These Airports Are the Best (and Worst) for Early Morning and Late Night Travel, According to a Study

Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, there’s an airport that best suits every traveler’s preference. Some passengers prefer to leave first thing in the morning to avoid delays, while others don’t mind a red-eye to make the most of their day.  

A new study from Upgraded Points, a company specializing in credit cards and travel rewards, ranked the 50 busiest U.S. airports by scheduled departure times. The study also considered each airport’s flight delay percentage and the availability of coffee shops (or airport bars) open throughout the day.

“Travelers who want to avoid a frenzied terminal or just save some cash flying at nonpeak times often face the dilemma of choosing between a flight that departs before the sun even rises or well after a reasonable bedtime,” Upgraded Points wrote in the study. “However, not all airports handle these travel time slots equally.

Overall, the study concluded that Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Kansas City International Airport (MCI), and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) are the top airports for early morning travel, touted for their minimal delays and the highest number of departures before 8 a.m.

Meanwhile, Miami International Airport (MIA), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) were among the worst for early risers due to limited morning flights, a high percentage of delays, or simply a lack of shops to grab a morning brew.

That said, some of the worst airports for early morning flights were the best for nighttime travelers, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) also made the cut, with 22 percent of scheduled flights departing after 8 p.m. and a substantial number of airport bars for travelers to pass the time.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) was rated the worst airport for late-night travel, with nearly 78 percent of departures delayed. Similarly, San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) had very few flights departing after 8 p.m., making them some of the worst domestic airports for late-night travelers.