at home. The last thing you want is to be the person holding up the line while TSA goes through your bag to inspect that questionable bottle of shampoo or that multi-tool you thought was a great idea to bring along. There is a website that TSA created that is searchable and is very helpful for specific items you may be worried about.
After you’ve navigated your way past TSA (which, trust me, is a feat on its own), you’ll eventually encounter DIA’s underground train system. It’s a pretty crucial part of how the airport moves people between the terminals and gates. And while it’s undeniably efficient, it’s also a bit of an experience. You need to look at your ticket and determine if you’re in Gate A, B or C. The train station is located below the main level of the airport, which is why you’ll need to hop on an escalator or take the elevator down to the underground platform. Once you get to this point, you need to board the free train and hold on for dear life because it’s very fast and stops frequently. From what I know, the train stops at all three concourses, and so as long as you’re headed in the right direction, you’ll be fine.
Once you get to your concourse, you need to go up the escalator (or find the elevator if you’re scared of escalators like me) and find your gate. Your gate is where you’ll wait for your plane to begin boarding. There are a number of boarding groups, and they often preboard people such as members of the military, families with children under two, and people with disabilities. Once they call your boarding group, you wait in line for a couple of minutes, and then they scan your ticket.
You’ll go on the plane, then, after a cute, short little walk, you’ll walk to your seat and put your suitcase in the overhead compartment. I have a bad back, so I asked for help putting my suitcase in the overhead compartment. Know that at any point you can ask for help if you need it, and that both TSA and DIA have resources that you can utilize at any time in your airport journey. You deserve a smooth flight, just like everyone else.
So, after all that, after the online check-in, the traffic, the bag drama, the TSA showdown and the underground train that feels like it’s about to launch into space, you made it! If you’re scared of flying out of DIA for the first time, take it from me: you’ll be fine. Give yourself extra time, pack your patience and maybe offer a prayer to the airport gods. Also? Bring snacks. Always bring snacks. DIA sushi is a crime against humanity.
DIA might be overwhelming, but like all else in this world, it is manageable. Bon voyage, dearest reader!
Contact CU Independent Opinion Editor Alexia Bailey at alexia.bailey@colorado.edu
