New Study Finds 1 in 5 Frequent Holiday Travelers Missed a Flight Because They Arrived at the Airport Too Late

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Getting to the airport two hours before departure may not be enough this holiday season. Upgraded Points' latest study found that travelers at many major U.S. airports may need to arrive more than three hours early for a comfortable cushion. The study also identifies each airport's busiest TSA screening day over the holidays and surveys 500 frequent holiday flyers about how they're preparing to travel in 2026.

Key Findings

• Denver International Airport (DEN) requires the earliest recommended arrival time before a holiday flight at 3 hours and 35 minutes.
• 1 in 5 frequent holiday travelers missed a flight because they arrived at the airport too late.
• The most common reasons frequent holiday travelers missed a flight are long TSA lines (43%), car traffic (42%), long baggage lines (31%), and traveling with children/family (31%).
• Besides arriving earlier, frequent holiday travelers recommend checking in online before arriving, checking your bags as early as possible, TSA PreCheck or similar programs, and traveling with just a carry-on bag instead of checking a bag.

"Holiday flight travel is particularly stressful for many Americans, so we wanted to help air travelers plan how much time to build in at the airport," said Ryan Smith, Director of News at Upgraded Points. "Check-in online before you leave, and give yourself plenty of extra time for traffic and TSA lines to mitigate the odds of missing your flights—which would mean missing all of the holiday fun."

Study Methodology

Upgraded Points analyzed 15 factors affecting the preflight experience, including parking availability, TSA wait times, terminal size, and departure delays. Data points were standardized for comparison and weighted by significance. An index of each airport's combined data was used to calculate its recommended preflight arrival time, with two hours before departure as the median benchmark.

The analysis focuses on domestic flight data and recommendations. Most data points focus on winter holiday periods: Thanksgiving week and the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year's Eve. TSA throughput figures are based on 2025 data from the TSA FOIA Electronic Reading Room. Upgraded Points also surveyed 500 frequent holiday travelers in October 2026.

Make Your Plan, Check It Twice: The Top 10 Airports to Arrive Early at This Holiday Season

1. Denver International Airport (DEN) – 3 hours, 35 minutes before the flight
2. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – 3 hours, 32 minutes
3. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – 3 hours, 29 minutes
4. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) – 3 hours, 26 minutes
5. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – 3 hours, 21 minutes
6. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – 3 hours, 21 minutes
7. Miami International Airport (MIA) – 3 hours, 18 minutes
8. Orlando International Airport (MCO) – 3 hours, 17 minutes
9. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) – 3 hours, 16 minutes
10. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – 3 hours, 5 minutes

TSA Lines Are Coming to Town: Holiday TSA Peaks at the 10 U.S. Airports With the Highest Average Daily Passenger Screenings

Travelers flying on these dates in 2026 may experience even busier TSA checkpoints than expected during the holiday season. Of the 44 busiest U.S. airports analyzed, 23% processed the highest volume of travelers during the 2025 holiday season at TSA checkpoints on the Sunday after Christmas (12/28/25).

1. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – The Sunday before Christmas (12/21/25)
2. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – Three days before Christmas (12/22/25)
3. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) – The Sunday after Christmas (12/28/25)
4. Orlando International Airport (MCO) – The Saturday after New Year's (1/3/26)
5. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) – The Sunday after Christmas (12/28/25)
6. Miami International Airport (MIA) – The Saturday after Christmas (12/27/25)
7. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – Three days before Christmas (12/22/25)
8. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – Two days before Christmas (12/23/25)
9. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Three days before Christmas (12/22/25)
10. Denver International Airport (DEN) – Two days before Christmas (12/23/25)

Visit the full study online for more 2026 holiday season air travel insights.

About Upgraded Points:
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Upgraded Points is a travel company that helps to demystify the complex world of travel and credit cards. Launched in 2016, Upgraded Points uses targeted research efforts and in-depth studies to help travelers maximize their travel, points, and experiences. Learn more at www.UpgradedPoints.com.

SOURCE Upgraded Points