Airport data, decoded for people who actually fly
We take the TSA wait times, terminal, and arrival data we publish every day and turn it into decisions you can use: when to leave for the airport, which terminal to pick, and how to stop trusting the generic "arrive two hours early" rule.
Latest posts, page 5
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newsATLIAHThe 2026 Shutdown Gave TSA Its Worst Waits on Record
A February funding lapse left 50,000 TSA officers unpaid and produced the longest security lines in the agency's history. Here's what the numbers actually were.
FlyIndex Editorial
securityDCAIADReagan National Peaks Tuesday Afternoon, Not Monday Morning
DCA tops out at 28 minutes on Tuesday at 2 PM, on a business-travel pattern unlike any other hub. Here's the full week and how to plan an arrival time.
FlyIndex Editorial
terminalsLAXLAX Terminals 2 and 3: The Delta Side's Better Half
Terminal 3 has a food hall and Native by Nyesha. Terminal 2 has SeaLegs Wine Bar. Here's how LAX's two connected terminals actually compare, side by side.
FlyIndex Editorial
diningLAXLAX Terminal 7 Food: B Grill, Ashland Hill and the Rest
United's LAX terminal has ten restaurants including a Boa Steakhouse offshoot. Here's what's worth eating, what to skip, and how to time the whole stop.
FlyIndex Editorial
internationalDFWDallas Customs Peaks at 53 Minutes. The Rest Is Flat
DFW clears customs in 53 minutes at worst and 35 at best, with a security line that barely varies. Here's why that predictability matters for connections.
FlyIndex Editorial
securityPHLPhiladelphia's TSA Ceiling Is Only 25 Minutes. Here's Why
PHL never exceeds 25 minutes at any hour of the week, a rare flat profile for a hub. Here's the pattern and what that predictability means for your buffer.
FlyIndex Editorial
diningMIAMIA Central Terminal Food: 32 Options Across E, F and G
Miami's Central Terminal has Jackson Soul Food, Sergio's Cuban and a Chick-fil-A across 32 options. Here's what's near your gate and what's worth the walk.
FlyIndex Editorial
securityLIHLihue's TSA Line Hits 70 Minutes on Thursday at Noon
Kauai's airport peaks at 70 minutes midday Thursday and stays elevated all week. Here's the hourly pattern and why LIH is harder than its size suggests.
FlyIndex Editorial
strategyTLHDFWWhat a 'Peak Wait' Actually Measures, and What It Misses
A 70-minute peak and a 70-minute average are completely different problems. Here's how to read airport wait-time data without drawing the wrong conclusion.
FlyIndex Editorial
internationalIAHHouston Customs Is 50 Minutes. Security Is the Real Problem
IAH clears customs in 50 minutes at peak, but its TSA line hits 60 on Sunday morning. For a connection, the second number is the one that really costs you.
FlyIndex Editorial
securityBUFBuffalo Has 97 Quiet TSA Hours. That's a Northeast Record
BUF logs 97 hourly slots under five minutes and peaks at just 33. Here's the weekly pattern and why Buffalo is the easiest checkpoint in the Northeast.
FlyIndex Editorial
terminalsORDO'Hare Terminal 2 Has the Smallest Food Floor at ORD
Terminal 2 at O'Hare has four restaurants and connects to Terminals 1 and 3 airside. Here's what's there, what isn't, and where you should walk instead.
FlyIndex Editorial