Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) Security Wait Times and Customs Details
The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport conducts its security, TSA, and customs screening in a prompt manner. The DTW security wait times average between 10 and 20 minutes, with times as short as 1-2 minutes. Several expediting programs are offered to help reduce the security times and speed up completion. These programs include CLEAR, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and APC, available at both terminals.
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Average Detroit Metro Airport Security Wait Times
Clearing the security checkpoints at Detroit Airport, on average, takes 15-20 minutes. However, these DTW wait times can reach 40-50 minutes due to high passenger volumes and peak hours. A total of 6 checkpoints are available at both the McNamara and Evans terminals.
General Overview of DTW Security Wait Times
The DTW security wait times are generally the longest during afternoons and early evenings (1 pm to 6 pm). The security queues are shortest during nights between 9 pm and 3 am.
| 12 am to 1 am | 0 min |
| 1 am to 2 am | 1 min |
| 2 am to 3 am | 2 min |
| 3 am to 4 am | 3 min |
| 4 am to 5 am | 21 min |
| 5 am to 6 am | 10 min |
| 6 am to 7 am | 8 min |
| 7 am to 8 am | 22 min |
| 8 am to 9 am | 13 min |
| 9 am to 10 am | 7 min |
| 10 am to 11 am | 5 min |
| 11 am to 12 pm | 7 min |
| 12 pm to 1 pm | 9 min |
| 1 pm to 2 pm | 24 min |
| 2 pm to 3 pm | 37 min |
| 3 pm to 4 pm | 23 min |
| 4 pm to 5 pm | 24 min |
| 5 pm to 6 pm | 27 min |
| 6 pm to 7 pm | 9 min |
| 7 pm to 8 pm | 15 min |
| 8 pm to 9 pm | 7 min |
| 9 pm to 10 pm | 0 min |
| 10 pm to 11 pm | 0 min |
| 11 pm to 12 am | 3 min |
Note: These wait times are estimates and can change.
TSA DTW Wait Times
TSA Wait Times at DTW Airport range between 10 and 20 minutes. Factors like staff availability and holiday seasons impact the waiting time, leading to procedure completion in 30-35 minutes.
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Expediting Programs for Detroit Airport Wait Times
To reduce the security wait times at DTW checkpoints, the airport offers TSA PreCheck and CLEAR programs at its terminals.
- CLEAR- CLEAR lanes have biometric facial recognition technology, allowing for quick verification. These lanes are operational at both terminals at fixed times. Moreover, its enrollment centers work in the same hours.
| Terminal | Operating Hours |
|---|---|
| Evans Terminal | 4:00 am to 7:00 pm |
| McNamara Terminal | Monday to Saturday- 4:00 am to 7:00 pmSunday- 4:00 am to 7:30 pm |
- TSA PreCheck- This facility allows low-risk travelers to go through security screening without removing certain items. TSA PreCheck facility can be enrolled in along with CLEAR for increased benefits. Additionally, its office is located in the McNamara Terminal near the domestic baggage claim area.
Customs and Border Wait Times at Detroit Airport
The Detroit Border Wait Times vary between the terminals. In Evans terminal, the average waiting time is 20-30 minutes, while in McNamara terminal, it ranges from 11 to 20 minutes.
| Terminal | CBP Location |
|---|---|
| McNamara Terminal | International Arrivals Hall on the Lower Level |
| Evans Terminal | Near Carousel 2 of the baggage claim area |
- Programs like Automated Passport Control and Global Entry are offered to eligible members and low-risk passengers to expedite through customs.
- The U.S. Preclearance feature is also accepted, where customs screening is done before arrival, at the departure airport.
With multiple expediting programs in place, the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport offers faster ways to navigate through security and skip the queues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
TSA wait times at DTW are typically between 10 and 20 minutes.
Arrive 2 hours before your domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight from DTW.
The Detroit Airport is the busiest during afternoons and evenings, with a wait time ranging from 25 to 40 minutes.
Yes, both CLEAR and TSA PreCheck facilities are available at the McNamara Terminal of DTW Airport.