One of the most irritating aspects of travel are the wait times. It might be the extended periods of time having to stand without any respite or the fact that we feel that everything is out of our control, but waiting endlessly at the airport can make even the most patient people lose it completely.
Airport Security Can Take Nearly Half An Hour Sometimes
It seems like these wait times are only getting worse instead of better over time. Whether it’s unpredictable weather, staff shortages, and maintenance problems, travel seems more complicated than ever.
TSA keeps a list of wait times at all of the security checkpoints at airports around the US. These can be checked on the MyTSA app in order to better gauge how long it might take you at the airport. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) keep track of the wait times for incoming passengers at passport control for international airports.
Luggage storage app Bounce analyzed the data of the waiting times and was able to come up with a list of the airports with the longest and shortest wait times both at airport security and passport control. Did your local airport make the cut?
Bounce Analyzed The Longest & Shortest Security Times
Airports with Longest Wait Times at TSA Security
- Palm Beach International Airport, average wait time 36 minutes, 18 seconds
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport, average wait time 28 minutes, 48 seconds
- San Francisco International Airport, average security wait time 27 minutes, 48 seconds
Airports with Shortest Wait Times at TSA Security
- Newark Liberty International Airport, average wait time 5 minutes, 18 seconds
- Ontario International Airport, average wait time 6 minutes, 18 seconds
- Four way tie: Sacramento International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, San Antonio International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, average wait time 8 minutes, 18 seconds
Waiting In Security Can Make The Most Patient Travelers Lose It
Airports with Longest Wait Times at Passport Control
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, average wait time 28 minutes, 23 seconds
- Miami International Airport, average wait time 22 minutes, 3 seconds
- O’Hare International Airport, average wait time 20 minutes, 8 seconds
Airports with Shortest Wait Times at Passport Control
- Palm Beach International Airport, average wait time 2 minutes, 24 seconds
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, average wait time 5 minutes, 46 seconds
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport, average wait time 6 minutes, 3 seconds
Longest Wait Times Overall
- Miami International Airport
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
Shortest Wait Times Overall
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Longest Wait Times Are In Florida Airports
