How busy is Midway (MDW) Airport at 5am on a Friday?

February 25, 2016 4:16 PM

Long security line at 5am on a Friday, or zip right through?
posted by Jason and Laszlo to Travel & Transportation around Chicago, IL (4 answers total)

One of the reasons I love Midway is that even when it's mobbed on major holidays security is still pretty efficient. At times when I've flown off-peak times and days, I can get from the curb to my gate with a scoop of ben and jerry's in hand in 20 minutes.

Unless you personally have some kind of security holdup, I think you'll zip right through.
posted by phunniemee at 4:29 PM on February 25, 2016

Best answer: There are fifteen other flights leaving by 6am, and I doubt many of those passengers are showing up early, so it might be a little busier than a normal Midway security line.
posted by kevinbelt at 4:32 PM on February 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

Seconding kevinbelt. I have been on a pre-6:00 flight several times out of MDW; you can get lucky and coast through or you can get caught up by the start of the TSA's day and a bunch of bleary-eyed travelers and be stuck in long lines. If you have "A List" on Southwest or are flying Porter, they have a priority line that is usually pretty good.
posted by AgentRocket at 6:28 AM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]

I fly out of Midway frequently and it's a tough call for the early flights. I think kevinbelt's right, I'd err on the side of caution.

Also, a tip: if you are not TSA Pre-Check or other expedited security, and they have the usual three lines open, avoid the line most to your left. The line to the left of THAT is the family and wheelchair line, and when families or people in wheelchairs come through, they also get checked by the TSA agent staffing that left line, and sometimes take a while. Either the middle or the right line will be faster 95% of the time.
posted by deliciae at 12:27 AM on February 29, 2016