Whether you’re jetting off to Mexico or setting sail along the Amalfi Coast, summer vacation planning is in full swing. Airports are expected to be busier than ever, so you’ll want to maximize your itinerary to its full potential, and that includes mapping out the smartest route back home. Fortunately, a new study from Upgraded Points is highlighting the top 10 U.S. airports with the longest immigration lines, based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Get the most fun out of your vacation by avoiding these airports—plus, which ones you should fly into instead.
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Top 10 worst U.S. airports for international travel.
After swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, eating copious amounts of tapas, and drowning yourself in gelato, the journey back home is always the hardest. Nothing ruins a post-vacation high more than finding a long, winding line waiting for you at the airport’s immigration checkpoint.
Unfortunately, long delays at the border are—typically—out of our control. However, a new survey from Upgraded Points indicates that travelers could save up to 81 minutes by avoiding certain airports. Listed below are the top 10 worst U.S. international airports, alongside their U.S. Customs and Border Protection average wait times (AWT).
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with an AWT of 31.8 minutes.
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), with an AWT of 31.7 minutes.
- Nashville International Airport (BNA), with an AWT of 31.1 minutes.
- Orlando International Airport (MCO), with an AWT of 30.1 minutes.
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), with an AWT of 28 minutes.
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), with an AWT of 26 minutes.
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), with an AWT of 25.3 minutes.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO), with an AWT of 25.1 minutes.
- San Diego International Airport (SAN), with an AWT of 25 minutes.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), with an AWT of 24.9 minutes.
Shockingly, New York’s busiest international airport had the best ranking. Data shows that only 7 percent of travelers end up having to wait more than an hour at border control, and nearly 40 percent pass through immigration in less than 15 minutes. That’s impressive considering the average max wait time for travelers arriving at LAX is 81 minutes.
Nearly 14 percent of passengers who land at O’Hare get stuck waiting over an hour at immigration checkpoints. Travelers flying into LAX, MCO, MSP, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) face similar fates. But long lines affect smaller airports, too—just take a look at BNA, which snagged third place.
“These findings underscore a key point: there isn’t a strong correlation between an airport’s international travel volume and its immigration wait times. While major hubs like LAX and ORD experience congestion consistent with their size, airports like BNA show how smaller facilities can still struggle to get passengers processed efficiently,” reads the report.
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Secret tip for skipping immigration airport lines.
Depending on where you live, flying into another airport isn’t always an option. For travelers willing to fork over a $120 application fee, Global Entry exists. The Trusted Traveler Program, operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, expedites the immigration checkpoint process. If approved, travelers get special access to a priority line that puts them ahead of all other travelers.
“For eligible travelers, this can mean a faster, smoother arrival process—often shaving a meaningful chunk of time off international trips,” the report states.
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Top 10 best U.S. airports for international travel.
Listed below are the top 10 best U.S. international airports, alongside their U.S. Customs and Border Protection average wait times (AWT).
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), with an AWT of 3.5 minutes.
- John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA), with an AWT of 6.4 minutes.
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), with an AWT of 7.5 minutes.
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), with an AWT of 11.1 minutes.
- Oakland International Airport (OAK), with an AWT of 12.8 minutes.
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), with an AWT of 14 minutes.
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), with an AWT of 14 minutes.
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF), with an AWT of 14 minutes.
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), with an AWT of 14.4 minutes.
- Portland International Airport (PDX), with an AWT of 14.5 minutes.
Content shared from bestlifeonline.com.