Study reveals which states’ residents cause the most delay in air travel

Picture this: You take out your laptop, shoes and liquids neatly packed in appropriate bottles, only to end up behind someone who forgot their ID, wore a giant belt buckle, and has a half-full water bottle buried in their carry-on.

Then, you see flocks of anxious travelers crowding around the boarding area. By the time you step on the plane, there’s no more overhead bin space for your carry-on, and it’s filled with other people’s personal items.

These air travel behaviors aren’t just annoying — they take up precious time from other passengers who are trying to get from point A to point B. We’ve polled Americans in every state about their habits when traveling by air to establish where travelers are most and least efficient, and the results may surprise you.

Key findings

• Residents of North Carolina, West Virginia and Arkansas are the least efficient air travelers.
• New Yorkers, typically proud of a fast lifestyle, are the fourth worst air travelers.
• 59% of all travelers have made a mistake at a TSA checkpoint in the last five years.
• 41% of travelers regularly struggle to fit their carry-ons in the overhead bin.

State rankings for least and most efficient travelers

There’s a lot that goes into flying before that magical moment when you lift off. The entire process, from check-in and security to boarding and collecting your belongings at baggage claim, can run even your most frequent traveler into the ground.

Sure, weather and mechanical issues are common reasons for air travel delays, but passenger habits can be a big driving factor, too. To understand passenger behaviors, the survey asked travelers a range of questions about their air travel etiquette from start to finish.

Here’s the full breakdown to show which states’ travelers are causing headaches for those around them, and which take the cake for efficiency.

Top mistakes travelers make at TSA checkpoints

Getting through airport security is often one of the most stressful parts of the air travel experience. But like many things in life, airport security is considered a necessary evil — and it balances the need for thorough checks with the hope that travelers can get through on time and don’t miss their flights.

Even when lines wrap around the terminal, some of the slowdowns could easily be avoided if travelers would remember to follow security procedures, avoiding a backlog for others. Keep reading for the top three mistakes travelers make at TSA checkpoints and what percentage of respondents admitted to making them.

The data also found interesting insights on passengers from certain states. For example, residents of Utah and Illinois are particularly clumsy at the TSA checkpoint, according to our research — both states ranked near the national average for overall efficiency but were in the top 10 for least efficient at security checkpoints.

Furthermore, the survey found that residents from Connecticut, Oklahoma and Oregon were most likely to get stopped for having liquids in their carry-ons.

Here’s how travelers from each state ranked in terms of their efficiency going through security checkpoints.

Most travelers think they’re great at deboarding the plane

The art of deplaning can also be a hot topic. Some travelers may immediately rise from their seats out of anxious habit, or they may want to stretch their legs after a long flight. Others may think it’s impolite to get up so quickly and block the rest of the aisle — especially when they’re seated at the back of the plane.

No matter how you feel, the survey found that most travelers believed they were wizards at deplaning. The chart below shows states ranked from least efficient to most efficient regarding their readiness to deboard the plane.

New Yorkers the most likely to struggle with their carry-on luggage

In the city that never sleeps, New Yorkers often take pride in their hustle and fast-paced lifestyle. But when it comes to air travel, the survey found quite the paradox: Residents of New York were ranked among the least efficient travelers with their carry-on luggage. Whether they’re navigating security checkpoints or stowing their bags in the overhead bins, the data showed that New Yorkers notably struggle with their carry-on luggage.

Tips for traveling more efficiently

Get reimbursed for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or CLEAR

An estimated 57% of travelers use TSA PreCheck or CLEAR® to help them speed their way through airport security — but what’s the difference?

Available at more than 200 domestic airports, TSA PreCheck is a government-run program that provides expedited security for pre-screened passengers. Once your application is approved, you’ll pay a fee that holds your eligibility for five years and allows you to visit a designated security lane. Better yet, you’ll keep your shoes, belts, and light jackets on, and your laptops and liquids in carry-on bags — meaning less room for user error and getting stuck behind a slow-moving passenger.

On the other hand, CLEAR® Plus is a relatively newer program that uses biometrics to speed up the identity verification process for travelers, either with their irises or fingerprints. CLEAR Plus is privately operated, not a government program like PreCheck.

Although it’s not as widely available, some travelers have both TSA PreCheck and CLEAR Plus to skip the ID check and get to the front of the PreCheck lane — a win-win.

If you travel abroad frequently, you may want to consider applying for Global Entry instead. Managed by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Protection (CBP), Global Entry has dedicated lanes for pre-approved travelers returning to the U.S. It requires the most intensive application process of the three programs with a background check, interview, and biometric data collection, but includes TSA PreCheck as a benefit as well.

Many popular travel credit cards reimburse application fee credits for these trusted traveler programs, including affordable options like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. or the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card.

Frequent jetsetters may benefit from a premium travel rewards card like The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply), which provides reimbursements via an up to $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and a CLEAR® Plus membership as well.

Use a credit card that provides a free checked bag

Team carry-on or checked bag? If you’re the latter, many airline co-branded credit cards allow for a free checked bag, helping you bypass that $30-plus cost every time you fly with that carrier, along with other VIP-like benefits.

For travelers who live near a United hub, they may want to consider an option like the United℠ Explorer Card * The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , with its $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee.

Cardholders with the Explorer and one companion on their reservation will enjoy a free first checked bag, as well as priority boarding and a 25% discount on in-flight purchases. For even more United benefits and mileage-earning opportunities (if you’re willing to pony up for a higher annual fee), the United Quest℠ Card * The information for the United Quest℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. or the United Club℠ Infinite Card * The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. are worth considering.

The same principle goes for many other airline cards, on both personal and business credit cards. We’ve compiled a quick list of others that offer a free checked bag when flying on that particular carrier:

• Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card * The information for the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® * The information for the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (terms apply)
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card * The information for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply)
• JetBlue Plus Card * The information for the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• JetBlue Business Card * The information for the JetBlue Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

However, if you’re not loyal to a particular airline and prefer to shop around by price, a general travel rewards card may still help you offset the cost of checked bags. With The Platinum Card® from American Express, cardholders receive an up to $200 airline incidentals statement credit for the airline of their choice upon enrollment per calendar year, as well as a lengthy list of other luxury travel perks.

If you’re looking for a great no-annual-fee travel card, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. allows users to redeem their miles at 1 cent apiece for travel purchases on their statement credit within 90 days, such as airline checked bag fees.

Research luggage policies for the airline you’re flying

If you prefer to travel light, you may limit yourself to a carry-on bag and a personal item you can bring onboard free of charge. However, it’s important to know that not all airlines have the same policies.

Budget carriers like Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines are notorious for being the most restrictive, as passengers are restricted to one personal item no larger than the size of a backpack that must fit under the seat. Anything extra — whether that’s a carry-on roller bag or a larger checked bag — will cost you, and oftentimes can run more than the cost of the ticket itself.

Over the past five to six years approximately, even legacy airlines have rolled out “basic economy fares” that limit travelers from bringing a larger carry-on bag onboard — most notably, United Airlines. If you purchase this fare ticket that does not include a carry-on bag, you’ll be on the hook for a hefty fee at the gate. Therefore, it’s crucial that travelers research luggage policies and allowed size or weight restrictions thoroughly, as the policies vary greatly between airlines.

Methodology

Between Oct. 3 - 19, 2023, we surveyed 5,000 American travelers who have traveled by air in the past five years. We compiled representative samples from all 50 U.S. states with a +/-3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.

To report our primary rankings, establishing the most and least efficient traveling populations, we asked questions about 15 unique behaviors related to air travel, and used particular answers to inform an overall Inefficiency Score. The behaviors related to one of three categories: security checkpoints, general preparedness, and luggage and overpacking.

Summary of behaviors investigated:

• Nature of check-in (online or in-person).
• Various causes for being stopped by the TSA.
• Stopped for having too much luggage.
• Struggling to fit luggage in overhead bins.
• Response to snack and beverage service.
• Preparedness to deplane.
• Behavior at baggage claim.