These airports, unfortunately, don’t have the best reputation when it comes to connecting flights. Be wary.
Air travel has brought the world closer. But there’s no denying that flying is one of the most stressful parts of any vacation. It’s everything unpleasant altogether at once—baggage restrictions, ancillary fees, immigration and security, crowds, expensive food, flight anxiety, and boredom. Add a layover to the mix, and you add another variable that may not be under your control. If you’re flying internationally, choose the right layover destination based on the weather, how much time you have to make the connection, and the season you’re traveling. These airports, unfortunately, don’t have the best reputation when it comes to connecting flights, so be wary.
Related: 8 Things You’re Not Considering When Booking a Flight–But Should Be
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Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
WHERE: Georgia
The Atlanta airport is the world’s busiest airport, serving over 100 million passengers in a year. With so many pieces in the puzzle, it’s not surprising that the airport faces cancellations and delays. What makes it worse is that the region is known for bad weather, with both summer storms and winter snowstorms. If you can avoid Atlanta when bad weather is forecast, try your luck by connecting elsewhere.
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Chicago O’Hare International Airport
WHERE: Illinois
Another airport faces cancellations because of brutal weather. It’s the Windy City, after all. But it’s also a huge airport with four terminals and 215 gates. Terminal 5 isn’t connected to the other terminals, so you need to take a bus or train to get between it and all the rest. Plus, train travelers will need to go through security again, but the bus is airside (past security).
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Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
WHERE: Texas
Travelers find DFW stressful. The airport has a high cancellation and delay rate among its peers and has long queues for security and immigration. But one thing that is frequently criticized is its layout with an unsequenced terminal order.
Despite that, frequent travelers have found a way to enjoy the Skylink Train, and if you know where you’re going, you can make it in time for your next flight. Dallas Fort Worth is the hub of American Airlines, so it’s an important airport many will inevitably have to fly through. If you have a short layover, make sure you understand where the terminals are beforehand (download the app or familiarize yourself with the map), and double-check your gate number, as it may change.
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John F. Kennedy International Airport
WHERE: New York City
Americans generally don’t like JFK. TSA lines are long, lounges are crowded, and the infrastructure is old. Travelers also complain of frequent delays—they are made worse by air traffic controller shortages. But employees can be rude, and the infrastructure is quite dated (the airport is undergoing major renovations). In addition, the airport does not have airside terminals, so you need to take the train and clear security again. If you’re connecting through this hub, give yourself at least two hours for a domestic flight or three hours for an international flight.
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Paris-Charles De Gaulle
WHERE: France
Fliers hate the Parisian airport for its confusing layout. On Reddit, many have lamented missing connecting flights or flying without baggage because even a two-hour layover isn’t enough to get from one terminal to the other. Planes often also take really long to taxi, so take all of these into account (and double-check your layover time) to avoid a stressful hop.
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London Heathrow
WHERE: England
Heathrow is notorious for its crowds. It’s a big airport that serves 80 million passengers annually. Going from one terminal to the next, including security, can take up to 45 minutes because you might need to take a bus or train. Terminals 2 and 5 have a journey time of 20 minutes by train, while it takes up to 30 minutes to go from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5. If you’re connecting there, you need to queue up for a security check even if you’ve just deplaned.
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Milan Bergamo Airport
WHERE: Italy
Travel company Airhelp, which assists travelers in claiming compensation for missed flights, ranked Milan’s Bergamo Airport as the worst airport for connecting flights. The airport has also been facing long wait times at passport control due to the European Union’s new entry/exit system. In April, a Ryanair flight left passengers behind after they were held up at passport control.
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Frankfurt Airport
WHERE: Germany
Another big airport where you need to clear passport control and security before you can transfer. But travelers also give it a thumbs down because of its massive, sprawling layout and lack of assistance. The lines can be huge, so if you need to fly via Frankfurt, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to go through extra-slow security lines and walk long distances.