What vacationers should expect

Denver International Airport is preparing for an onslaught of travelers as the holidays approach.

Airport officials say a high-tech new West Security checkpoint could make the experience less stressful. The upgraded checkpoint has seen significantly shorter, faster lines than the main South Security checkpoint.

This may be your first time seeing DIA’s new security checkpoint

After more than two years of construction, the new western checkpoint at DIA fully opened to the public in early February.

Located on the airport’s sixth floor, the new checkpoint is more efficient, terminal operations manager Aubrey Ross said.

The new checkpoint has 17 screening lanes for both TSA PreCheck and regular travelers. In comparison, the airport’s main South Security checkpoint in the Great Hall has only a handful of lanes.

Andrew Kenney/Denverite

With upgraded technology, the new lanes can each handle 250 people per hour, compared to 150 per hour for older checkpoints. Travelers can keep all their belongings in their bags – even if they don’t have TSA PreCheck.

“No more walking or pushing your bags into the x-ray equipment. You have everything in your bag,” Ross said. “You don’t have to take out your fluids or your computers. Everything stays in there. So we save time on what we call the divestment side.”

However, West Security’s effectiveness isn’t almighty—you’ll still need to remove your shoes (unless you actually have PreCheck).

Travelers should also be prepared to have their face photographed by an ID machine at the checkpoint.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

The new design seems to be working. Since the checkpoint opened in February, its average wait time has been about four minutes.

This is significantly shorter than South Security’s average waiting time of 11.5 minutes. But the old checkpoint has also seen its waiting times reduced by a few minutes compared to last year.

Ready for prime time?

Thanksgiving will be West Checkpoint’s first real test since it opened — and Ross believes it’s “100 percent” ready.

“We’re looking at (aircraft loads) and passenger volumes coming through at very specific times, and we’re really on a plan for success,” she said.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

Ross cautioned that West Security will be a new experience for some travelers. She advised newbies to be prepared to follow directions.

Another trade-off: shorter hours. West Security is closed from 19.30 to 04.00 every night, while South Security only closes between 1-3.

More changes ahead:

This may be the last holiday season for the old Southern security check. It is expected to close around the third quarter of 2025 while the Great Hall construction project continues.

At the same time, the airport is opening a new East Security checkpoint, which will be identical to the new West checkpoint.

Another change: The slightly secretive Bridge Security will stop working regularly on December 9th, so finally say goodbye. The bridge itself will still allow passengers to travel between the Great Hall and Concourse A.

Hi, I got through security too fast and now I have 90 minutes at my gate!

“It’s all part of our plan,” Ross joked.

DIA has long rejected the idea that waiting at the airport is a bad thing.

In recent years, the airport has strengthened its postal security offerings. In addition to the usual airport concession suspects, travelers can shop or dine at a number of local establishments, such as Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs (which is winding down its airport lease after closing its main location earlier this year) and Breckenridge Brewery.

And just in time for the holidays, three Denver-based restaurants and cafes — Mister Oso, Bar Dough and Aviano Coffee — opened on Concourse C last week on the east side of the terminal.

If that’s not enough to get you in a festive mood, DIA has bought into the pop-up bar trend and opened a temporary holiday bar in Concourse B.