Valley International Airport — Local services in Harlingen

DO NOT FLY UNITED!!! My family and I are very disappointed with this airport, and with United flights specifically. We flew down from Detroit to visit family, and the flight went perfectly smoothly. The return flight, though, is why this is a one star review.

We arrived to our flight to Houston an hour early, got everything checked & all, only to find out they hadn't scheduled a crew for the flight. As it got later and later past our boarding time with no flight crew, we realized we would definitely be missing our connecting flight back to Michigan. One of the gate attendants sent us down to customer service to reschedule our flight, where the man working the desk rudely explained that "we should just go" and that "we could make it."

When we finally convinced him to help us, he couldn't get us on another flight until TWO DAYS LATER. This means we had to take TWO MORE DAYS of unpaid vacation time, and he had to put us in basic economy. Not the best situation, but we understood and went back to our family's home.

Flash forward to Wednesday-- We arrive TWO HOURS early, and find out that we aren't allowed to bring our carry on with us, and that we have to check our luggage (though we did not check it on the way down-- from Houston to Harlingen, they gate checked the bags and put them beneath the plane). It would cost us an extra $120 ($40x3).

We try to explain what happened on Monday, using our flight records on the United app, but one of the workers just keeps saying "you're basic economy so you don't get a carry on." They were going to make us pay for THEIR MISTAKE!! It wasn't until my brother, ever the investigator, brought up their company rescheduling policy (that they will cover any extra fees if customers must reschedule their flight) that the customer service workers allowed us to check our bags for no cost. They assure us the bags will be there when we land in Detroit. Great! Finally, we would be headed home!

Upon arrival in Detroit tonight, we find that our sister's bag was somehow not loaded onto the same plane as the other 2, and would not arrive until the next day, AFTER she had to be back to work. This is exactly what we feared would happen. I'll be able to swing by to scoop it when it arrives tomorrow, luckily, but we are sincerely concerned about it being lost or damaged. I will update this review with how the saga ends. Moral of the story? UNITED AIRLINES (out of...

Valley International Airport (HRL) lives up to its reputation as an exceptionally convenient and user-friendly airport, making it a popular choice for travelers in the Rio Grande Valley. Its compact size is a significant advantage, ensuring a refreshingly quick journey from curb to gate. One of the standout features, as noted by many travelers, is the ease of getting in and out. This is largely attributed to ample and conveniently located parking options. Whether you're looking for short-term spots in the Close-In Lot (which also offers covered parking) or more economical long-term solutions in the Remote Lot, parking is plentiful and just a short walk from the terminal. Current rates are $1.00 for every 20 minutes in the Short-Term Lot (daily maximum $15.00) and $1.50 per hour in the Long-Term Lot (daily maximum $10.00), with the first 30 minutes free in the Long-Term Lot for pick-ups and drop-offs. Navigating the terminal is straightforward, and perhaps one of the most appreciated aspects for frequent flyers is the typically short TSA security lines. As a smaller regional airport, passengers often experience significantly quicker screening processes compared to larger, more congested hubs. Valley International Airport is served by several major airlines, ensuring good connectivity. Direct connections to major hubs like Dallas and Houston. In summary, Valley International Airport offers a stress-free and efficient travel experience, marked by easy parking, swift security checks, and reliable service from key airlines to essential Texan...

We experienced the unprecedented Great Flood of 2025 upon our arrival. After flying in and renting our vehicle, we attempted to leave the airport but encountered impassable floodwaters, necessitating a return to the terminal. We remained in our car for approximately 45 minutes as torrential rain continued. Determining it was unsafe to proceed to Padre Island, we exited our vehicle and waded through knee-deep water to re-enter the airport. The persistent rainfall throughout the night required us to sleep on the floor. With limited food options and our children experiencing hunger, we inquired about obtaining takeaway food from an upstairs vendor and were thankfully able to secure a meal for them. The following morning, the rain persisted, and by this time, vehicles were visibly floating in the parking lot, preventing any ingress or egress. The airport staff generously provided complimentary breakfast sandwiches to all stranded individuals. Finally, around 1:00 PM the next day, the airport director, Brian, personally assisted us in safely reaching our car and departing the airport. Despite this challenging start, we subsequently enjoyed a wonderful vacation. This review is being written to acknowledge that while this was one of the most difficult travel experiences we have encountered, Brian and the entire airport staff created as comfortable an environment as possible under the circumstances, for which we are immensely grateful. We cannot commend this airport and its employees...