After the post-pandemic travel boom saw international departures soar in 2023, the landscape has shifted. In 2025, the era of “revenge travel” has given way to a more moderate demand for international trips,¹ with growth normalizing as economic uncertainty comes into play. While the winter holiday season remains a peak period for U.S. travelers heading abroad, the overall volume is no longer on the explosive upward trajectory seen in previous years.
One might assume that a leveling off in demand would automatically lead to shorter lines at airport security and customs. However, the reality is more complex. As passenger forecasts adjust, both airports and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may recalibrate staffing. This can create a delicate balance in which even a modest holiday surge can outpace available resources, leading to unexpected bottlenecks.
Fortunately, even in this evolving travel climate, many factors within the traveler’s control — including choice of airport and arrival time — can increase the likelihood of an efficient travel day this holiday season.
Average Customs Wait Times for U.S. Citizens vs. Non-U.S. Citizens
Despite common perceptions, immigration and customs wait times at U.S. international airports are typically reasonable, even during the winter holiday period (from the week before Christmas through the New Year holiday). The average wait time during the winter holidays in 2024 was 22 minutes, aligning closely with the rest of the year. Nearly half of travelers (45.5%) enjoyed wait times of 15 minutes or less, while a mere 5.8% endured waits of 60 minutes or more.
However, factors such as arrival time and citizenship status significantly impact how long it takes travelers to clear these checkpoints. Arrival between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. results in approximately 26% longer wait times compared to other hours of the day. Likewise, non-U.S. citizens can expect to wait an astounding 97% longer than U.S. citizens, with noncitizens averaging 29.8 minutes and U.S. citizens averaging 15.1 minutes for clearing immigration and customs.
Airport Immigration and Customs Wait Times During the Winter Holidays
When it comes to wait times, airport choice is the single most important factor. Surprisingly, there isn’t a strong correlation between immigration wait times and airport size. For example, out of 41 major international airports in the U.S. tracked by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) reported the shortest average winter holiday wait time in 2024 at 3.8 minutes. However, it’s worth noting that PBI is also the nation’s smallest international airport in terms of passenger traffic.
Similarly, John Wayne Airport (SNA) had the second-shortest international wait time during the winter holiday at 4.9 minutes and also had the second-lowest international passenger volume.
In stark contrast, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) distinguished itself by efficiently processing a substantial volume of international passengers. Despite PHX being nearly 10 times busier than PBI and SNA combined, the average wait time during the holiday season was only marginally longer: just 7 minutes.
How Passengers Can Reduce Their Wait Time
Arriving international passengers can save considerable time at immigration by being approved in the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program. Low-risk travelers are given preclearance to fast-track through immigration upon arrival at over 60 airports.
Global Entry costs $120 for a 5-year term, and this fee can be reimbursed by charging it to a card such as the Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which all provide a statement credit against the application fee payment. Children under 18 have their fee waived if a parent or legal guardian is a Global Entry member or is concurrently applying.
The Mobile Passport Control app is a free alternative to Global Entry. This program is available at over 30 airports and can also help passengers expedite their arrival in the U.S.
Full Results
Below is a breakdown of the best and worst U.S. airports for international travel during the winter holiday season. Upgraded Points researchers conducted the analysis using U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. The data shown is for travelers passing through immigration and customs during the 2024 winter holiday travel season (from the week before Christmas through the New Year holiday).
Methodology
The data used in this study is from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s CBP Airport Wait Times dataset.
To determine the best and worst airports for international travel this winter holiday season, researchers at Upgraded Points calculated average wait times for travelers passing through customs during the 2024 winter holiday travel season (including the week before Christmas through the New Year holiday). All major U.S. international airports tracked by the CBP were included. Researchers also calculated the average maximum wait time for all travelers, which is a total traveler-weighted average of the hourly maximum wait times reported for each airport over the study period.
Average holiday wait times for U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens, the percentage of all travelers that passed through customs in under 15 minutes, and the percentage of all travelers that passed through customs in greater than 60 minutes during the same time period were also included.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, international travel has moderated from the post-pandemic surge, but the holidays still draw heavy demand. As a result, travelers should continue to expect busy terminals during the winter holiday travel season.
Fortunately for those considering a trip abroad, immigration and customs wait times during the winter holiday travel period are generally no worse than during the rest of the year. While choosing a quieter arrival time can make a difference in one’s expected wait time, picking the right airport will have the largest impact.
Across the nation’s 41 major international airports tracked by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, average immigration and customs wait times range from a high of 32.7 minutes at Orlando International Airport (MCO) to a low of just 3.8 minutes at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). Because of this wide range of expected waits, passengers can markedly improve their travel experience by choosing their airport wisely.
References
- U.S. Travel Association. (2025, October 1). Travel Forecast. Retrieved on October 10, 2025, from https://www.ustravel.org/research/travel-forecasts.
![The Worst Airports for International Travel This Holiday Season [2025 Data Study]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/us-customs-and-border-protection-airport-line.png?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420)