15 Airports With the Worst Security Lines Over the Holidays

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Upgraded Points.

As eager travelers prepare to visit family and friends this holiday season, airports are gearing up for a surge in activity not witnessed in years.

Commercial airlines are often busiest around the winter holidays, and with increasing demand for air travel, longer security wait times could present a major challenge for passengers.

Knowing what to expect at TSA (Transportation Security Administration) checkpoints will help travelers coordinate transportation, minimize disruptions, and even avoid missing flights.

For travelers who are constrained in their choice of airport, acquiring TSA PreCheck is the most effective method to minimize wait times.

During the 2022 holiday travel season, the average TSA PreCheck passenger experienced roughly one-third of the wait time compared with the typical standard passenger.

The following is a list of the worst security lines among major U.S. airports during the holidays. Find details of the methodology at the end.

1. Jacksonville International Airport

• Airport Code: JAX
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 12.0 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +28.6%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 3.8 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +40.6%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Tuesday

2. Newark Liberty International Airport

• Airport Code: EWR
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 11.7 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +25.1%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.5 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +20.1%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Monday

3. John F. Kennedy International Airport (NYC)

• Airport Code: JFK
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 9.6 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +16.0%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 1.8 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +26.6%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Tuesday

4. Orlando International Airport

• Airport Code: MCO
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 9.2 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +10.7%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.5 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): -1.4%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Wednesday

5. Denver International Airport

• Airport Code: DEN
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 9.1 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +21.5%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.4 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +22.1%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Wednesday

6. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport

• Airport Code: FLL
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 9.1 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +11.2%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 3.0 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +26.0%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Friday

7. San Diego International Airport

• Airport Code: SAN
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 8.8 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +7.9%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.1 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +3.4%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Tuesday

8. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

• Airport Code: PHX
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 8.7 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +9.7%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 1.9 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +5.4%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Tuesday

9. Indianapolis International Airport

• Airport Code: IND
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 7.9 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +19.5%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.6 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +7.6%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Wednesday

10. Charleston International Airport

• Airport Code: CHS
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 7.6 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +21.9%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 3.2 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +14.9%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Wednesday

11. Dallas Love Field

• Airport Code: DAL
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 7.6 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): -7.8%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.1 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +6.1%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Sunday

12. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

• Airport Code: CVG
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 7.4 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +15.4%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.6 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +4.4%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Wednesday

13. Salt Lake City International Airport

• Airport Code: SLC
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 7.4 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +14.8%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.9 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +0.7%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Tuesday

14. Austin–Bergstrom International Airport

• Airport Code: AUS
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 7.2 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +8.5%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 1.8 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +34.4%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Friday

15. Eppley Airfield (Omaha)

• Airport Code: OMA
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA: 7.0 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through Standard TSA (Compared to Usual): +5.7%
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA: 2.9 minutes
• Average Holiday Wait Time Through PreCheck TSA (Compared to Usual): +22.0%
• Worst Day of the Week for Holiday TSA Wait Times: Wednesday

Methodology

The data in this analysis was obtained from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

To determine the airports with the worst security lines over the holidays, researchers at Upgraded Points calculated the average wait time at standard TSA checkpoints for all major U.S. airports during the 2022 holiday season.

The Thanksgiving holiday was defined as November 17, 2022, through Nov. 28, 2022, and the winter holiday was considered to be Dec. 17, 2022, through Jan. 3, 2023.

Researchers also calculated the average wait time at TSA PreCheck security checkpoints and the percentage change for both standard and TSA PreCheck wait times compared to average, where the average wait time was calculated during Jan. 4, 2022, through Jan. 3, 2023, for consistency.