Airport Wait Times in the U.S.
- Introduction to Airport Wait Times
- Longest Wait Times at Major Airports
- Efficient Airports with Shorter Wait Times
- Ways to Expedite Your Travel Experience
When traveling through airports, it’s best practice to show up early to account for security queues and, when traveling internationally, passport control lines. Now, a new study by luggage storage company Bounce breaks down which U.S. airports have the longest (and shortest) wait times.
The study found that New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has the longest overall wait times, averaging 48 minutes and 24 seconds when combining security waits and passport control lines. JFK was followed closely by San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which had an average overall wait time of 47 minutes and 18 seconds, and Miami International Airport (MIA), with an average wait of 45 minutes and 54 seconds.
“Airport security and passport control play a crucial role in ensuring our safety while we travel, but we can’t deny that waiting in line can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially when you’re running on a tight schedule,” Bounce wrote in its study. “To help you plan ahead, the team at Bounce has delved into data to reveal which airports in the United States have the longest wait times, and which allow you to sail through security and passport control with ease.”
When it comes to security lines alone, Florida’s Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) stood out with an average of 34 minutes and 6 seconds. Conversely, PBI also had the shortest passport control wait times, averaging only 2 minutes and 36 seconds. Another notable mention is Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL), which reported the longest average passport control wait times of 25 minutes and 54 seconds.
On average, New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), servicing the greater New York City area, had the shortest security wait times at just 3 minutes and 6 seconds. EWR was followed by Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), boasting an average wait time of merely 4 minutes.
Travelers hoping to reduce airport line delays can look into trusted traveler programs. This includes options like TSA PreCheck, which allows travelers to pass through airport security without removing shoes, belts, or light jackets, and without needing to take laptops or liquids out of carry-on bags. Alternatively, Global Entry allows travelers to use a designated kiosk to expedite their customs process.
