If you’re one of the thousands of Penn State students who will participate in the mass exodus of State College next week for Thanksgiving Break, you’re probably already planning your way out. If that trip involves a flight, UPUA is here to help get you to the University Park Airport for free by offering a shuttle the Friday before break (November 18).

UPUA provided a similar shuttle last year at the end of the spring semester but is improving upon it this semester by teaming up with Zimride to get students to the airport. Students who want to take advantage of the free ride must register for a Zimride account if they don’t have one already, but using your Penn State login should get the job done.

Once you’re on Zimride, you can see the full list of ride times UPUA is offering here and sign up for a spot. The rides will depart from the Pollock Road entrance of the HUB every hour on the hour from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday, November 18. The trip takes approximately 15 minutes from the HUB to the airport, so plan accordingly based on the time of your flight.

Each shuttle can hold up to 10 passengers, so sign up early to get the time slot you need. When you sign up (which you can do by clicking “Apply to Join”), UPUA asks you include the number of bags you’ll have with you — both checked and carry-on — in the “notes” section on Zimride. You will also be asked for your flight number and departure time. Once you sign up, someone from UPUA will contact you with a confirmation and more information. As an added bonus, anyone who signs up on Zimride will be entered to win a $300 Amazon gift card, a $100 Amazon gift card, or an Amazon Echo.

The university announced a partnership with Zimride earlier this semester to provide convenience for Penn Staters commuting to Penn State campuses across the Commonwealth. The service allows students, faculty, and staff to find or post rides when they’re traveling to or from the various campuses, encouraging ridesharing and reduced emissions. UPUA supported rideshare programs at Penn State a few weeks ago and by partnering with Zimride for this shuttle is further showcasing the service to students.

If you’d like to hitch a ride to the airport with UPUA, sign up on Zimride by Wednesday, November 16 at 5 p.m. What better start to break is there than a free, convenient trip to somewhere you’re already going?