The Best and Worst U.S. Airports for Early and Red-Eye Flights

We’ve all been there: setting your alarm at an ungodly hour for your early morning flight, traveling to airports wishing you were still in bed, and arriving to find your flight is delayed—not the greatest start to your trip.

It can be just as frustrating when your late-night flight is delayed, as all you want is to settle into your seat to get a bit of shuteye, but now you may have to wait a few more hours.

Photo: Courtesy of Joel Ambass / Unsplash

While many flight delays can’t be predicted or avoided, data shows that some airports are more likely to experience delays than others. A recent study by Upgraded Points revealed which airports in the U.S. are the best—and worst—for red-eye flights in terms of them actually leaving on time.

The team at Upgraded Points analyzed flight data from 50 of the busiest airports in the country, taking into account several factors that determine how well-equipped each is for handling early morning and late-night flights.

Taking data from a mix of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and individual airport websites, factors considered included the percentage of flights that depart before 8:00 AM or after 8:00 PM, the percentage of those flights that are subsequently delayed, the average time of those delays, and the number of places selling coffee and alcohol, with each airport receiving a total score out of 50.

Best for early morning flights

According to the report, the best airport in the U.S. for early morning flights is Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE), with a score of 39.9 out of 50. Over a third (38.5 percent) of flights out of Cleveland leave before 8:00 AM, with just 13.9 percent experiencing delays.

The next best for early morning flights is Kansas City International Airport (MCI), with a score of 38.5, followed by Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), with a score of 36.6.

Worst for early morning flights

At the other end of the scale, the worst airport for early morning flights is Miami International Airport (MIA), which scored 9.2 out of 50. Almost a third (31.6 percent) of its early morning flights experience delays, the worst proportion in the study, with an average delay time of over 7 minutes.

Photo: Courtesy of Miami International Airport

The second-worst is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), with a total score of 15.6, while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the third-worst, with a score of 16.4.

Best for late night flights

When it comes to late-night flights, Atlanta reigns as the best airport, with a score of 36.5. Considering that ATL is the third-worst for early morning flights, it’s clear that booking flights later in the day is better if you are flying out of Delta‘s primary hub.

Photo: Detroit International Airport. Courtesy of Hanson-Lu / Unsplash

The second-best for late-night flights is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), with a score of 36.1, while Salt Lake City, the second-worst for early-morning flights, is the third-best for late-night flights, with a score of 33.7.

Worst for late night flights

The worst airport for late-night flights, with a score of just 3.1 out of 50, is Cincinnati International Airport (CVG). Although only one percent of its flights depart after 8:00 PM, an average of 77.8 percent of them are delayed.

The next worst for late-night flights is San Antonio International Airport (SAT), with a score of 14.6, followed by Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), with a score of 16.

“Travelers looking to avoid crowded terminals or save on airfare often choose flights at non-peak times,” said Keri Stooksbury, editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points. “Flying early in the morning or late at night can save money and reduce stress, but only if you know which airports are best equipped for these flights.”