10 U.S. Airports With the Longest TSA Wait Times This Winter
Winter travel already comes with tight connections and packed flights, so long TSA lines hit harder this time of year. At some U.S. airports, those delays are not random. Crowds build up the same way every winter, and standard security lines tend to back up again and again at the same major hubs. Using historical TSA wait-time ranges from the FAA Core 30 airports, these ten locations show the most consistent pattern of longer waits during the winter travel season.
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Security lines at JFK almost never move fast. Only about 4 percent of daytime hours fall into a 15-minute wait, while the vast majority fall into the 15 to 30-minute range. In practical terms, that means travelers should plan for a steady, moderate delay no matter when they arrive. A constant flow of international departures keeps screening lanes busy even on smooth travel days with clear weather and on-time flights.
Newark Liberty International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Winter weather across the Northeast often sends passengers arriving earlier than usual, which builds lines before delays even appear on departure boards. TSA data shows 59.2% of hours fall in the 15 to 30 minute range, with fewer than 40% under 15 minutes.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
As one of the country’s biggest connecting hubs, even minor winter disruptions quickly funnel more passengers through the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport security all at once. About 49.0% of TSA hours land between 15 and 30 minutes, nearly matching the 48.3% under 15 minutes.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Snow changes everything at O’Hare International Airport. TSA wait times split almost perfectly, with 50.3% of hours falling between 15 and 30 minutes. When Midwest storms hit, delayed flights often depart in waves, pushing security lines from calm to crowded with little warning during winter weekends and holiday travel surges tied to regional weather patterns.
Harry Reid International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Most of the time, security at Harry Reid stays manageable, but delays are far from rare. Roughly 44 percent of hours fall into the 15 to 30 minute range, with a small but meaningful share pushing past that. About 0.7 percent of hours stretch to 45 to 60 minutes, usually when large events or convention crowds flood Las Vegas. Winter tourism amplifies that swing, turning what feels routine into a sudden choke point.
San Diego International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Mild weather doesn’t guarantee fast screening, as TSA data shows 44.9% of hours at San Diego International run 15 to 30 minutes, despite more than half staying under 15 minutes. With one main terminal handling most traffic, peak departure windows can quickly overwhelm checkpoints during holidays, especially when regional travel demand spikes along the West Coast.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sheer volume drives delays at Atlanta. Winter storms across the Southeast cause cancellations, and recovery days funnel large numbers of passengers through security checkpoints at once. Most waits stay under 15 minutes, but over 43 percent of TSA hours still fall in the 15 to 30 minute range.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, nearly 64% of TSA hours average under 15 minutes. Still, more than a third still fall in the 15 to 30 minute range. Phoenix benefits from fewer winter cancellations, yet heavy holiday travel can still slow lines during peak departure times, even with clear skies.
Philadelphia International Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
On paper, TSA waits look short, with over two-thirds of hours under 15 minutes. Winter storms change that quickly. During recent severe weather, about 94% of flights were canceled, forcing travelers to reenter terminals and security checkpoints once operations resumed, temporarily pushing lines well beyond normal levels seen in calmer conditions.
LaGuardia Airport
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
LaGuardia’s TSA performance surprises many travelers. Roughly 72.1% of hours average under 15 minutes, one of the better showings among major airports. Still, winter storms have recently disrupted most of the schedule, with cancellations reaching about 91%. When flights resume, security lines often swell as stranded passengers try again.