hey everyone so i just landed at msp and honestly its been a minute since ive flown through here but i figured id share some thoughts and tips for anyone whos maybe coming through for the first time or just needs a refresher you know because airports can be super overwhelming and this one, while not like lax or o’hare, still has its quirks and can definatly throw you for a loop especially if youre trying to catch a connecting flight or just get out of there quickly and avoid the chaos.
Getting your bearings
alright so first things first you basically have two main terminals at msp and thats terminal 1 which they used to call lindbergh and terminal 2 which was humphrey and honestly most of the big airlines like delta american united are at terminal 1 and then terminal 2 is usually for like spirit southwest and sun country so check your ticket because you dont want to end up at the wrong one and then have to scramble and terminal 1 is definatly the bigger one its got more food more shops more people its basically the main hub but they are connected by a free light rail and its pretty efficient it runs every 10-15 minutes or so and takes like 10 minutes to get between them so if youre accidentally at the wrong terminal or need to pick someone up or drop them off at the other terminal its not the end of the world you just gotta factor in that extra time for the train ride and finding the station which is pretty well marked but still you know its an extra step.
inside terminal 1 its kinda shaped like a giant X if you look at the map and youve got concourses like c d e f and g and let me tell you some of these concourses are literally mile-long treks and i mean that sincerely its a lot of walking and you need to be prepared for that especially if youre getting off a long flight and your gate is at the very end of g or c concourse you basically feel like youre doing a marathon and the moving walkways help but they dont cover everything and its just something to be aware of because you can spend a solid 15-20 minutes just walking from your gate to the main rotunda area where most of the food and amenities are and then another 10-15 minutes to security or baggage claim so its a lot of ground to cover and that applies to all these bigger concourses its not just one specific spot its kinda everywhere.
- beware the long walks: honestly if youre at a gate in the G concourse especially the higher numbers or the far end of C concourse prepare for a mini-hike because those are easily the longest walks and you might even want to stretch beforehand its that much walking and the same goes for F and E concourses depending on your specific gate number they can also feel endless and you basically just keep walking and walking.
- hidden shortcuts (sort of): okay so there arent really like secret tunnels but what i mean is if youre arriving and you dont have checked bags and youre getting picked up by a car you could potentially take the light rail one stop to terminal 2 and meet your ride there sometimes the traffic is a little less crazy at T2 pickup and its easier to get in and out but check with your driver first because its not always faster but its an option and also for security if the main north security checkpoint at T1 is super long sometimes the south security checkpoint can be a bit shorter but its not a guarantee its really a roll of the dice and you just gotta eyeball it when you get there and precheck is your best friend always if you have it use it its literally a lifesaver.
The peak hour survival guide
so if youre flying during like monday mornings or friday afternoons or basically any holiday its gonna be a zoo like a literal zoo and you need to add extra time for everything because nothing moves fast and the security lines at terminal 1 specifically the north checkpoint can get absolutely insane like seriously wrapping around lines that look like a theme park ride and its not fun when youre stressed and trying to catch a flight and even the precheck line can be longer than youd expect during those times so factor in at least an extra hour for just security if youre flying during a peak time and dont even get me started on the food lines because starbucks or any popular eatery will have like 20-30 people deep and you just gotta accept that youre gonna wait or grab something quick from a smaller kiosk if you can find one that isnt swamped.
parking and drop-off areas also get super congested during peak hours and its just a total mess and if youre getting picked up try to arrange for your ride to be there a bit early or have them circle a few times because its hard to find a spot to stop for more than literally 30 seconds without getting yelled at by airport staff and remember that its a busy airport during those times so try to be patient and dont expect everything to run perfectly smoothly because it just wont and its better to go in with that mindset than to get frustrated so bring some snacks bring some headphones and just brace yourself for the crowds and the waiting game because thats basically what youre signing up for during peak travel times here.
overall its a decent airport its clean its got a good amount of food options and power outlets which is key but its big and it can be a challenge so do a little homework before you go and you should be fine and happy travels everyone!