Sarah, Eddie and LeeAnn had flown before. But the last time was out of the old terminal at Indianapolis International Airport. They’d never been to the new one. Neither had I.

Since they didn’t crave forking out long-term parking during their trip to Walt Disney World, I chauffered them down. I’d heard all the horror stories about the difficulty in getting in, out and finding parking. Must have been from people who frequented the old terminal and had trouble relearning the right exits and such.

Then there were the dire warnings about construction on the west link of Interstate 465. We didn’t encounter any until close to the airport exit itself, and then traffic kept moving pretty well in the temporary lanes.

A couple miles west on Interstate 70 we reached our split, and by following the right arrows we reached the curbside check-in ramp. The AirTran curbside check-in desk was closed. They unloaded their suitcases and carry-on bags and headed inside. I headed for the parking garage.

From curbside check-in (where you can stop long enough to unload luggage and passengers, but don’t you dare leave your car unattended), the traffic lane curved to the left where you can leave or enter the parking garage. I found a parking spot not far from the airport entrance, and a couple of escalators later I found Sarah, Eddie and LeeAnn, who had already checked in at the AirTran desk and ditched their luggage.

If you’re in the parking garage, the cost is $2 a half hour, up to a $16 maximum. For the time I was in the airport I had to fork out $8.

Long-term also takes a chunk of pocket change, from $7 to $11. There’s also a free lot some distance away for those awaiting cell phone calls from arriving passengers, letting them cruise up and load after their passengers have picked up their luggage. If you meet them in person, be prepared to pay the freight at the parking garage.

It didn’t take long to figure out why AirTran’s curbside desk was closed. Only one AirTran flight was scheduled that afternoon, coming in from Orlando and taking off again 45 minutes later. My daughter’s family liked the fare on AirTran (the former ValuJet); of course there was an extra $15 per checked bag, going and coming.

Getting ready to go through security to their flight gate, LeeAnn discovered she had kept a bottle of skin spray in her carry-on. Security is a little looser about restrictions on liquids, but she didn’t want to take any chances and sent it back with Grandpa.

The new Weir Cook terminal is beautiful, as well as considerably more functional than the old one. To facilitate inspections, passengers enter one gate and disembark from another ramp. Waiting visitors meet them in the main terminal.

It’s beautiful and it’s efficient. Only one word of advice is necessary for those taking flight: Be early.

Jim Bailey’s column appears on Wednesday. He can be reached by e-mail at jameshenrybailey@earthlink.net.