Passenger Terminal

One TSA checkpoint gets you to all 18 DSM gates

Des Moines International uses a single Passenger Terminal and one shared security checkpoint for Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United, so once you’re through screening you can walk the mostly straight concourse end to end in under 10 minutes. Gates are numbered in sequence along one main hallway, so even a gate change from, say, A4 to A14 is an easy short walk instead of a terminal shuffle.

All check-in counters sit on the same departures level, so you’ll see American, Delta, United, Southwest, and the rest lined up in one row before security. Morning bank for DSM typically skews early, so if you’re on a 5:30–7:30 a.m. departure, plan 20–30 minutes for the single checkpoint; later in the day wait times usually drop into the 5–15 minute range. There’s no separate terminal code to worry about here beyond “1” in some booking engines.

Post-security, food is clustered around the center of the concourse near the mid-numbered gates, with Berk & Chesters Kitchen + Bar acting as the main sit-down option. Expect bar-and-grill standards at Berk & Chesters, with burgers and sandwiches in the $15–$20 range and a full bar that stays open for most of the flight day, typically from the first departures bank until around the last evening push. If you want a real meal rather than a grab-and-go box, this is the spot that can actually fill 45 minutes.

For coffee, Friedrichs Coffee sits airside and pours local-style drip and espresso drinks, with prices that land around $3–$6 depending on size and extras. Friedrichs usually opens before the first outbound flights, so a 5 a.m. latte is realistic here. If the line at Friedrichs is long, Coffee & Bar farther down the concourse can backstop your caffeine plan with basic espresso and drip options plus simple breakfast bites.

Arugula & Rye brings slightly lighter fare to the mix, with salads, sandwiches, and wraps that run roughly $10–$14 and work well if you want something that travels to the gate. Beer fans can aim for Portermill Craft Food & Beer, which leans into regional brews on tap alongside burgers and shareable appetizers that land in the $10–$18 band. A Bar is your quicker drink stop at the gate level, better for a fast pre-boarding drink than a full meal.

Retail is thinner here than big hubs, but Mill Supply Co. covers the basics with snacks, bottled drinks, travel-size toiletries, and last-minute items like phone chargers and earbuds, usually under $30 unless you’re buying higher-end accessories. Expect typical airport markups, so grabbing a bottled water and snack combo can run $6–$10. With no big-brand duty-free or specialty boutiques, this is a restock stop, not a shopping session.

DSM’s Passenger Terminal has no airline lounges or Priority Pass clubs, so even premium cabins and high-status flyers with United, Delta, American, or Alaska are sitting in the general gate areas. Power outlets and USB ports show up around many seats but not every row, so if you see a free plug near gates A6–A10, claim it early. Quiet spots tend to be at the far ends of the concourse near the highest-numbered gates during mid-day lulls.

Plan one simple move: clear the single checkpoint, walk the full concourse once in under 10 minutes to spot your gate, then backtrack to Berk & Chesters or Friedrichs near the center so you’re never more than a 5-minute walk from boarding when your group is called.