Dallas Love Field (DAL) TSA Wait Times

DAL spikes follow Southwest's hourly bank pattern — the heaviest waves are typically 5:30–7:30 AM and 11:00 AM–1:00 PM, plus a Sunday-evening return rush. Between banks the line drains quickly, so Atlas's prediction will often look very different from the wait you'd see if you walked in at peak.

DAL's single checkpoint and 20-gate footprint mean it's almost always faster than DFW. If you're flying Southwest with a carry-on, 60 minutes before departure is plenty during off-peak; bump to 90 minutes for the morning bank or Sunday evening. Atlas's predicted wait for your specific flight is the better source than any flat rule.

Yes. PreCheck and CLEAR lanes are both available at the main checkpoint, with PreCheck staffed during published hours and CLEAR running during typical departure windows. Atlas shows wait predictions by lane so you can decide whether the time saved is worth the queue cut.

Love Field has a Garage A (covered, closest to terminal) and Garage B (cheaper, short walk via skybridge), plus surface economy lots and off-airport options on Cedar Springs and Mockingbird. The garages can fill on heavy travel days — checking Atlas before you leave helps you decide whether you can risk on-site parking or should pre-book remote.

Love Field has one terminal with two concourses (A-gates and C-gates) — Southwest dominates both. Once you're through the single TSA checkpoint, you can walk to any gate, so there's no inter-terminal transfer to worry about. Delta and a few other carriers operate from the same checkpoint and concourses.