Airport Security Guide

Billings (BIL) Security Tips

BIL has 1 security checkpoint with TSA PreCheck lanes. Security is busiest Weekday mornings and around holidays, tied to the airport's handful of daily departure banks. Use the Leave-By Time calculator to fold the modeled BIL wait forecast, your drive, and gate-walk into one exact departure time.

How many security checkpoints does BIL have?

BIL has 1 security checkpoint across 1 terminal (Main). TSA PreCheck dedicated lanes are available, giving members a faster, bin-free screening experience. PreCheck is open at the main checkpoints during regular screening hours, though an individual lane can close off-peak.

When is BIL security busiest?

BIL security lines are typically longest during Weekday mornings and around holidays, tied to the airport's handful of daily departure banks. Outside those windows, wait times drop substantially — check the BIL wait forecast for the current picture before you head out. General guidance:

• Domestic flights: arrive at least 2 hours before departure; 2.5 hours during peak periods.
• International flights: arrive at least 3 hours before departure to cover check-in, security, and any customs pre-clearance.

Not sure when to leave? The Leave-By Time calculator uses the modeled BIL wait forecast, real-time traffic, and your gate-walk distance to give you an exact departure time. Also see how early to arrive at the airport for a full breakdown by flight type.

Which BIL security checkpoint is fastest?

BIL operates a single main checkpoint, so all passengers enter the same security lane. TSA PreCheck is the primary tool for faster throughput here — members keep shoes, belts, and laptops packed.

CLEAR is not currently available at BIL. TSA PreCheck at BIL remains the best single upgrade for reducing your security wait.

What are the top BIL airport security tips?

These tips are specific to Billings (BIL) and verified against current airport configuration:

• BIL has a single main security checkpoint (renovated in 2022 into a three-lane layout) on the second floor of the Main Terminal — there is no choice of checkpoint, but it also means no confusion about which one to use.
• A dedicated TSA PreCheck lane operates on a published weekly schedule (roughly 3am until mid-afternoon to early evening depending on the day) rather than all day every day — confirm current hours before counting on PreCheck being open.
• CLEAR is not available at BIL as of this writing.
• Because BIL is a small regional airport, 60–90 minutes before a domestic departure is normally enough; TSA and the airport still recommend extra buffer on Monday mornings, Sunday evenings, and around major holidays.
• After screening, the checkpoint opens directly into the Great Room, from which Concourse A is a ~5-minute walk and Concourse B a ~10-minute walk — leave time to reach your gate rather than assuming everything is right at security.

Does BIL have TSA PreCheck?

Yes — BIL has TSA PreCheck lanes at its security checkpoints. PreCheck members keep shoes, belts, light jackets, laptops, and 3-1-1 liquids packed, and pass through a dedicated screening lane. Membership costs $85–$100 for five years and includes a Known Traveler Number (KTN) you add to every booking.

See live PreCheck wait times and current lane status on the BIL TSA PreCheck page. That page also covers which terminals have a PreCheck lane, enrollment locations, and how PreCheck compares to CLEAR and Global Entry at BIL.

BIL does not host a Global Entry enrollment center or Enrollment on Arrival, so the interview has to be completed at another location — but membership still pays off here, since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck for the BIL PreCheck lanes. Details on Global Entry at BIL.

BIL security at a glance

See also: Live BIL TSA wait times · TSA PreCheck at BIL · How early to arrive at the airport