Long lines may be in your future. These are the U.S. airports with the worst security wait times.
Traveling Through These 10 U.S. Airports? Better Arrive Extra Early
Updated on Nov. 06, 2024
There are two types of travelers: Those who get to the airport early (the recommended two or three hours prior to the flight time) and those who casually stroll in as the plane is boarding. As a type-A traveler who takes about 50 flights a year, wait times are rarely an issue for me — I like to arrive early and have TSA Precheck too. But for those hoping to breeze through security, chances are you’ve come close to missing your flight, especially if you’re unlucky enough to encounter some of the longest TSA wait times.
While early arrivals help to avoid the stress of travel and navigating security lines, all airports are not created equal. Some have a reputation for zipping passengers through security in under five minutes, while others are just considered slow. Which U.S. airports have earned the title of the country’s worst for security wait times? We’ve consulted a comprehensive 2024 report by the travel and luggage experts at Bounce, and talked to two experts—a former TSA agent and a frequent flyer—to get the scoop. Read on to find out which airports are the worst offenders and what the pros recommend you do to speed through the TSA line.
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The airport with the longest TSA wait times
St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Mo. tops the list for the longest TSA wait times in the US, with passengers waiting an average of 16 minutes and 16 seconds to clear TSA. If you’re starting your journey at STL, it’s best to arrive earlier than you think you’ll need to — remember, 16 minutes is the average, so it could even be longer.
Other U.S. airports with long TSA wait times
While St. Louis might be the worst offender, it certainly isn’t the only airport where you’ll need to plan ahead to ensure you have time to spare. The two other airports with the longest TSA wait times are:
- Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, Texas: 15 minutes and 53 seconds
- Orlando International Airport, Fla.: 15 minutes and 34 seconds
Airports with the shortest TSA wait times
Some airports are doing a great job managing their lines, staffing their TSA team, and keeping things moving. The three airports with the shortest wait times are:
- Palm Beach International Airport, Fla.: 5 minutes and 29 seconds
- Sacramento International Airport, Calif.: 7 minutes and 5 seconds
- Harry Reid International Airport, Nev.: 7 minutes and 34 seconds
Airports with the longest and shortest passport-control wait times
When flying back into the United States from an international trip, wait times at passport control matter too — especially if that airport isn’t your final destination and you’re in a hurry to catch a connecting flight. Here’s what you can expect from the best and worst airports:
3 longest wait times
- O’Hare International Airport, Ill.: 25 minutes and 59 seconds
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, N.Y.: 24 minutes and 43 seconds
- Los Angeles International Airport, Calif.: 23 minutes and 53 seconds
3 shortest wait times
- Palm Beach International Airport, Fla.: 1 minute and 58 seconds
- John Wayne Airport, Calif.: 5 minutes and 35 seconds
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Ariz.: 5 minutes and 45 seconds
Airports with the all-around longest wait times
What happens when you take both passport control wait times and TSA wait times and combine them? You get this list of airports with the longest total average wait times:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport: 39 minutes and 48 seconds
- Orlando International Airport: 39 minutes and 16 seconds
- O’Hare International Airport: 37 minutes and 52 seconds
- Los Angeles International Airport: 35 minutes and 25 seconds
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: 35 minutes and 22 seconds
- Miami International Airport: 34 minutes and 59 seconds
- San Francisco International Airport: 33 minutes and 44 seconds
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport: 33 minutes and 9 seconds
- Ontario International Airport (California): 33 minutes and 7 seconds
- Salt Lake City International Airport: 32 minutes and 40 seconds
Airports with the all-around shortest wait times
There are 10 airports doing a great job on the combined wait time total between TSA and passport control. They are:
- Palm Beach International Airport: 7 minutes and 27 seconds
- John Wayne Airport: 14 minutes and 38 seconds
- Phoenix Sky Harbor: 16 minutes and 56 seconds
- San Antonio International Airport: 19 minutes and 6 seconds
- San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport: 20 minutes and 37 seconds
- Sacramento International Airport: 20 minutes and 41 seconds
- Portland International Airport: 21 minutes and 17 seconds
- Philadelphia International Airport: 21 minutes and 50 seconds
- Raleigh-Durhan International Airport: 22 minutes and 6 seconds
- Tampa International Airport: 22 minutes and 42 seconds
How to get through security faster
No matter which airport is the starting point for your next trip, getting through security can be a hassle. Here are a handful of tips that will help you zip through the line quickly, so there’s no need to rush to your gate.
