Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) TSA Security Wait Times - AirlinePorts (2024)

FAQs

What is the busiest time at Philadelphia airport? ›

On a typical day, TSA screens about 33,400 people at Philadelphia, but since Memorial Day Weekend, closer to 40,000 people are coming through the security checkpoints with the busiest times of the day from 4 to 9 a.m. and again from noon to 5 p.m.

Passengers should arrive at the Airport at least 2 hours before the scheduled departure of a domestic flight and 3 hours prior to the scheduled departure of an international flight.

You may check how busy the airport is likely to be on your specific day and time of travel based on historical data by downloading the MyTSA app.

TSA PreCheck is available at Terminals A-East, C and D/E. Non PreCheck passengers may use all security checkpoints except for Terminal C.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually slower. Mid-day is the slowest time all week.

How to beat Philly traffic. As usual, drivers will want to avoid Philadelphia's peak travel times which are 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the afternoon — with 4 p.m. being the worst time for driving if you want to avoid traffic, according to INRIX.

Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport two hours before departure for domestic flights. But this is a flexible recommendation depending on the specifics of your travel situation.

If you've checked in online and are only travelling with hand luggage, Jet2 says you can speed through the process in just 90 minutes. The airport itself generally recommends that you allow two hours to go through security after check in, but following your airline's guidelines here will see you through safely.

You generally need to check in for your flight at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. This is true whether you are checking bags or only traveling with a carry-on.

Enroll in TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or Clear to make your way through faster. With TSA PreCheck, you keep on your shoes, belt, and light jackets while going through security. Around 200 airlines participate in the program, as well as 85 airports, so if you travel often, it's worth the $70 to $80 annual fee.

What are the busiest days for TSA? ›

Seven of the 10 busiest air-travel days in the history of the TSA happened between May 23 and June 27. Fliers reset the record again last Sunday, when just under three million passed through U.S. airports. The numbers are still climbing.

The simple answer is: Two hours for domestic flights, three hours for international flights. (More or less.)

Arrive at the Airport at least 2 hours prior to scheduled departure for a domestic flight; 3 hours for an international departure. Dedicated TSA Pre-Check lanes are available at Checkpoint A-East (Gates A 1-13), C and D-E. Checkpoint C is TSA Pre-Check only and is open from 4:15am to 8:00 p.m.

The Terminal A-West offers a variety of international dining options. Terminal A East, originally the airport's international terminal, is now used by Aer Lingus and American domestic and international flights as well as international arrivals for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.

Domestic Travel

Travelers can walk all the way from terminal A to F or use a courtesy shuttle bus connecting Terminal F with Terminals A and C. Walking from Terminal A-West to Terminal F takes approximately 45 minutes.

Within the U.S. and in many other countries, most airlines recommend passengers arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight. This accounts for everything from check-in and baggage drop to security lines and boarding cutoff times.

Sandwiched between New York and Washington, DC, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is one of the country's busiest airports.

"Our advice to travelers is to get to the airport early because it will be crowded not only here but nationwide" said TSA Deputy Federal Secretary Director Christine Assili. Airport officials say the busiest times here are between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and noon and 5 p.m.

A good rule of thumb is to get to the airport at least two hours before your flight is scheduled to depart for short-haul flights. If you have any bags to put in the hold and/or you need to check-in in person (ie. you haven't been able to do so online), you may want to leave a little longer.