If you’ve ever been screamed at by a TSA agent or had to wait in line for hours at an understaffed checkpoint, you know that the airport security experience can vary widely from airport to airport.
A new study by Upgraded Points uncovers the airports that have received the most TSA-related complaints. Upgraded Points analyzed TSA complaint data from 2015 to 2023 at 44 major U.S. airports, revealing which locations are more likely to leave passengers disgruntled enough to formally voice their concerns.
If you’ve ever flown through chaotic Newark Liberty International Airport, you may be unsurprised that the New Jersey airport topped the list as the worst airport for TSA complaints. This New York City-area airport fields nearly twice as many passenger complaints as the average airport. The majority of grievances are about TSA PreCheck (44.8 percent of all complaints), customer service (14.6 percent), and mishandled baggage (14 percent).
The 10 Worst US Airports for TSA Complaints
| Airport | Total Complaints per 100,000 Passengers |
| Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) | 6.83 |
| Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) | 5.78 |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) | 5.6 |
| Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) | 5.5 |
| Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) | 5.38 |
| John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | 5.25 |
| Logan International Airport (BOS) | 4.72 |
| Tampa International Airport (TPA) | 4.68 |
| Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | 4.67 |
| LaGuardia Airport (LGA) | 4.42 |
If you’re hoping to sail through airport security on your next trip, flying through Charlotte Douglas International Airport is your best bet. This airport has the fewest TSA complaints, with less than two complaints per 100,000 passengers—about half the complaints of the average U.S. airport.
The US Airports With the Least Amount of TSA Complaints
| Airport | Total Complaints per 100,000 Passengers |
| Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) | 1.97 |
| Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | 2.63 |
| Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | 2.74 |
| Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (SLC) | 2.75 |
| Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) | 2.8 |
| Midway International Airport (MDW) | 2.8 |
| Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | 2.85 |
| San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | 2.87 |
| Dallas Love Field (DAL) | 2.89 |
| Kansas City International Airport (MCI) | 3.02 |
How to File a Complaint With TSA
If you feel the TSA has wronged you, you can file a complaint on its website. Complaints must be logged within 180 days of the incident, and the TSA aims to respond within 48 hours.
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