Sign up for Clear, TSA Precheck or Global Entry
Depending on where you plan to travel, any combination of Clear, TSA Precheck or Global Entry may help you save quite a bit of time when getting through security. A Clear membership is a faster identification process that allows you to skip to the front of the line. TSA Precheck provides an expedited screening program for flights originating in the United States. And Global Entry gives prescreened, low-risk travelers the opportunity to pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection faster when returning to the U.S. from an international flight.
“If you have both Clear and TSA pre-check that’s the best, so you have the option of whichever line is shorter,” advises travel journalist Amber Gibson, who takes more than 100 flights a year. “Certain credit cards will waive the fee.”
Know the TSA liquid limit
One of the biggest time wasters is passengers who inadvertently hold up the line because they aren’t aware of the TSA liquid limit, says TikTok creator Caleb Harmon-Marshall, who worked for TSA in Atlanta and Miami for eight years and now works as a flight rights advocate. If you plan to pack your toiletries in your carry-on, it’s important to know about the TSA liquid limit and exceptions, as well as TSA food rules. For instance, liquids under 3.4 ounces are permitted in carry-on luggage; larger liquids must be packed in a checked bag or they will be confiscated by TSA agents. And f you need to pack items that are not permitted in a carry-on, arrive at the airport early in order to check your bag.
Find a different checkpoint
“When you go to the airport, you’re often being fed into one lane or checkpoint,” says Harmon-Marshall. “But there’s usually a lesser-known line that’s much shorter. For instance, Atlanta is one of those airports where all terminals connect, no matter which checkpoint you go through.”
Gibson uses this trick too. “I will say that less busy terminals — like Terminal 2 at O’Hare airport — have shorter lines, so you can always go through the line at one terminal and then get to your terminal once you’re past security to beat long lines.”
Sign up for TSA Cares if you need extra assistance
TSA Cares helps passengers with disabilities, medical conditions and individuals needing additional assistance to better prepare for the security screening process. “I even tell all my friends with babies that TSA Cares will help you get through the checkpoint, skip the line, and get you to your gate,” says Harmon-Marshall, who used to perform this service when he worked for TSA. “And it’s free.”
To make the request, contact TSA Cares at least 72-hours prior to your departure by completing the TSA Cares form or calling (855) 787-2227.
Make the most of your status or ticket class
If you are flying first class internationally or have top status with certain airlines, Gibson says some airports have a dedicated check-in where you bypass the TSA line completely because you have your own security. “Delta One at LAX is a great example of this,” she explains. “If you fly Delta One cross country from LAX-JFK, you have a private luxe check-in with complimentary drinks, snacks and an easy breezy check-in process.”
Double-check that your license or passport is up-to-date
TSA agents are responsible for verifying your identity before allowing you through security, which means you’ll need an up-to-date license or passport. If you arrive at the airport with expired identification, you are likely to spend far more time navigating security, and in some cases you may not be permitted to board your flight at all.
FAQs
How did the study determine the airport wait times?
Bounce looked at airports in the United States and its territories, sourcing the average wait time at passport control using the US Customs and Border Protection CBP Airport Wait Times. They looked at the average wait time for passengers processed on flights arriving each hour based on how long it took to clear passport control, then calculated the average wait times for each hour that flights arrived over the last year (09/13/2023 – 09/14/2024). Bounce sourced the average wait time at the TSA for each airport using TSA wait times and calculated the average wait time for passengers arriving at each hour as of 09/18/2024. Next, they combined the average Passport Control and TSA wait time for each airport to calculate the average total waiting time at each airport. All figures were rounded to two decimal places.
What causes long security wait times?
According to Harmon-Marshall, there are a number of reasons TSA wait times can be longer at some airports. “First, it could be staffing issues,” he says. “Next is equipment failure, because the X-ray and body scanner machines tend to go down a lot.”
He also notes that TSA officer training happens in real-time, which means people are getting on-the-job training every day and this could slow things down. Finally, he says a lack of bins is another culprit. “Travelers think that TSA officers are obligated to get the bins and return them, but their main focus is to clear the bags and screen. So help your fellow travelers and the system out by returning your own bins.”
How can you check security wait times?
You can check wait times through the MyTSA app or the individual airport’s website, says Marshall-Harmon, however he urges travelers to take those numbers with a grain of salt. “Those numbers are never true,” he says. “Always add 5 to 10 minutes to whatever is reflected on the app or websites.”
About the experts
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this piece on airports with the longest wait times, Jill Schildhouse tapped her experience as a longtime travel writer and frequent traveler to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Bounce: “Airport Wait Times 2024”
- Caleb Harmon-Marshall worked for TSA in Atlanta and Miami for eight years and now works as a flight rights advocate
- Amber Gibson, travel journalist who takes more than 100 flights a year
- TSA Cares homepage
- TSA: “What Can I Bring?”
