Latest Study Ranks Average TSA Security Wait Times By U.S. Airport

The best wait time in the country clearly indicated at a specific Utah airport.

 Upgraded Points (https://upgradedpoints.com/average-tsa-security-wait-times-us-airports/) recently offered up its newest informative study that ranks TSA security wait times across the nation from longest to shortest. Drawing directly on data compiled from the TSA, Upgraded Points explored and ranked 10 of the 25 busiest U.S. airports for wait times during specific times and days of the week. The results were then compiled, analyzed and placed in an interactive digital map. Both the shortest and longest wait times were found to be non-localized, and are spread out over multiple major airports across the country.

Analysis Methodology

The study looked at the 25 busiest airports in the U.S., based on 2018 passenger boarding information. The results are compiled from data representing security wait times for specific hours at all airports, from which the day and overall averages were calculated.

To rate the best and worst times for TSA security at each airport, Upgraded Points searched through every day of the week to find the maximum and minimum average wait times. The overall study considered all hours traveled, but only offered times within a single time period — from 4 p.m. through 11 p.m. — in its recommendations for best times to travel. This window was deemed the most realistic time period to suit the largest number of travelers, and also represents the time period used for the majority of flight departures.

Airport Security Wait Times: Longest and Shortest

• Longest — Newark Liberty International (EWR): Located in New Jersey, EWR ranked number one on the list of longest security wait times. With an average security delay of 23.1 minutes, EWR is definitely an airport that requires a bit of patience. With some strategic planning however, it is possible to travel through EWR with a reduced risk of inconvenience. The best time to travel EWR is on a Friday, between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., with an average wait time of around 15 minutes. The absolute worst time to travel through EWR is on a Monday, between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Those unfortunate enough to hit the security line at that time could be waiting up to an hour.
• Shortest — Salt Lake City International (SLC): Utah's capital can boast the quickest security-line wait times in the nation, with an average of 9.1 minutes. For those interested in visiting some of the nation's state parks, booking a trip through SLC should be relatively quick and convenient. And although it already offers incredibly short wait times on average, the best time to join the security line at SLC is on a Wednesday, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., with an average wait time of two minutes. The worst time is on a Sunday, from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m., with an average wait time at around 26 minutes.

Other noted airports that made the best and worst lists for this study include Boston Logan, Washington Dulles International, Miami International and George Bush Intercontinental. For a complete list of the airlines reported in the study, as well as detailed graphics and access to the interactive map, please visit HERE.

About Upgraded Points LLC

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Upgraded Points is a travel company that provides insider strategies on maximizing travel points and rewards. Launched in 2016 by Alex Miller, Upgraded Points uses targeted research efforts and in-depth studies to give travelers, as well as those looking to travel a real understanding of how to maximize their points and miles. Learn more at: www.UpgradedPoints.com.

SOURCE Upgraded Points LLC

These Are The Airports To Avoid Summer 2016 Unless You Really Love Waiting

Plus: The month with the most travel delays and the most miserable airport in the U.S.

Taylor Swift crooned “Welcome to New York, it’s been waiting for you” with enough gusto to make anyone want to hop a flight ASAP. But it’s people who plan on visiting New York this summer that are likely to be doing the waiting.

MileCards.com just released its 2016 summer airport delay report, based on six years of Department of Transportation data from about 50 of the busiest airports in the U.S. The site calculated things factors including where you’ll wait the longest to take off (New York’s JFK and LaGuardia), the longest wait to get to the gate (Los Angeles’ LAX) and the most miserable airport overall, New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport.

EDUARDO MUNOZ / REUTERS

Sorry, Newark. You’ve been named the “most miserable airport” of summer 2016. 

New York/New Jersey-area airports are widely known for being, well, less than perfect — just ask Joe Biden — and MileCards’s findings reflect that notion. LaGuardia, JFK and Newark all rank in the top five for most miserable, with take-off waits at LaGuardia and JFK up to three times longer than waits at the fastest airports for taxi time, Dallas and Houston.

The report’s misery score, which is pretty much what it sounds like, was calculated by adding an airport’s on-time arrival ranking with half of its take-off wait ranking and half of its landing wait ranking for a maximum score of 100. Newark earned a whopping 95 points on the Misery Index scale, followed by JFK, LaGuardia and Chicago O’Hare with 94 each and Boston Logan at 84.

It’s not all bad news, though. Travelers interested in visiting Honolulu, Hawaii this summer might be happy to learn its airport was ranked number one for on-time travel, followed by Salt Lake City, Utah and Seattle, Washington.

The site also found June is the worst of the summer months for air travel thanks to its high delayed flight rate. And while JFK is ranked among the worst, it saw the most improvement in delay time in the past five years, alongside Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta. 

Check out the best and worst airports for on-time travel below, and head toMileCards.com to see the entire report.

MILECARDS.COM

By Jamie FeldmanLifestyle Editor, The Huffington Post

How To Avoid Long TSA Lines On Your Next Flight #TSA

Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)

You’ve probably already heard horror stories about unusually long TSA security lines at airports, which may only get worse as the summer travel crush adds more travelers.

While we wait for the TSA to fix this (mainly by adding more employees and trying to keep the ones they have), here are some strategies to make sure you don’t miss your flight.

USA TODAY

Long TSA line strands 450 fliers overnight as woes expand

Get to the airport super early. If you hate waiting at airports this might be a good time to splurge for an airline lounge day pass. American, for example, charges $50 for aone-day pass.

Plan to arrive at the very least two hours before boarding for domestic, three to four hours for international. But for some airports, such as Miami when the cruise ships come in, even two hours might not be enough.

Perhaps the best advice is to sign up (now!) for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. I prefer Global Entry because it includes PreCheck and it’s good for five years for a $100 fee. Some premium credit cards, such as the Amex Platinum Card, reimburse the fee.

USA TODAY

What is TSA's PreCheck expedited screening program?

The only problem with PreCheck is that at some airports the special lines are only open for a few hours a day, again because of staffing shortages. But not only are the lines much shorter than regular TSA lines, you don’t have to take out your laptop and liquids, and you can leave your shoes and light jacket on.

Another hack: Buy priority access to TSA lines such as JetBlue's "even more speed," which gives you expedited lines through TSA.  United has a similar program called Premier Access, which starts at $15. Delta calls it “Sky Priority” and it’s available at select airports.

Fly from less busy airports. If you live on Long Island, fly from Islip rather than from JFK, for example.  Long Beach usually has shorter lines than LAX, and so on.

USA TODAY

Five questions about extremely long airport security lines

Try to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday when airports are less busy. Some times of the day (such as midday) are slower than during the morning and evening rush, so lines should be shorter.

If you really want to make your plane on time and you fly Delta, their VIP Select Service is offered at LAX, JFK, San Francisco, LaGuardia and Atlanta. For $250, on top of any Delta fare, you get escorted to the front of the TSA line and even get a transfer between flights via a private car service on the tarmac, plus other VIP perks such as Skyclub lounge access (book via Delta's VIP phone line at 855-235-9847). American has a similar program but it’s only available to business- and first-class passengers.

By George Hobica, the founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. Airfarewatchdog features the best airfares on thousands of routes verified by a team of expert fare analysts.