Without a doubt, one of the biggest challenges that every flyer faces when flying around the country or around the world is dealing with security checkpoints. It’s obviously a good thing that the government has taken steps to make flying as safe as possible, but there’s no denying that the increase in security has led to more than its fair share of headaches.
How one experiences ‘airport security’, though, largely depends upon what airports you’re using. In some airports around the country, things move in a relatively orderly fashion and it’s actually quite easy to get through security. In some other airports around the country, things are decidedly the opposite… So, what are the best and worst security checkpoints in U.S. airports? That’s what we’ll be exploring below…
1. Detroit Metropolitan Airport (Best)
For a busy airport, they’ve seemingly got security down to a science here. It usually only takes around 11 minutes to get through security.
2. JFK (Worst)
This busy New York City airport is one of the worst for getting through security, with wait times that hover around an average of 17 minutes.
3. Tampa International Airport (Best)
The design of this airport makes getting through security a relative cinch, with many claiming they only encounter wait times of around five to 11 minutes.
4. Newark Liberty International Airport (Worst)
Things aren’t any better for New Yorkers at this airport, where wait times can quickly balloon to 16-and-a-half minutes or longer.
5. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Best)
This is one of the busiest airports in the entire world, yet they’ve been able to make security so efficient that most people don’t even consider it an inconvenience.
6. Orlando International (Worst)
Given the nearby options in Florida, why would you ever want to contend with the wait times here, which can typically reach 20 minutes or longer.
7. Palm Beach Airport (Best)
Smaller and less traveled than other nearby airports like those in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, it usually takes 10 minutes or less to get through security here.
8. LAX (Worst)
When you combine Los Angeles traffic with the typically long wait times at TSA checkpoints at LAX, you have one of the most stressful airports to deal with in the country.
9. Louisville Regional Airport (Worst)
Many reviewers claim that it’s amateur hour at the TSA checkpoints in this airport, something that causes wait times to be much higher than they have any right to be.
10. Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport (Best)
It’s a busy airport, and one where TSA agents frequently have to contend with concealed-carry types. Yet, most travelers find the wait times here to be negligible.
