Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is about to get a whole lot busier and you can blame spring break.
Whether that's a college party scene or a family trip to Disney, smooth travels begin with some preparation such as get to the airport nice and early.
"Thursday and Friday of this week appear to be the biggest lift off days with over 47,000 going through our checkpoints each of those days," says MSP Airport spokesman Jeff Lea.
He says passenger levels are already up 10% over last March. If you do need to park at the airport, he recommends making a reservation to guarantee a spot.
"You're guaranteed at least a space somewhere in our parking ramps," says Lea. "And that takes away, probably, some of the stress."
And if you're picking up over the next few weeks, hang out in the cell phone lot until your traveler calls to tell you they're ready. Capacity was recently expanded to 140 spaces.
Expect the busiest times for security to be early morning hours each day on Thursday and Friday. Passenger activity is expected to peak during the weeks of March 24 and 31 and remain high into the first half of April.
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Travelers in Terminal 1 should look for the shortest wait time at checkpoint boards at both ends of the ticketing lobby. Passengers can access all gates from either checkpoint, but the North Checkpoint often has shorter wait times.
Terminal 2 passengers can reserve a spot in the security line for free through MSP Reserve. Appointments are available 3:45 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Availability is limited.
Roadways will be congested at peak times as well. To reduce traffic at curbside pickup areas, drivers are encouraged to use MSP’s cell phone lots on Post Road. These are free waiting areas for drivers who are encouraged to stay parked until their arriving party contacts them by phone to pick them up at either terminal.
Travelers should review the latest TSA security screening information and tips including identification requirements and regulated items for carry-on and checked baggage.