With the announcement that airlines are now required to refund travelers in full if a flight is delayed or canceled, we can relax a little about fighting for compensation, but why not try to avoid the hassle completely? Sitting waiting in a lounge or on the tarmac is mind-numbingly dull, not to mention frustrating, and at some airports, this is happening a little too often for anyone’s liking — here’s looking at you, LaGuardia. A recent study by Upgraded Points highlights which US airports have the most significant wait times, from extended flight delays to lengthy taxi-out times. And although it’s not always easy to avoid airports with a bad reputation, at least we know to grab another book on the way out the door.
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The US Airports Where You'll Waste the Most Time on Delays and Plane Taxiing
The study analyzed data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Google Flights to examine 50 major US airports and pinpoint those that consistently disrupt smooth travel.
Photo: Upgraded Points
But let’s start with the good news. Some airports are leading the charge with their efficiency. Kahului Airport in Maui has minimal delays, with an average departure delay of just 5.7 minutes and a taxi-out time of 10.5 minutes (total average wasted time of only 16.2 minutes.) Other airports with notably short wait times include Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, Sacramento International Airport, and one of the world’s busiest airports, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.
On the other end of the scale are those that consistently plague travelers with travel disruptions. Miami International Airport takes the unfortunate title of the biggest time suck, with an average departure delay of 24.6 minutes and a taxi-out time of 22.6 minutes, totaling nearly an hour of wasted dead time.
San Francisco International Airport, an important hub for domestic and international flights, also experiences significant delays. There is an average wait for boarding of 20.5 minutes and a horrible 20.8 minutes on the tarmac.
Following closely behind is the well-known culprit, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Passengers flying out of DFW can expect to waste an average of nearly 40 minutes. Philadelphia International Airport also makes the bad list, with extended taxi-out times being a particular issue.
However, the medal for the longest taxi-out time goes to LaGuardia. Although the average delay at the NYC airport is only slightly above the national average, at 13.5 minutes, due to issues with limited runway space, you can expect a wait for up to 23 minutes in your cramped economy seat before take off. 