Spring break season kicks off this coming weekend, as the nation marks the Presidents' Day holiday and travelers take to the skies.
MSP Airport has a handful of travel tips to make your adventure well-planned and stress-free.
Ahead of your arrival at MSP Airport, you can get MSP Reserve, which saves you a spot in the TSA security line for your flight. It’s free!
Always watch for updates from your airline about any changes to your flight. Make sure to load the airline’s app on your phone and check your email or text messages.
Prebook your parking at MSP to guarantee yourself a spot. If you’re a driver dropping someone off, remember you can do so on either level at Terminal 1. When picking up a passenger, consider using the cell phone waiting lot as your staging area for an efficient swoop into either terminal.
Once inside the terminal with your bags, look for your airline’s kiosk to get a tag for your checked bag.
Don’t forget you can check MSP’s website to see the current wait times for security checkpoints.
If you’re looking at the wait times hours before your flight, remember the wait-time status of the checkpoints can change relatively quickly.
The TSA offers several tips for a seamless passage through security. One highlight: avoid cargo pants and stick to joggers with just two pockets. There’s less chance you left something prohibitive in pants with fewer pockets.
Need to grab a bite? MSP has countless options for whatever you have in mind. Find your favorite at the Eat, Shop, Relax page.
After you get settled on the secure side, you can look for entertainment. The Airport Foundation MSP and Arts@MSP have a long list of performances scheduled during the spring break period. "Pet duets" feature a musician and the presence of one of MSP's animal ambassadors to help spread the joy.
Terminal 1 Pet Duets – Airport Mall Gallery (10am-noon)
- Thursday, March 6th, Nate Hance feat. Sadie
- Thursday, March 13th, Steve Roehm feat. Will
- Thursday, March 20th, Cherry Dirt feat. Will
- Thursday, March 27th, Ted Godbout and Mitch Van Laar feat. Bergen
- Thursday, April 3rd, Twin Town Strings feat. Lily and Mabel
- Thursday, April 10th Twin Cities Songwriter Rounds feat. Bergen
Terminal 2 Pet Duets – Across from H11 (1-3pm)
- Friday, March 7th , Taylor James Donskey feat. Greta
- Friday, March 14th, David Billingsley feat. Ginger
- Friday, March 21st, DGS feat. Keen
- Friday, March 28th, Pavel Jany feat. Greta
- Friday, April 4th, Dan Schwartz and Nick Salisbury feat. Greta
- Friday, April 11th, Heidi Nasby feat. Greta
Additional spring break performances:
Fossil Friends (with the Science Museum of Minnesota)
Friday, March 7th noon-2pm
Terminal 1 Airport Mall Gallery
Spring Choral Performance (with Cantus Certus, from Roseville Area High School)
Wednesday, April 30th 5:15pm
T1 North Rotunda
And remember you can fill up the empty water bottle you brought with you at one of the airport’s water-filling stations.