These Are the Airports with the Longest Wait Times in 2023

Knowing these wait times can help you make sure you never miss a flight!

As you begin to travel for the summer, you should always factor in how long it’ll take you to get through airport security and, if you’re flying internationally, passport control. While arriving a couple of hours before your takeoff time is always a good idea, you might want to set aside time for shopping or have a buffer in case you forget something. In that case, knowing which airports have the longest lines can help you make sure you never miss another flight! Of course, sometimes you may have to wait at the airport longer than you anticipated—luckily, there’s also a way to check for flight delays.

To help you figure out which airports have the longest wait times, Bounce, a luggage storage service, compiled a list that takes both security wait times and passport control lines into account.

Which airports have the longest wait times?

Shot of queue of passengers waiting at boarding gate at airportizusek/Getty Images

Topping the list is John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, with an average security wait time of around 23 minutes and a passport control wait time of about 25 minutes. Combined, that means your average wait time at JFK would be a whopping 48 minutes! It’s no surprise that this airport starts off the list, as it’s a hub for several major airlines and plays host to a large number of both domestic and international passengers.

Closely following is San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, with a security wait time of about 25 minutes and a passport control wait time of around 21 minutes, making your total wait time around 46 minutes. Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida is next, with wait times of around 22 minutes and 23 minutes respectively, for a total wait time of 45 minutes.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has a fairly quick security wait time of around 16 minutes, but a long passport control wait time of about 25 minutes, for a combined total of 41 minutes. The top five are rounded out by Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida, with a security wait time of around 18 minutes and a passport control wait time of roughly 21 minutes, for a total wait time of around 39 minutes.

If you want to cut down on your wait time, you can sign up for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

The full list of airports with the longest wait times

  1. John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City – 48 minutes
  2. San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco – 46 minutes
  3. Miami International Airport, Miami – 45 minutes
  4. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale – 41 minutes
  5. Orlando International Airport, Orlando – 39 minutes
  6. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle – 39 minutes
  7. St. Loius Lambert International Airport, St. Louis – 39 minutes
  8. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu – 37 minutes
  9. San Diego International Airport, San Diego – 37 minutes
  10. O’Hare International Airport, Chicago – 36 minutes

Source:

  • Bounce: “Airport wait times 2023”

Amrita Thakkar
Amrita is an Assistant Digital Editor at Taste of Home. As a writer and amateur photographer, she often ends up applying these skills to her one great love: food. She can usually be found researching global cuisines, at the farmers market, doing yoga, or looking up new places to travel to.