New Data: When to get to the airport

There’s been a lot of buzz in social media in recent months about ‘influencers’ who have been telling travelers to ignore conventional wisdom on getting to airports and arrive just 15 to 30 minutes before the doors close. That ‘airport theory’ is obviously bad advice—but the question is still open: When should you get to the airport?

The Upgraded Points website, a site that advises on award travel and other travel experience, has done a survey that gives real-life data on which airports need a lot of advance time, and which can safely take a later arrival time.

“Successful travel is all about starting your journey on the right note,” said Keri Stooksbury, editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points. “Our study shows that one-size-fits-all advice doesn’t always work when it comes to airport arrival times. By understanding each airport’s unique challenges—from sprawling layouts to heavy security lines—travelers can better plan their trips and avoid the stress of last-minute scrambles.”

The study analyzed 15 factors impacting the overall preflight experience, like parking availability and TSA wait times to terminal size, departure delays, and even shopping options. Each data point was scaled for accurate comparison and weighted by its significance. The resulting score, capped at 50, indicates the necessary arrival buffer, with higher scores meaning travelers should arrive even earlier.

Here are the 10 U.S. airports that need the most time:

1. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – 3 hrs, 20 mins
2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) – 3 hrs, 6 mins
3. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – 3 hrs, 5 mins
4. Orlando International Airport (MCO) – 3 hrs, 1 min
5. Denver International Airport (DEN) – 2 hrs, 59 mins
6. Miami International Airport (MIA) – 2 hrs, 58 mins
7. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – 2 hrs, 53 mins
8. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) – 2 hrs, 51 mins
9. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – 2 hrs, 47 mins
10. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) – 2 hrs, 46 mins

And the 10 where lucky travelers can take a bit more time getting there:

1. John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) – 53 minutes before the flight
2. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) – 55 minutes
3. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) – 59 minutes
4. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) – 1 hour, 2 minutes
5. San Antonio International Airport (SAT) – 1 hour, 11 minutes
6. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) – 1 hrs, 16 mins
7. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) – 1 hrs, 22 mins
8. Oakland International Airport (OAK) – 1 hrs, 28 mins
9. John Wayne Airport (SNA) – 1 hrs, 29 mins
10. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) – 1 hrs, 31 mins

And a note from your author: It’s always better to be sitting in an airport chair reading than stuck in traffic swearing. No one ever missed a plane by being early!