Airport Security Guide

Des Moines (DSM) Security Tips

DSM has 2 security checkpoints with TSA PreCheck lanes. Security is busiest 5–8 AM and 4–6 PM on weekdays; Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings are the busiest overall. Use the Leave-By Time calculator to fold the modeled DSM wait forecast, your drive, and gate-walk into one exact departure time.

How many security checkpoints does DSM have?

DSM has 2 security checkpoints 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 DSM security busiest?

DSM security lines are typically longest during 5–8 AM and 4–6 PM on weekdays; Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings are the busiest overall. Outside those windows, wait times drop substantially — check the DSM 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 DSM 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 DSM security checkpoint is fastest?

The Concourse C checkpoint (American, Delta, Frontier) tends to be calmer in the early morning than the Concourse A checkpoint, which absorbs Southwest and United's earliest bank of departures between 5–8 AM; Concourse C instead sees its own bump during the 4–6 PM window..

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

What are the top DSM airport security tips?

These tips are specific to Des Moines (DSM) and verified against current airport configuration:

• DSM has one checkpoint per concourse — use the Concourse A checkpoint for Southwest, United, or Allegiant flights (gates A1–A5), or the Concourse C checkpoint for American, Delta, or Frontier flights (gates C1–C7); the two aren't connected airside, so lining up at the wrong one means exiting and re-clearing security at the correct one.
• TSA PreCheck lanes are open at both checkpoints; PreCheck members typically clear security in under 7 minutes even during peak periods.
• DSM does not have CLEAR biometric lanes, so CLEAR members without PreCheck still use the standard ID-check line.
• During the quiet midweek midday window (roughly 9 AM–3 PM), most passengers clear either standard lane in 5–10 minutes — the easiest time to fly if your schedule is flexible.
• DSM is in the middle of a major new-terminal construction project (Lift DSM, targeted to open in 2027 with 18 gates); expect ongoing construction signage and possible temporary walking-route changes around the current terminal through the transition.

Does DSM have TSA PreCheck?

Yes — DSM 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 DSM 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 DSM.

Global Entry interviews can be completed at DSM itself — via an on-site enrollment center or Enrollment on Arrival after an international flight — and membership includes TSA PreCheck. See Global Entry at DSM for locations and hours.

DSM security at a glance

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