Ready for takeoff: Where to eat at MSP and more tips

MSP regularly tops customer satisfaction surveys, but peak travel periods can still cause snags for even the most seasoned flyers.

• Here are some tips for readers braving the crowds this week:

🚗 Pre-booking parking at least 12 hours before you arrive at the airport can save you cash. Taking the light rail is even cheaper.

💧 Throw an empty reusable water into your carry-on to fill up at one of the airport's many H2O stations to save cash.

🍽️ Fast food and packaged sandwiches aren't your only options for fueling up. Local concepts like Northern Soul, Crisp & Green and Holy Land all have outposts in Terminal 1.

• Some vendors, including Starbucks, allow travelers to skip the line by placing mobile orders in advance.

⏰ Security line times are posted online for those who want a sense of the wait before they arrive.

👜 Some heavy packers who read our newsletter recommend checking luggage at the curb to avoid longer lines inside.

✈️ Bookmark our "Fly Like a Pro" and airport dining guides for more tips.