New Study Reveals U.S. Airports with Longest and Shortest Wait Times

As the summer season approaches, travelers are understandably concerned about the air travel aspect of their trips. Lingering effects from 2022, such as widespread flight disruptions, staffing shortages, and long queues at airports, have yet to be fully resolved.

With travel demand gaining even more momentum, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicts that air travel this summer will surpass pre-pandemic levels. In light of ongoing challenges, passengers across the nation are bracing themselves for potential cancellations, delays, and other stressful experiences during their air travel.

To provide timely insights, Bounce, a luggage storage company, conducted a comprehensive study analyzing the average time it takes to navigate major U.S. airports, including TSA security checks and passport control points. The study aims to identify the airports with the longest and shortest passenger wait times.

It’s important to consider that travelers must also account for check-in time, airport navigation, baggage handling or retrieval, and the possibility of encountering lengthy customer service queues. Taking all these factors into account, today’s travelers are advised to allow an additional hour on top of the standard suggested airport arrival times to ensure a smoother experience.

According to a study by Bounce, a luggage storage company, the U.S. airports with the longest and shortest wait times in 2023 are as follows:

The U.S. airports with the longest combined average wait time in 2023 are:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (48 minutes and 24 seconds)
• San Francisco International Airport in California (47 minutes and 18 seconds)
• Miami International Airport in Florida (45 minutes and 54 seconds)

The U.S. airports with the shortest combined average wait time in 2023 are:

• Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Maryland (14 minutes and 48 seconds)
• San Antonio International Airport in Texas (17 minutes and 42 seconds)
• Raleigh–Durham International Airport in North Carolina (18 minutes and 30 seconds)

By staying informed about airport wait times, travelers can better prepare and plan their journeys to mitigate potential delays and inconveniences during the busy summer travel season.