The Secret Denver Airport Security Line Revealed!
Denver Airport has always been one of the largest fuster clucks when it comes to security. The lines are long, crowded, noisy, and always busy. The PreCheck line seems to always be 30-40 people deep, the priority line snakes on forever, and if you’re in Gen Pop, forget it. I hope you enjoy waiting. But, that’s probably because you don’t know about the secret Denver airport security line 🙂
Denver Airport is divided into two sections, East and West, and both have their own security checkpoints. But, there is a third checkpoint that is almost always deserted, quiet, has no lines, and gets you to your gates (and the airport lounges) in under 10 minutes. Too good to be true? Nope!
Airport Security is a mess
I apologize in advance to anyone who knew about this quiet, remote, secret, never busy security line and you feel like I’ve just ruined your special Denver treasure. The truth is that I was conflicted about writing this post. I wanted to keep this little secret all to ourselves, and truth be told, it’s not THAT big of a secret, it’s just that most people don’t even bother looking and walk right by it.
Bridge Security
When you arrive in the West terminal and check in for your flight, drop off your bags and head to the left. If you arrive in the East terminal, walk all the way to the right. Once you hit the end, you’ll be walking for about 50 feet before you hear the chaos. It’s the Denver Airport Security. Ahhh!!! Run!!! You look down to your right and see the hundreds of people all milling through stanchions like lemmings and you start to try and mentally judge to yourself how long it’s going to take for you to get through that mess.
Stop. Breathe. Look behind you. There it is. The entrance to “Bridge Security.” Welcome to Denver’s best kept secret.
No lines. No chaos. No noise. Just a simple, clean, and calm experience that can get you to your gate quick and easy.
Denver Airport Bridge Security Entrance
TSA PreCheck is on the left hand side, premium passengers to the far right. We were #4 in line for PreCheck. Total time from bag drop through security, 8 minutes.
TSA PreCheck here!
Once you get past this glorious checkpoint you’ll go over a moving walkway and be dumped out into the A gates. Right in front of you is the Delta SkyClub, the USO lounge, and the American Admiral’s Club/British Galleries Lounge.
The long walk with NO passengers
If you’re departing out of B or C gates, just take the elevator all the way down to “level B” for basement and you’ll be at the trains. Alaska Airlines and Southwest depart out of C, United out of B, and everyone else departs out of A gates.
Denver Airport Bridge Security – easy access to the lounges!
I fully expect all the hate comments and hate mail to come from seasoned DEN travelers, but it just wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t share this with everyone.
So, with that said, are you going to try the secret Denver Airport Security next time you travel?
July 7, 2017
Not to much longer for this secret to be had.. As part of the great hall renovation tsa is getting condensed to one large check point on level 6 of the terminal. So no more bridge security no more east or west security either… Enjoy it while you can…
July 8, 2017
On level 6?! Isn’t that the very top? That sounds like it could be an even bigger mess. Do you know when this is supposed to start/end?
July 10, 2017
This link will help.. https://www.flydenver.com/greathall/project_overview Construction starts next year.. Not sure exactly how the level 6 security will work.. But It sounds like a HUUUUUGE overhall and a major PITA.. It starts next year and goes through 2022? I think?
December 14, 2019
Just stumbling upon this now, 2+ years later… while double checking the security wait time link.
Jon, crap like this is why we are disgusted at all of you transplant people that cannot just shut up and enjoy Colorado’s secrets as you discover them. Or if you are actually from here, you should know better. Why didn’t you listen to your conflicted feelings and do the right thing? Geeez.
December 15, 2019
Love you too Lisa – mean it 🙂
July 8, 2017
Come on man! You can’t be sharing private info! Now it will be a shit show everywhere!
July 9, 2017
Oopsie 🙂
July 9, 2017
Dude, come on. You had to write this? What’s next, blowing up secret campsites? Fishing holes? Not cool at all.
July 9, 2017
I would never blow up fishing holes or campsites. I love nature!
July 8, 2017
Last time I was in Denver, I checked TSA app for security wait times. My wife and I schlepped all the way over to the bridge because the TSA app said zero minute wait time! Well, guess what? There was a zero minute wait time Because the bridge checkpoint was closed! I can’t figure out who is more incompetent – TSA or DEN
July 9, 2017
Hahaha. I don’t mean to laugh 🙂 but that is funny.
July 16, 2017
I’ve used it many times, and it’s been crowded on about half those occasions, though not in contention with the E and W lines. I just figured most folks didn’t want to walk to it. I’m not even mad you “outted” the gate!
July 18, 2017
This is a great bonus if your headed to the lounge but Everytime I try to use it the precheck line is closed. Then you have to backtrack down to the regular line with 100 people in precheck go all the way around on the train. Pita.
July 23, 2017
Did this on Wednesday (July 19, 2017). It was indeed much less crowded and I was through there fast, but there was no TSA Pre line. I went through the status line. Been a long time since I’ve had to remove my shoes!
August 6, 2017
As noted, the TSA PreCheck line on the bridge is practically never open and most times, it’s really not that much faster than the other lines. I travel from DIA frequently and find the regular security lines to be no worse (and usually better) than those at other airports.
The plan to move the TSA checkpoints upstairs to Level 6 is ludicrous. The best use of the “Great Hall” is to have a security area that doesn’t feel like a claustrophobic gate to hell.
November 12, 2017
Majority of the time you can just walk to the North side and catch a quicker line as well. The transit center is on the south side so most people just beeline into that security.
September 29, 2018
Article needs updating – the airport entrances are EAST and WEST sides.
TSA Security is North, South and the bridge.
The bridge used to be quick entry to the A gates but for a year and a half or two years now that no longer applies. Long lines and painfully slow with no supervisor capable of making decisions (they call Supervisor from regular TSA lines who takes half an hour to arrive (if you have any medical issues – use the North and South TSA – you will do better.
Talking to airport people, the gate WILL remain after reconstruction the TSA area and ticketing will be on the top level (level 6). Other changes are going to really mess up meeting or seeing passengers arriving or departing.