Here’s how much time travelers waste at Logan Airport, according to a study

Boston travelers waste an average of 20 minutes on tarmac delays.

Passengers at Logan Airport in 2018, MATT CAMPBELL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

October 30, 2024

1 minute to read

Delays can be an unfortunate part of air travel, but just how much time travelers actually waste depends on the airport, according to Upgraded Points.

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The travel website released a study focused on how much time travelers waste at U.S. airports and Logan Airport ranked No. 16 out of 50 airports.

The study analyzed the average flight delays, taxi-out times, and layover durations using data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Google Flights.

“Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just an occasional traveler, wasting time at the airport is something everyone wants to avoid,” said Keri Stooksbury, editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points, in a statement. “But unfortunately, delays, tarmac waits, equipment maintenance, and long layovers are often unavoidable. Our latest study provides travelers with insights into which airports are more prone to these delays, helping them better prepare and minimize frustration.”

According to the study, travelers waste an average of 29 minutes due to delays at large U.S. airports. At Logan, the total time wasted due to delays is 32.2 minutes — 11.7 minutes on departure delays and 20.5 minutes on tarmac delays.

Travelers experience the most delays at Miami International Airport, according to the report, where the average departure delay is 24.6 minutes and the average taxi-out time is 22.6 minutes, for a total of 47.1 minutes. Passengers waste the least amount of time at Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii, where the average departure delay is 5.7 minutes and the average taxi-out time is 10.5 minutes, for a total of 16.2 minutes.

The study also examined the average cross-country layover time at U.S. airports, using data from more than 30,000 cross-country flights collected from Google Flights over a five-day period. The average layover at Logan Airport is 3 hours and 35 minutes, one minute above the overall average of 3 hours and 34 minutes.

The airport with the longest layover is Hawaii’s Kahului Airport, where passengers waste the least amount of time on delays, with an average of 5 hours and 8 minutes. The shortest layover time is at San Antonio International Airport in Texas, at 2 hours and 46 minutes.

Check out how much time travelers waste at U.S. airports.

Kristi Palma

Travel writer

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.