Gate-side reading fix before security lines at BHM
Books-A-Million sits in the Main Terminal at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth, before security, so this is the stop if you want something to read on a Delta or Southwest flight without juggling bags at the gate. It’s a standard mall-style branch scaled down for airport traffic: books, magazines, kids’ stuff, some gifts, plus a few last‑minute travel items like headphones and neck pillows.
You’ll usually see it open from early morning into the evening, roughly matching the first and last departures out of BHM, but late-night delays after 10 p.m. can leave it dark. Prices on paperbacks run close to regular street pricing, so expect to pay around $15–$20 for a new release and a couple of dollars more for hardcovers. The magazine rack near the front leans heavily on mainstream titles and crossword/ Sudoku books, handy for regional hops under two hours.
Selection leans mainstream fiction, bestsellers, thrillers, and inspirational titles, with a smaller shelf for travel and business compared with a full suburban store. Kids’ books and activity packs sit near the register, good for keeping a short Birmingham–Atlanta or Birmingham–Dallas flight quiet. Snacks and bottled drinks cost more than at a landside convenience store, but still beat some gate kiosks on price by a dollar or two per item.
Last tip: stop here before security, because once you head toward your Main Terminal gate area, your only options are the usual newsstands, and the book choices shrink fast.