These are the worst U.S. airports for international travel this summer
Flying internationally involves a bit more preparation as well as time spent in the airport. As we get into peak summer travel season, clearing customs and immigration could take even more time as checkpoints face backups. Just as some major airports are known for more hassle than others, some have longer wait times at immigration checkpoints than others. New data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection reveals the worst airports for international travel, where you'll likely wait far longer to clear immigration.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) comes in as the number one worst airport for international travel. Average wait to reach a Customs and Border Protection agent? 31.8 minutes. Non-U.S. citizens can expect 43.7 minutes in line, and 12.8% of all travelers find themselves stuck for over an hour.
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is just as bad. The overall average wait time here is a fraction of a second faster, at 31.7 minutes. U.S. citizens can expect an average wait of 27.3 minutes, while non-U.S. citizens could face 40.3 minutes in line. ORD also has the highest percentage of travelers who wait more than an hour in line, at 13.6%.
Nashville International (BNA) might have a much lower passenger volume, but it has surprisingly long wait times. Immigration waits average 31.1 minutes, with only 20.2% of travelers breezing through in under 15.
On the flip side, airports known for their efficiency and speedy immigration lines include Palm Beach International (PBI) with an average wait time of 3.5 minutes, John Wayne Airport (SNA) at 6.4 minutes and Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) at 7.5 minutes.
So if you're traveling internationally this summer and you have a choice in airports when returning, peruse the full report here. Even arrival times matter, as the worst delays hit between 10am and 3pm.
Want to skip the wait altogether? Enroll in Global Entry. It includes TSA PreCheck and gets you into a fast lane at immigration via automated kiosks.
U.S. airports with the longest immigration wait times:
LAX, Los Angeles
ORD, Chicago
BNA, Nashville
MCO, Orlando
MSP, Minneapolis
AUS, Austin
IAH, Houston
SFO, San Francisco
SAN, San Diego
JFK, New York
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