Upgraded Points has ranked U.S. airports by the time travellers may need between flights, highlighting how terminal complexity can reshape itinerary planning.
Upgraded Points has published a study ranking the U.S. airports where travellers may need the largest time cushion to make a connection. The analysis examined 25 of the country’s most connected airports and translated operational and navigational factors into recommended layover times. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston ranked highest, with an indexed recommendation of two hours and 17 minutes. The findings frame connection time as a practical planning issue rather than a simple gap between scheduled arrivals and departures.
The study focuses on domestic flight data and evaluates 14 factors affecting how passengers move through terminals. These include airport size, the number of terminals and gates, passenger and aircraft activity, on-time and delayed departures, cancelled flights, inter-terminal transport, walking time, lounges, and food and beverage options. Upgraded Points says each data point was scaled for comparison and weighted according to its importance to schedules and terminal navigation.
Houston was followed by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, at two hours and 16 minutes, while John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York ranked third at two hours and two minutes. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Denver International and Chicago O’Hare rounded out the next three positions, with recommended connection times ranging from one hour and 54 minutes to one hour and 57 minutes. Charlotte Douglas, Los Angeles International, Harry Reid International in Las Vegas and Newark Liberty completed the top 10, each requiring between one hour and 39 minutes and one hour and 51 minutes under the study’s index.
The ranking also identifies airports where the calculated time requirement is notably lower. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport placed first in the short-layover group at 50 minutes, followed by Chicago Midway at 56 minutes and Dallas Love Field at 59 minutes. Honolulu International was listed at one hour and five minutes, while Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport received a one-hour-and-13-minute recommendation. The study used a 90-minute layover as its statistical median, with airport scores measured out of 50 and higher scores indicating that more time should be allowed.
For travellers, the results offer a more granular way to assess connecting itineraries, particularly when a journey involves a large or complicated hub. The study does not replace airline-specific connection rules or account for every individual itinerary, but it gives scheduled layover length a broader operational context. By presenting airport navigation and performance factors alongside recommended buffers, Upgraded Points extends its travel-research remit into a question with direct implications for how passengers compare routes and manage transfer risk.
