May’s Peak Waits Tell the Full Story
While the average security wait time at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) was just 6 minutes in May, this figure doesn’t capture the full experience for travelers during the busiest periods. The longest wait recorded at a TSA checkpoint was a significant 40 minutes. On a more typical day, passengers could still expect lines to reach up to 22 minutes during peak hours. However, performance was generally strong across the month, with an impressive 98% of all travellers passing through security in under 15 minutes. This indicates that while significant waits were possible, they were not the norm.
Terminal 1 Experiences Longer Lines
When looking at the airport’s two terminals, a clear difference in passenger experience emerges. Terminal 1 not only had a slightly higher average wait of 7 minutes compared to Terminal 2’s 6 minutes, but it was also where the month’s maximum 40-minute wait occurred. Travelers departing from Terminal 2 saw a much lower peak wait time, which topped out at 25 minutes, making it the more predictable of the two terminals during May.
Navigating the Busiest Times
Analysis of the entire month shows clear patterns in passenger flow. The data reveals that certain times were consistently busier than others:
- Busiest Day: Thursday was the most challenging day of the week to travel, with an average wait of 7 minutes.
- Busiest Hour: The morning rush at 8 am proved to be the daily peak, when average waits climbed to 8 minutes.
- Busiest Date: The single busiest day of the month was 15 May, which saw an elevated average wait of 9 minutes across all hours.
In contrast, those looking for a quieter journey found it on Saturdays, which was the calmest day of the week with an average wait of just 5 minutes.
A Stable Month Overall
Comparing May’s performance to the previous month, the airport maintained a consistent level of service. The overall average wait of 6 minutes was unchanged from April 2026, indicating stable conditions for passengers. This stability was observed across the airport’s main active hours, from 5 am to 9 pm, where the average also stood at 6 minutes.
Traveler Tip
Based on May’s data, for the quickest journey through TSA security at Minneapolis-Saint Paul, aim to travel on a Saturday. With average waits at their lowest for the week, it offers the best chance for a smooth and speedy start to your trip.