Passengers should arrive at airport a minimum of 2 hours before departure time
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (September 30, 2026) – Frederick W. Smith International Airport (MEM) is sharing travel tips ahead of upcoming Fall Break periods for area schools. With differing Memphis Metro area school schedules, MEM expects two travel periods to take place between October 1-5 and October 8-12. As many as 49,000 people could pass through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint for each of these time frames. The peak days are expected to be Friday, Oct. 2 and Friday, October 9 with approximately 10,600 people passing through the checkpoint each day.
Passenger Travel Tips
- MEM recommends that travelers arrive at the airport a minimum of two hours before their scheduled departure time. This is especially important for travelers with early morning flights between 4-7 a.m.
- Prior to coming to the airport, passengers can also save time by checking in online via their airline’s website.
- Passengers should check directly with their airlines to monitor schedules.
- Airlines rather than the airport are responsible for all aspects of ticketing, scheduling, gate operations and baggage handling. Check with your airline if you have questions about these subjects.
- Passengers requiring special accommodations while traveling, such as wheelchair service, should contact their airline.
- MEM parking lots are likely to periodically reach capacity. When this occurs, additional signage will be added, and additional parking staff will help direct drivers to available parking spots. Real-time parking lot updates can be found at www.flymemphis.com.
- Drivers parking in the blue or yellow lots may want to drop off other passengers and their luggage at the terminal before parking.
- Shuttles will operate between the blue and yellow lots and the terminal.
TSA
- REAL ID: Passengers without a compliant form of REAL ID can expect possible delays and/or additional screening at the TSA Checkpoint. For more information, visit https://www.tsa.gov/real-id.
- TSA uses Computed Tomography (CT) equipment at MEM. With the improved security capabilities of CT equipment at the MEM checkpoints, passengers can now leave their laptop computers, electronic devices and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in their carry-on bags for screening.
- There are size limitations for these CT units and all items must fit into the grey divesting bins. The height of the item must not exceed the CT tunnel height. Nothing can be placed directly on the moving belts. All oversized bags must be checked at the airline ticket counters and will not be accepted for screening at any TSA checkpoint. Bin size dimensions are as follows:
- Width: 19.5 inches
- Length: 24.5 inches
- CT Tunnel Height: 16.5 inches
- Passengers must place every carry-on item, including bags, into a bin for screening. Light items should be placed at the bottom of the bin to avoid anything falling out into the tunnel and causing an unnecessary bag jam.
- Passengers are also reminded to bring a maximum of one carry-on bag and one personal item through security screening.
- Travelers are encouraged to examine carry-on luggage to ensure no prohibited items are contained within, and review the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) list of prohibited items.
- Firearms in carry-on bags are prohibited by federal law. Firearms can be transported in checked baggage if they are properly declared to the airline and packed in accordance with TSA guidelines.
- Follow TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule to ensure you get through the security screening quickly. Rule information can be found at tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-aerosols-gels-rule.
- Food and empty water bottles can go through screening. There is a refillable water bottle station in the post-security area, along with vending machines.
MEM on the Move: Construction Update
Work continues on MEM’s Terminal Modernization and Seismic Project and the airport has begun the replacement of its outer drive outside the terminal.
- All ride app, shuttle, limo and taxi operations are located on the arrivals level outside baggage claim. Uber and Lyft are now operating outside the C terminal.
- The crosswalk and pedestrian tunnel to the B terminal have both reopened.
- The outer commercial drive outside the departures area is closed for construction.
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