How MSP Airport Can Now Help You Spend Less Time in TSA Lines

The Spring Break travel season is here in Minnesota, and it's one of the busiest times of the year at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, but did you know about a service that can cut your time in the TLA line?

Thanks to a new program that was just expanded at Minnesota's biggest airport, one of the worst experiences while flying is set to be much better. Whether you're on vacation or on a trip for work, there are few things worse than getting caught in a long line, right?

Why TSA Wait Times Are Increasing Nationally

And right now, thanks to the partial government shutdown, TSA agents are once again working without getting paid. That's led to sick-outs that have increased wait times in the TSA lines at airports in Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, and other destinations.

SEE ALSO: How Long Are TSA Wait Times Right Now at MSP?

That's why I'm a big fan of the program that MSP offers, especially since it's one I'm pretty sure not many Minnesotans are aware of. I'm not a frequent flyer by any means, but my wife and I like to travel a couple of times a year-- and we'll definitely be checking this program out.

What is MSP Reserve? Skip the Security Line for Free

It's called MSP Reserve, and according to a Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) release, it's a program that saves you time by allowing you to schedule a specific time in the TSA security line instead of just taking your chances and hoping the line isn't too long when you show up at the airport.

MSP Reserve was first rolled out at Terminal 2 nearly 3 years ago, the release said.  The program logged 50,000 reservations after it was first unveiled in May of 2023. It was expanded to Terminal 1 in late September of 2024. So what is it?

How to Book Your Security Appointment at MSP Airport

Specifically, MSP Reserve is a free reservation service that allows you to book a place in the airport security line for yourself and your traveling companions ahead of time. Here's more on how it works:

Passengers can book appointments online as early as one week before a flight. Reservations require travelers to enter flight details and the number of people in the traveling party, and then select from a list of available times.

 

Then, once you're at MSP, you're then able to access a separate security checkpoint lane designated for MSP Reserve passengers. After that, you just scan a confirmation QR code with staff, and then enter the separate security lane-- which will likely save you a lot of time in line!

The MAC release noted that MSP Reserve is available from 3:45 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. daily at the North Checkpoint in Terminal 1, and from 3:45 a.m. to 8 a.m. and noon to 4 p.m. daily in Terminal 2. You can check it out HERE.