The busy travel season is upon us, and a multitude of external factors—from weather delays to staffing issues to lengthy queues—can spoil a well-planned trip. The golden rule of air travel is to allow plenty of time to get in and out of the airport, but if you’re traveling through certain U.S. airports, prepare for even longer waits.
Luggage storage company Bounce has released a new study that can help you figure out just how much time you need to catch your flight. By analyzing the average time it takes to get through TSA security checks and passport control points, the study reveals the longest and shortest passenger wait times at U.S. airports.
J.F.K. Airport in New York tops the list with a combined average wait time of 48 minutes and 24 seconds. Following JFK is San Francisco International Airport (47:18) and Miami International Airport (45:54). If you’re not going through passport control, take note of the top three longest security wait times: Palm Beach International Airport clocks in at a whopping 34 minutes and six seconds, followed by St. Louis Lambert International Airport (26:36) and San Francisco International Airport (25:36).
The shortest combined wait times can be found at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (14:48), San Antonio International Airport (17:42) and San Jose International Airport (18:18). While Newark is number three on the list of airports with the most disrupted flights, travelers will encounter the shortest security waits, just three minutes and six seconds on average. Baltimore/Washington, San Jose and Ontario International Airport in California also came in around four minutes.
These average wait times are helpful when planning your trip, but don’t forget to factor in check-in time, baggage drop-off and pickup and unexpected delays. And always check your flight before heading to the airport.