Our Review of Minneapolis Airport

Table of contents: Our Review of Minneapolis Airport Pros and Cons of Minneapolis Airport Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Minneapolis Airport

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Minneapolis Airport

PROS

Location: Minneapolis St. Paul Int. Airport is located 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Minneapolis, and 10 miles southwest of downtown Saint Paul, making it conveniently accessible for visitors from both cities. It is well-connected by major highways and public transportation, which includes a light rail network.

Hub: MSP Airport works as a Hub for Delta Air Lines, Bemidji Airlines and Sun Country Airlines, offering extensive connectivity to domestic and international destinations, especially across North America.

Modern and Well-Maintained Facilities: The airport is known for its clean and contemporary amenities. Visitors can access a variety of shops, restaurants, and services, including various lounges and business centers that serve to both leisure and business travelers.

Special Assistance: MSP airport has big and fast elevators, as well as a specialized crew of mobility assistants, which provide excellent accessibility and help throughout the airport.

Ease of Navigation: MSP’s design is user-friendly, making it easy to navigate between terminals and gates. Clear signs and helpful staff are available for a great experience.

CONS

Seasonal Weather Delays: MSP might experience weather-related delays, particularly during the winter months when snow and ice can disrupt aircraft schedules and ground operations.

Crowding During Peak Times: MSP airport may get congested during peak travel periods, resulting in higher wait times at security, check-in, and baggage claim.

Lack of 24/7 Services: While MSP provides a wide range of services and amenities, some are not available at all times. This might be challenging for passengers on particularly early or late flights, who may have limited food and retail alternatives during off-hours.

Limited Resting Spaces: MSP offers few designated resting areas for passengers who want to rest or work in a peaceful setting. The absence of quiet zones may be a disadvantage for those looking for a more pleasant airport experience.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

There are two terminals: MSP operates on two terminals: Terminal 1-Lindbergh and Terminal 2-Humphrey. Before you arrive, be sure which terminal your flight will leave from. If you need to travel between terminals, there is a free shuttle service accessible outside the secure area.

Transportation to and from Minneapolis: MSP is well-connected to Minneapolis and Saint Paul via a variety of transportation alternatives. You can utilize the Metro Blue Line light rail, public buses, taxis, or ride-sharing services. The light rail provides an expedient method to go to downtown Minneapolis or the Mall of America.

Check-in Areas:

Terminal 1: Terminal 1(Lindbergh Terminal) check-in area is located in second level along with departure level.
Terminal 2: Terminal 2 (Humphrey Terminal) check-in area is located in first level along with arrivals, ticketing, baggage claim and passenger drop-off area.

Dinning and Shopping: MSP airport terminals provide a wide selection of food and retail choices, including multiple restaurants, bars, and stores.

Family-Friendly Amenities: MSP is a family-friendly airport that has children’s play spaces, nursing rooms, and family toilets in each terminal. There are also some peaceful dining spots for families.

Lounges: MSP has many lounges, including Delta Sky Clubs, PGA MSP and the Escape Lounge in the terminals. These lounges provide food, refreshments, comfy seats, and a peaceful environment to unwind before your journey.

Additional Tips:

Utilize the MSP app for real-time updates on flight status, gate information, and amenities.
Arrive early to accommodate for possible security lines and to explore all the dining and shopping options.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation