TSA wait times
DAL

Dallas Love Field Airport

Dallas, Texas 1 terminal Updated Oct. 15, 2026

DAL Security: Checkpoint Hours, PreCheck and CLEAR

Dallas Love Field (DAL) has a single terminal, and its TSA checkpoint opens at 4:00 a.m. daily. The airport recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before your flight. PreCheck and CLEAR each have a dedicated lane.

Your options at a glance

  • DAL TSA Security Checkpoint

    Terminal Before security

    The single TSA checkpoint for the terminal. Opens at 4:00 a.m. and stays open until the last flight departs. The airport says hours can change with passenger counts.

    Hours
    4:00 a.m. to last flight departure, daily

  • TSA PreCheck lane

    Terminal Before security

    Dedicated PreCheck lane. Your boarding pass must clearly show TSA PreCheck. The airport does not run the program.

  • CLEAR lanes

    Terminal Before security

    Two CLEAR queues at the checkpoint, one for PreCheck CLEAR and one for general boarding CLEAR.

    Hours
    4:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

  • TSA PreCheck and CLEAR enrollment

    Terminal Before security

    CLEAR enrolls and renews TSA PreCheck members on the west side of the checkpoint entrance. Look for the PreCheck and CLEAR signs. The airport's CLEAR page also shows 4:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for lane and enrollment, so confirm with CLEAR.

    Hours
    Sun to Fri 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Sat 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Checkpoint hours and when to arrive

DAL has a single terminal. The airport publishes one set of TSA checkpoint hours: the checkpoint opens at 4:00 a.m. and stays open until the last flight departs. The airport notes that hours can change with passenger counts.

The airport recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before departure. Waits change with the season, the time of day and the weather. Your airline may ask for more time, so check its advice too.

Where to check wait times

The airport points passengers to the official MyTSA app for current security wait times, and its home page has a Security Wait Time link. It publishes no wait-time numbers and lists no reservation or time-slot program for security, so check the app or the site on the day you fly.

TSA PreCheck at DAL

DAL has a dedicated TSA PreCheck lane. The words TSA PreCheck must be clearly visible on your electronic or paper boarding pass to use it. PreCheck is a federal program, and the airport does not run it.

The airport lists CLEAR as an official PreCheck enrollment provider. Enrollment and renewal are on the west side of the checkpoint entrance, so look for the PreCheck and CLEAR signs. The airport lists enrollment hours as Sunday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (its CLEAR page also shows 4:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for lane and enrollment, so confirm with CLEAR).

CLEAR at DAL

CLEAR uses biometric checks to speed you to the front of the screening line. DAL has two dedicated CLEAR queues at the checkpoint, one for PreCheck CLEAR and one for general boarding CLEAR. The airport lists the CLEAR lane hours as 4:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Its CLEAR page also shows that 4:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. window next to enrollment, then separate enrollment hours of 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Sunday to Friday) and 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Saturday), so confirm enrollment hours with CLEAR. Membership details are on clearme.com.

ID and what to have ready

Since May 7, 2025, TSA no longer accepts state IDs that are not REAL ID compliant. Everyone 18 and older, PreCheck members included, needs a REAL ID or another accepted ID such as a passport. Without one, expect delays, extra screening and possibly being turned away at the checkpoint.

Have your electronics larger than a cell phone ready to take out and place in a bin. Shoes, jackets and hats come off. Liquids must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or less, with exceptions for medications and infant and child nourishment. Firearms are never allowed in carry-on bags. They must go in checked baggage and be declared at check-in.

Help for travelers with disabilities

TSA Cares is a toll-free helpline for passengers with disabilities and medical conditions. Submit the TSA Cares form at least 72 hours before you travel, or call +1 (855) 787-2227. The airport also hands out free sunflower lanyards at the main information booth, across from the checkpoint by Bruegger's Bagels. The lanyard signals that you may need extra help. It does not give you faster screening.

Meeting or escorting someone past security

To walk a passenger to the gate, you need an airline-issued gate pass and must clear the standard TSA screening. Airport staff cannot issue gate passes. Ask the booking airline, or visit its counter in the ticketing wing on the day of travel. Airlines decide who gets a pass.

Items left at the checkpoint

Items left at the TSA checkpoint go to Love Field Lost and Found, which you can reach at (214) 670-4227. It is on the second level of the public part of the terminal, near the Garage A and B skybridge, and is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Unclaimed items are donated after 30 days.

Questions travelers ask

What time does security open at Dallas Love Field?

The TSA checkpoint opens at 4:00 a.m. every day and stays open until the last flight departs. The terminal lobby itself is open 24 hours. The airport says checkpoint hours can change with passenger counts.

How early should I get to DAL?

The airport recommends at least 90 minutes before your scheduled departure. Waits vary with season, time of day and weather, so leave extra time at busy hours.

Where is security at Dallas Love Field?

DAL has a single terminal, and the airport lists one set of TSA checkpoint hours. PreCheck and CLEAR have their own lanes there. The airport does not publish a checkpoint count, so follow the signs inside the terminal.

Is there a TSA PreCheck lane at DAL?

Yes. DAL has a dedicated PreCheck lane, and your boarding pass must clearly show TSA PreCheck. Delta and Southwest both fly from DAL, so confirm with your airline that PreCheck is on your pass.

Does DAL have CLEAR?

Yes. There are two CLEAR queues at the checkpoint, one for PreCheck CLEAR and one for general boarding CLEAR. The airport lists the CLEAR lane hours as 4:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Can I sign up for PreCheck at DAL?

CLEAR runs PreCheck enrollment and renewal at the west side of the checkpoint entrance. The airport lists hours of Sunday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., but its CLEAR page also shows 4:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for lane and enrollment. Confirm with CLEAR first.

How do I check the security wait time at DAL?

The airport points to the official MyTSA app for current wait times, and its website has a Security Wait Time link. It posts no wait-time figures.

Do I need a REAL ID to fly from DAL?

Passengers 18 and older need a REAL ID compliant license or another accepted ID, such as a passport. TSA stopped accepting non-compliant state IDs on May 7, 2025.

Can I get through security to meet someone at the gate?

Only with an airline-issued gate pass, and you must clear TSA screening. The airport cannot issue passes, so ask the airline.

More at DAL

ParkingOfficial lots, cheaper off-site options and where to wait for pickups. HotelsHotels at and near the airport, shuttles and sleeping in the terminal. To the cityTrains, buses, taxis, rideshare and private transfers. LoungesWhich lounge is in your terminal and how to get in without status. FoodBest bites terminal by terminal, before or after security. Lost and foundWho to contact: your airline, the terminal or the airport. Car rentalWhere the rental counters are and how to reach them. WifiHow to connect, charging spots and an eSIM if you land abroad.

Sources and last check

Checked by our team on Oct. 15, 2026 against these official sources: