Flying during the Christmas season is tough on an average year, but since the onset of the pandemic, it has been taken to new heights — or rather, to new altitudes.
Worker shortages, bad weather, and outdated systems have all been blamed for the seemingly unending slew of viral videos circulating showing frustrated travelers.
While long layovers can be undesirable, extra time is usually welcome when in a world-class city. Dallas-Fort Worth fits that bill, according to a new survey released by Lawn Love.
According to the index, DFW is among the top ten cities to enjoy a layover in the United States. Out of the 128 U.S. cities served by the busiest airports, Dallas ranked seventh best.
“Long delays and cancellations are disappointing but can give you an opportunity to explore the city. Just be sure to build in enough time to go back through security and to your gate,” says Lawn Love.
Destinations were ranked on numerous factors, falling into seven broad categories:
- Delays
- Cancellations
- Getting around (distance to the airport, ride-hailing services, and walk score)
- Things to do (city attractions, tours)
- Staying and eating (accommodation availability, restaurants)
- Affordability
- Safety
“We looked at each city’s share of delayed and canceled flights and average departure delay time. We also searched for cities that are easy to navigate, especially from the airport, and offer plenty of fun things to see and do without breaking the bank,” according to Lawn Love.
The main airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, was ranked number five in the country in the airline lounge category. With 19 lounges, there are plenty of options to relax between connections. American Airlines alone hosts four Admirals Clubs. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, and others also maintain lounges at DFW International.
Dallas ranked high in terms of a lack of delays, the fourth best in the country. The city was also ranked 11 in terms of cancellations.
For many, these two categories may be the most critical in terms of attaining a smooth flying experience.
When it comes to “getting around,” the city ranked number 16 out of the 128 cities on the list. Dallas was also 25th for “things to do,” 11th for “staying and eating,” and 57th for affordability.
In terms of safety, at number 75, Dallas was closer to the middle of the group.
At number four, Houston was the only other Texas city to make the top ten list of best layover cities. San Antonio and Austin made the top 20, landing at 17th and 20th overall, respectively.
New York City was the country’s best city for long layovers, followed by Chicago and Los Angeles.
On the other end of the spectrum, the top three worst cities for long layovers are located in Hawaii, with Hilo crowned the worst in the country.
