For those looking to catch a taxi to the airport, you may want to consider Lyft, the second largest ride-hailing service in the United States after Uber, which has been named Salt Lake City International Airport the best and most affordable airport in 2024.
How are you getting to the airport this festive season?
With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, airports across the United States are gearing up for one of their busiest times of year. According to ride-hailing company Lyft, total ridership in North America increased by more than 10% in November.
Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock
We all know that getting to the airport can sometimes be difficult, and not all airports are created equal. Some have efficient public transport systems, whereas others seem isolated, and a taxi may be your only choice. Lyft did the math and broke down the 30 largest airports in the United States by convenience, affordability, efficiency, and amenities. Here's what the results had to say:
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Serving Salt Lake City and surrounding Utah, Lyft has named SLC as the most affordable in the United States ; here's howhere'scalculated this:
Parking Cost The average in the US is $60 Parking at Salt Lake City airport for a long weekend is $36
Snacks at the airport The cost of a Chex Mix (which was surveyed at all 30 of the busiest airports) was $3.79
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These two variables made SLC the cheapest airport in the United States compared to the other 29 busiest airports. Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport were second and third, respectively.
The prize for the most convenient went to Austin-Bergstrom, followed by Salt Lake City and Boston. This analysis considered the time it may take to reach the airport by public transport and the average time for ride-share or personal pickup.
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Which airport is the most efficient?
If you are looking for the most efficient airport in the United States, you won't go further than Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). This airport has avoided significant travel disruptions, cancellations, delays, lost baggage, or TSA lines. It is proud to offer one of the smoothest big airport experiences in the US.
Photo: Transportation Security Administration
Your blood pressure can quickly rise depending on how long you have been waiting in the TSA line at the airport. According to Lyft, the average wait time across the largest airports in the United States is around 12 minutes. Austin, on the other hand, has recorded up to 20 minutes, whereas in Michigan, DTW has polished this down to a low seven minutes -- the quickest in the country.
Arizona's Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport saw the lowest number of cancellations, roughly half that of any other major airport.
Taking into consideration all of these variables, the top three most efficient airports in the United States went to:
Detroit (DTW) Salt Lake City (SLC) Phoenix (PHX)
When Lyft combined the number of variables it used to assess the best and most affordable airport in the United States, Salt Lake City reigned supreme. This Delta hub in the Mountain West subregion of the United States has continued to grow and serves a number of domestic and international routes across North and Latin America and Europe.
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New services destined for Salt Lake in 2025
With Delta demanding around 54% of all operations at Salt Lake, its dedication to this airport is clear. While already serving a number of domestic and international routes (including London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam), the airline will also launch a direct link to Seoul Incheon from June 12. Domestic services will also be added to Fairbanks and Fayetteville next year.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
Canadian carrier Westjet is also set to commence operations in Salt Lake next year. A seasonal route to Edmonton will kick off on May 15 and run through the Northern Hemisphere summer.
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