Passengers should arrive at airport a minimum of 2 hours before departure time
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (October 4, 2023) – More than 50,000 people are expected to pass through the TSA checkpoint at Memphis International Airport (MEM) during the peak Fall Break travel period, which will take place October 5-9. The peak days are expected to be October 6 and October 8, with projected throughputs of 10,400 and 11,000 respectively.
Fall Break continues the trend of heavy passenger traffic at MEM. Sunday, October 1, was MEM’s busiest day at the checkpoint since May 23, 2008 with more than 11,000 people screened. Airlines have nearly 295,000 available seats at MEM in October, the highest number for a single month since the hub era.
MEM continues to strongly recommend that passengers 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.
Passenger Travel Tips
- MEM recommends that travelers arrive at the airport a minimum of TWO HOURS before their scheduled departure time.
- 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.
- MEM parking lots are likely to reach capacity during peak travel days. When this occurs, additional signage will be added, and additional parking staff will help direct drivers to available parking spots and overflow lots.
- For convenience, drivers parking in the overflow lot may want to drop off luggage and other passengers at the terminal before parking.
- Shuttles are operating between the overflow parking lots and the terminal.
TSA
- TSA now 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 because they will not be accepted for screening at any TSA checkpoint. Bin size dimensions are as follows:
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- 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.
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