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New study ranks airports where you need to arrive the earliest

Upgraded Points releases study ranking the airports where you need to arrive the earliest

By Mark Reif Apr 23, 2025 4:36 AM

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

Timing your arrival to the airport can be a challenge. You don’t want to get there too early and wait for hours before takeoff, but you also don’t want to get backed up and barely make the flight. In general, the accepted practice is to arrive two hours before flight time to ensure time for any hangups. But that rule might not work at all airports.

Recently, Upgraded Points conducted a study of the 50 busiest airports in the U.S., analyzing key data points that affect preflight travel times. With that info, the study ranked which airports require earlier arrival, and those where you can rest easy and take your time.

How Upgraded Points conducted the study

During the study, Upgraded Points analyzed 15 data points that affected the preflight experience. Among those were departure delays, security wait times, parking, and shopping options at the airport. Though smaller airports can offer a relaxed pace on the way to the gate, big-city hubs can be hectic and feel like a maze. The data from 50 airports showed that arriving two hours and five minutes before a domestic flight is a good practice to follow. But at busy hubs, that can vary substantially.

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The top 10 airports requiring extra time before departure:

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – 3 hours, 20 minutes before your flight
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) – 3 hours, 6 minutes
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – 3 hours, 5 minutes
Orlando International Airport (MCO) – 3 hours, 1 minute
Denver International Airport (DEN) – 2 hours, 59 minutes
Miami International Airport (MIA) – 2 hours, 58 minutes before your flight
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – 2 hours, 53 minutes
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) – 2 hours, 51 minutes
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – 2 hours, 47 minutes
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – 2 hours, 46 minutes

The top 10 airports where you can take your time:

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) – 53 minutes before your flight
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) – 55 minutes
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) – 59 minutes
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) – 1 hour, 2 minutes
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) – 1 hour, 11 minutes
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) – 1 hour, 16 minutes
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) – 1 hr, 22 minutes
Oakland International Airport (OAK) – 1 hour, 28 minutes
John Wayne Airport (SNA) – 1 hour, 29 minutes
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) – 1 hour, 31 minutes

Mark Reif is a storyteller focused on the intersection of outdoor culture, travel, and design. From the peaks of Banff to the… Read Full Bio

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