Footlong subs before security at TYS
In the Main Terminal at McGhee Tyson Airport, Quiznos Subs sits on the pre-security side, so you can grab something before heading through TSA or bring food out to a pickup. It runs typical daytime hours that track with flight banks, so expect it open for most morning and afternoon departures, but not late-night stragglers. The chain reputation carries here: toasted subs, fountain drinks, and basic sides, with a 2.5-star average rating hinting at hit-or-miss execution.
Menu pricing runs in standard airport-fast-food range, with 6" toasted subs landing around the high single digits in dollars and footlongs higher, especially if you add chips and a drink. You’ll see the usual Quiznos line-up: Classic Italian, Turkey Ranch & Swiss, and a few cheesesteak variations. Salads and soups appear on the boards, though in smaller airports like TYS the soup pots don’t always get much traffic, so ask what’s actually hot before you pay.
Service speed varies with the security queue pattern: when morning Knoxville–Atlanta and Knoxville–Charlotte departures line up, waits can stretch to 10–15 minutes for made-to-order sandwiches. Outside those banks, you can usually walk up and be eating a toasted sub in under 5–7 minutes. If you’re tight on time, stick to something simple like a Turkey sub or Classic Italian; custom builds with lots of toppings slow the line and increase the odds of mix-ups.
Portions track with chain standards: a footlong is plenty for one hungry adult or shared between two kids, while a 6" plus chips works as a light meal before a regional jet hop. Drink refills depend on staff mood and current crowd, so ask directly if refills are allowed on your visit. One practical tip: order, pay, and then step to the side of the narrow counter area so people heading to security can still move through the Main Terminal without bottlenecking around the sandwich line.