Traveling internationally over the holidays? A new study reveals some information you’ll want to check out. The travel experts at Upgraded Points—who help travelers maximize points, miles and the travel experience—analyzed data to identify the U.S. airports with the longest wait times at customs.
The process of going through customs upon arrival back in the U.S. can rival the wait times at security. The holiday rush may slow down every aspect of air travel, but the customs line tends not to be as drastically affected. The airports with the slowest wait times at customs are slow any time of year. On top of higher international fares and the all-around hassle of travel, the wait times at immigration checkpoints can be a real downer.
“Being stuck in a traffic jam at customs after an already lengthy day of travel can really sour an otherwise great vacation,” explained Alex Miller, Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points.
Various factors affect the customs wait time, including which airport you choose. Using data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Airport Wait Times from winter 2022, Upgraded Points determined that John Wayne Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport have the fastest wait times, at an average of 4.6 minutes and 5.9 minutes, respectively.
The airports with the longest wait times at customs are Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (31.6 minutes), Miami International Airport (30.6 minutes), Auston-Bergstrom International Airport (29.2 minutes), Orlando International Airport (27.8 minutes) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (27.4 minutes).
Arrival time and citizenship also affect wait times. Upgraded Points has determined that travelers experience 20% longer wait times if they arrive between 5am and 3pm. If you can time your arrival outside of those hours, you should have a shorter wait.
Find the full report here.