Author
Mara Quinn
Airport Operations Analyst
Posts by Mara
terminalsLAXLAX Terminal Transfers: Which Walks Are Worth It
LAX's nine terminals split into two airside groups, and a transfer between them costs a re-screen. Here's the walk math for every connection.
Mara Quinn
securityLASLas Vegas Monday Morning: The 40-Minute Line Nobody Expects
LAS's TSA line peaks at 40 minutes on Monday at 6 AM, when the weekend crowd flies home. Here's the pattern at the airport everyone assumes is easy.
Mara Quinn
seasonalLAXORDThe September Reset: When Airport Lines Go Quiet
After Labor Day, airport volume drops and the wait data follows. Here's what the September reset looks like and how to take advantage of it.
Mara Quinn
terminalsORDORD Terminal 5: The International Terminal Everyone Forgets
O'Hare's Terminal 5 handles the international arrivals, the customs flow, and a surprising share of the airport's dining. Here's how it works.
Mara Quinn
securityDENDenver's 4 AM Saturday Line Is the Weirdest Peak in the Data
DEN's TSA wait peaks at 47 minutes at 4 AM on Saturdays, the strangest checkpoint hour in the dataset. Here's what's actually happening.
Mara Quinn
strategyLAXORDHow to Read a TSA Wait-Time Table Like an Analyst
A TSA wait-time table has more information than most people know what to do with. Here's how to read one properly and turn it into an arrival plan.
Mara Quinn
terminalsJFKJFK's Terminal 8 Holds Every Restaurant in the Airport
JFK has 18 restaurants and virtually all of them sit in Terminal 8. Here's what that means for your connection and your meal.
Mara Quinn
securityIAHHouston's Sunday Morning Line: 60 Minutes at 6 AM
IAH's TSA wait peaks at 60 minutes on Sunday at 6 AM, the worst early-morning checkpoint in the data. Here's the pattern and how to dodge it.
Mara Quinn
seasonalMIAFLLHurricane Season and Florida Airports: How to Plan
August is peak hurricane season for the Gulf and Atlantic. Here's what the wait-time data can and can't tell you about flying through Florida in a storm window.
Mara Quinn
terminalsJFKJFK's Five Terminals and the Connection Math
JFK has five terminals that don't connect airside in a loop. Here's how to figure out your connection before you land, not after.
Mara Quinn
securityATLAtlanta's Monday Morning Checkpoint: 45 Minutes at 9 AM
ATL's TSA line peaks at 45 minutes on Monday at 9 AM, the worst slot at the world's busiest airport. Here's the pattern and the workaround.
Mara Quinn
strategyINDIAHThe 5 AM Trap: Airports Where Early Morning Is the Worst Time
The early-morning bank is the worst TSA window at a surprising number of airports. Indianapolis hits 63 minutes at 6 AM on Fridays; here's the full list.
Mara Quinn
terminalsMIAMIA Terminals: North, Central, and South Explained
Miami's five terminals split into North, Central, and South zones, and each one is a different airport. Here's how to know which you need.
Mara Quinn
securityFLLMIAFort Lauderdale's Sunday Morning TSA Line Beats Miami's
FLL's TSA waits peak at 69 minutes on Sunday at 11 AM, the longest in Florida and worse than Miami's 46-minute Monday peak. Here's the pattern.
Mara Quinn
strategyLAXMIAThe Red-Eye Is the Only Flight Without a Line
TSA data across major U.S. airports shows overnight hours are the quietest of the week. Here's what the red-eye actually saves you, hour by hour.
Mara Quinn
terminalsLAXLAX's Nine Terminals: A Field Guide
LAX has nine terminals and they are not interchangeable. Here's how to figure out which one you need before you leave home, not at the curb.
Mara Quinn
securityMIAMiami's Worst TSA Hour Is Monday at Noon
MIA's TSA waits peak at 46 minutes on Monday at noon, with Friday and Saturday nights close behind. Here's the day-by-day pattern and when to fly instead.
Mara Quinn
securityLAXBest Time to Fly Through LAX Without the Security Crush
LAX TSA waits peak at 25 minutes on Sunday mornings at 9 AM. Here's when to show up instead, based on the actual hourly wait-time data.
Mara Quinn
terminalsORDORD Terminals Explained: Which One Do You Actually Need
O'Hare has four main terminals and a confusing layout. Here's how to figure out which one you need before you leave home, not at the airport.
Mara Quinn