The renovated Concourse F food court features a bright, open setting with a large skylight running the length of the dining space.

A Wendy's and Chick-fil-A are set to open here soon, as well.

And while the majority of the mall's food court at Terminal 1 will remain under construction until late 2019, a coffee option returns to the mall with Starbucks opening before the end of the year.

Experience MSP

Recent culinary additions to MSP include The Blue Door Pub on Concourse A and the new Peoples Organic and Panda Express, mentioned above. More than 50 new shops and restaurants have been added at MSP in the last couple of years, so you’re bound to find something you haven’t already experienced.

On your way to your gate, keep an eye out for vocalists and dancers in Terminal 1's mall near Ike's. They are part of the MSP 2018 Holiday Performance Series and will put a smile on your face. On Concourse C, take a leisurely stroll through the MSP Employee Art Show.

Both of these eye-catching exhibitions are sponsored by the Arts@MSP program.

On Comet! On Cupid! Ways to speed your trip through MSP

The busiest travel days at MSP in December are expected to be the four days before Dec. 24 and the four days after Dec. 25. More than 40,000 passengers are expected to pass through security checkpoints on each of those days.

Throughout the days around Christmas, the airlines and MSP Airport recommend you arrive two hours ahead of a domestic flight’s departure and three hours ahead for international flights.

If you’re picking up or dropping off passengers at Terminal 1, think opposite.

During peak times, the curbs in front of the terminal can get very busy. Plan to pick up your arriving passenger on the ticketing level, or drop off a departing passenger on the baggage claim level.

And you don’t have to stay in the right-hand lane as you near the terminal – consider staying left as you make that turn and drive farther down the curb to drop-off and pick-up passengers.

Or avoid a lot of the traffic at Terminal 1 altogether and meet your arrival inside. Park in daily parking located on level 3 of the gold ramp. The cost is $3 an hour.

Other travel tips

• If you’re playing Santa this year and bringing gifts on your flight, it’s best to not wrap them before arriving at the airport. It’s possible the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) could require you to unwrap a gift at the security checkpoint. To ensure a speedy screening process, visit the TSA’s travel checklist found here.
• At security, remember to remove personal electronic devices cell-phone size or larger from your carry-on bag, and place them in a separate bin for inspection.
• Children 12 and under can leave their shoes, light jackets and head-wear on.
• If you are parking at MSP, consider the Quick Ride Ramp, which offers low rates and a free shuttle to Terminal 1.

For more information about MSP, visit www.mspairport.com.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is always looking for opportunities to expand its list of direct flights to international destinations.

While MSP has experienced much success in recent years in adding airlines and pairings with new cities, an incentives strategy recently approved by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) aims to keep that list of international options growing.

From 2016 to 2018, 11 airlines added 52 new routes out of MSP, both domestic and international.

The MAC’s incentive package for international routes has helped add a number of cities, including Northwest Airlines’ service to Paris that started in 2009; Delta’s service to Tokyo-Haneda in 2017 and KLM’s flights to Amsterdam in 2018, just to name a few.

At a recent meeting of the MAC’s Board of Commissioners, members approved enhanced incentives for airlines that begin service to new international destinations.

The changes offer airlines expanded eligibility for reduced landing fee and gate fee charges, going from the current 12 months to 24 months.

Also, the MAC will expand marketing support for new international service in the first and second year of service. The estimated maximum value of the total incentive package is now about $2 million for year-round, daily wide-body service.

The new incentives package puts MSP in the mid-range of incentive packages offered by airports our size, which levels the playing field a bit.

As more airlines weigh the benefits of serving the Twin Cities and the Upper Midwest, the MAC looks forward to expanding MSP’s international offerings.

On Sunday, Dec. 2, approximately 200 aviation enthusiasts visited the newly opened Altitude lounge on the 12^th floor of the InterContinental MSP Airport Hotel to take in the highest and most scenic view on campus of the airport.

The hotel and MSP Airport posted a co-hosted Facebook event in mid-November and within days more than 500 people had indicated an interest in attending.

By Dec. 1, that number had climbed to more than 900.

“We knew many of the local aviation enthusiasts who follow MSP’s Facebook page would love to have the chance to view the airport from this vantage point,” said Melissa Scovronski, manager of public affairs and marketing for the Metropolitan Airports Commission. “What we didn’t expect is just how many would show up and hang out for hours with us, chatting about all things aviation.”

Representatives from the MSP Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control Tower and TRACON were also in attendance. They even brought a live flight scanner and maps for an authentic geek-out experience.

The event was so successful that the hotel and airport plan to host more. The next event is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out the airport’s Facebook page for more details.