Published on November 19, 2025
By: Tuhin Sarkar
Orlando International Airport is now officially joining a notorious group of U.S. airports—Nashville, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin‑Bergstrom, and Dallas International Airport—set to face massive holiday travel chaos this US tourism season. A new study reveals that these American airports are bracing for overwhelming delays and stress during the 2025 holiday period. As millions of international travellers from Canada, Brazil, Mexico flock through these airports, long waits, crowded terminals, and mounting frustrations will be the norm. With Orlando International joining these major hubs, travellers need to brace themselves for a challenging journey. Read on as we reveal more details about what’s in store at these airports this holiday season.

The Truth About US Airports You Can’t Afford to Ignore this Holiday Season

Planning to travel internationally this holiday season? Think twice before booking your flight to certain U.S. airports. The 2025 holiday period promises to be a travel nightmare at several of the busiest airports in the country. Massive delays, overcrowded terminals, and the excruciating wait times at customs are just the beginning of what could turn your international journey into an endless saga. You might be stuck in long queues, with no escape in sight. But fear not, we’ve got the lowdown on which airports will give you the most trouble in the 2025 holiday season. Buckle up because it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

Orlando International Airport (MCO): The Undisputed Champion of Chaos

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has earned its infamous reputation as one of the absolute worst airports for international travel. During the 2025 holiday season, you might find yourself facing unbearably long wait times at customs and immigration. The average wait time here is 32.7 minutes, a significant inconvenience for those eager to start their holiday travels. What makes it worse? Over 12% of passengers experience waits exceeding 60 minutes, turning what should be a smooth process into a frustrating ordeal.
The sheer volume of international flights coupled with insufficient staffing leads to horrendous backlogs. Expect long lines at both security and immigration, especially if you’re arriving during peak hours. Orlando, despite being a major tourist hub, just isn’t prepared for the volume of international traffic it attracts. Arriving early? It won’t help much; the queues will be endless.

Avoid MCO at all costs if you value your time, energy, and sanity. Opt for alternative airports in Florida or try to catch a flight that lands at off-peak times. If you can’t escape the grip of Orlando, prepare for battle: get comfortable, bring snacks, and set up camp in the terminal. It’s going to be a long wait.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): A Global Travel Nightmare

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is a highly congested international hub that can easily ruin your holiday travel experience. Ranked second on the list, LAX sees over 30 million international passengers annually, and the holiday season pushes those numbers even higher. Imagine being greeted by a 30.3-minute wait at customs. Sounds bad? It’s not just a random delay. Over 11.5% of travelers end up waiting over 60 minutes to get through immigration.

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The sheer size of LAX is its own nightmare. With multiple terminals, crowded concourses, and a disjointed system, getting from one place to another can take extra time and energy. During peak hours, when multiple international flights arrive, the bottlenecks can trap you for hours.
If you’re set on flying through LAX, make sure to arrive early, choose flights that land late in the evening, and build in extra time for connections. In a city as massive as Los Angeles, even small delays can lead to missed flights and ruined plans.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): The Longest Wait of Your Life

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York is another notorious trouble spot for international travelers. With an average wait time of 26.1 minutes, JFK can quickly become your worst enemy during the busy holiday season. Only 39.7% of passengers make it through customs in less than 15 minutes, and the remaining 60% face longer delays, potentially stretching beyond an hour.
If you’re flying into JFK during the holiday rush, be prepared for massive crowds and delays, especially if you arrive during peak travel hours. Multiple international flights landing simultaneously only compounds the chaos, resulting in frustrating delays as you wait to clear immigration.
To make the process a bit less painful, opt for off-peak arrival times and use trusted traveller programmes, like Global Entry. The less you interact with the general public at customs, the better your chances are of escaping the madness in a timely manner.

Miami International Airport (MIA): The Latin America Gateway with Major Problems

Miami International Airport (MIA) serves as a critical gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, meaning that it’s always packed with international passengers. However, it’s also one of the slowest airports in terms of customs processing. During the 2025 holiday season, you can expect wait times of 23.9 minutes on average, with over 40% of travellers spending more than 15 minutes in line.
Despite its popularity as an international hub, Miami struggles with staff shortages, especially during peak holiday periods. It has also been noted that MIA suffers from congestion issues, especially when multiple flights from South America, Europe, and the Caribbean arrive almost simultaneously. Massive queues and long waiting times are a given at this airport.
Plan ahead if you’re flying to MIA—book a flight that lands during off-peak hours, and make sure you’re signed up for expedited entry programmes to beat the crowds.

Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL): Smaller, But Still a Hassle

You may not think Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) can be as problematic as some of the larger hubs, but the reality is quite different. For international travellers, the average wait time of 26.3 minutes is significant, especially considering that 9.6% of passengers experience delays of over 60 minutes.
While smaller than nearby MIA, FLL still faces similar challenges with overwhelming volumes of international traffic. As travellers flock to the Caribbean and Latin America from Fort Lauderdale, delays at customs become inevitable. In fact, this airport’s smaller size only compounds the problem, as it struggles to handle such a high volume of incoming international flights.
Just like at MIA, if you’re flying into FLL, it’s best to arrive early and avoid peak arrival times to give yourself the best chance of avoiding the long, torturous waits that plague this airport.

What You Can Do to Save Your Sanity This Holiday Season

Now that you know which airports are absolute nightmares for international travel this holiday season, here’s how you can prepare yourself:

• Choose Your Airport Wisely: If you have the option, avoid these problematic airports and choose alternatives that are less prone to congestion. Look at regional airports or consider flying into smaller hubs.
• Arrive During Off-Peak Hours: If you must fly through one of these airports, make sure to land early in the morning or late at night, when fewer international flights are arriving.
• Use Expedited Entry Programs: If you’re eligible, get yourself enrolled in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Mobile Passport Control. These programs can save you valuable time and keep you away from the longest queues.
• Build in Extra Time: Always give yourself extra time between connections, especially if you’re transferring between international flights. Nothing is worse than rushing through long queues to catch your connecting flight.
• Stay Calm and Be Prepared: Sometimes delays are inevitable. Bring snacks, entertainment, and a good attitude, and remember that getting upset will only make things worse.

Don’t Let Your 2025 Holiday Travel Turn into a Nightmare

As you make your travel plans for the 2025 holiday season, be mindful of the chaos that awaits at these U.S. airports. MCO, LAX, JFK, MIA, and FLL are not for the faint-hearted. With patience, careful planning, and smart timing, you can reduce your chances of getting stuck in frustrating delays and make your international journey as smooth as possible. If you absolutely have to go through one of these airports, prepare yourself for the worst, and be ready for a test of endurance. Remember, in the world of international air travel, forewarned is forearmed!

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Tags: Holiday Travel Chaos, International Travel Delays, los angeles international airport, Miami International Airport, orlando international airport

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