Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

Travel tips: Study says these are the best (and worst) airports to catch a connecting flight

Travel tips: If you can't fly nonstop, travel through this airport

By
airport
Skitterphoto / Pixabay

Choosing a good airport for your connecting flight is essential for a smooth air travel experience. An efficient airport can significantly impact your journey, minimizing the risk of delays, missed connections, and other hassles. FinanceBuzz recently performed a study ranking the best and worst airports for a connecting flight– and some of the airports on the list may surprise you.

Person sitting in airport
Marco Lopez / Unsplash

The best airports and worst airports for connecting flights

The study ranks these hubs as the best airports for connecting flights:

  • Richmond International Airport (RIC)
  • Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  • Boise Airport (BOI)
  • Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
  • Bradley International Airport (BDL)
  • Ontario International Airport (ONT)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  • Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Recommended Videos

Connecting through one of the airports on this list should be a breeze. At Richmond International Airport, the longest walk between any two gates in the airport is only eight minutes, and at Tampa International Airport, it only takes two minutes to walk from a security checkpoint to the gate situated farthest away in the terminal. Walking from one side to the other in Bradley International Airport’s largest terminal takes only three minutes, which is the shortest walk in any of America’s busiest airports. At SAT, it takes 50% less time to walk from end-to-end in the largest terminal than the national average.

Related

On the other hand, there are a few airports you may want to leave out of your travel plans. According to the study, the worst airports for a connecting flight include:

  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
  • Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  • John Wayne Airport (SNA)
  • LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

Any one of these airports can be a headache to navigate if you have a tight connecting flight. Denver International Airport is the airport with the worst delay problem in the country, and the longest walk between any two gates at Chicago O’Hare Airport is a staggering 49 minutes. Additionally, JFK has one of the longest walks possible between security and the farthest-away departure gate, which is 17 minutes. To walk between the two gates located furthest apart at LAX takes nearly an hour.

plane ticket
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock

Key considerations when choosing an airport for your connecting flight

When selecting an airport for your connecting flight, several key considerations should be made. Firstly, prioritize airports with efficient and well-coordinated flight schedules, minimizing your layover times and reducing the risk of missed connections. Also, consider the airport’s geographic location in relation to your final destination, as choosing a hub closer to your endpoint can shorten your overall travel time.

Additionally, evaluate the airport’s reputation for reliability, amenities, and services. If you have a tight connection, then you may want to think twice before traveling through some of the worst airports we mentioned above. Instead, opt for one of the hubs on the best airports list, and remember, always stay calm if you happen to miss your connecting flight.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Amanda Teague
Amanda Teague
Contributor
Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer featured in several online publications, is a dedicated explorer of both the world…
How to plan a vacation without the stress: A step-by-step approach
A step-by-step guide to to planning the vacation of your dreams
plane taking off with ocean in the background

Planning a vacation? I know the feeling – it usually starts with a spark of excitement, a growing list of dream destinations, and endless scrolling through travel blogs and Instagram photos. Then comes the deep dive into flight searches, hotel comparisons, itinerary planning, and second-guessing every possible choice. Are you packing too much into one day? What should you even bring? Before you know it, what started as an exciting idea begins to feel like an overwhelming project. Don’t worry, though! I’m here to walk you through how to plan a vacation step-by-step so you can get the most out of your time and planning.
Step-by-step guide for stress-free vacation planning
1. Choose your destination

Deciding where you want to go is the first step in planning any vacation. Are you dreaming of relaxing on a tropical beach in Bali, exploring the historic streets of Rome, or hiking the trails of Patagonia? Maybe you're picturing yourself sipping coffee in a Parisian café, snorkeling in clear waters in the Maldives, or chasing the northern lights in Iceland. 

Read more
How to cure motion sickness permanently: Effective strategies for lasting relief
It's time to stop motion sickness once and for all
Person sitting inside an airplane using a phone

Motion sickness can turn travel into a nightmare. If you’ve experienced nausea, dizziness, or fatigue while in motion, you’re not alone. Having dealt with it myself, I feel like I’ve tried everything. While remedies like ginger chews can offer some relief, they don't exactly provide a lasting solution. After diving deep into this topic to find answers for myself, I’m here to help you answer the question of how to cure motion sickness permanently. 
What causes motion sickness?

Before diving into solutions, it helps to understand why motion sickness happens in the first place. Motion sickness occurs when there’s a disconnect between what your eyes see, what your inner ear senses, and how your brain processes this information. 

Read more
How to replace an AirTag battery: A step-by-step guide
Battery low? Here’s how to give your AirTag new life
man tracking AirTag on phone

Many people swear by Apple’s AirTags (including me) for their simple and reliable way of keeping track of their stuff. You can use an AirTag for your keys, bag, or even your pet’s collar. If it's something that you frequently lose track of, an AirTag will be your best friend. One of the best features is that it uses a user-replaceable battery, so you don't have to worry about buying a whole new tracker when its power runs low. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to replace an AirTag battery so you can get back to tracking without missing a beat.
How do you know when to replace your AirTag battery?

The first sign that your AirTag’s battery might need replacing is when you receive a notification on your iPhone that the battery is low. Apple will send you a notification when the battery is nearing the end of its life.
What you'll need to replace the battery
Before you get started, make sure you have what you’ll need:

Read more