The worst part about airline travel is layovers am I right? Hours spent just sitting in an airport instead of extra time spent at your destination. Having to take off and land twice on one trip. Possibly missing your connecting flight if your initial flight is delayed. All the reasons to hate layovers go on and on. So why on earth am I writing a list of my top 5 airports for layovers?! Simple, because no matter how much you hate layovers sometimes they are just inevitable. Maybe you have a favorite airline you like to fly (Hi Delta), or maybe you are trying to avoid a budget option that is the only non-stop flight to your destination. Sometimes we just have no choice but to just deal with it and get a connecting flight. That's where this list comes in! I’m going to tell you my 5 favorite airports to have a layover in. On your next trip if you can’t find a direct flight, try and book your flight through these airport connections.

No really why am I talking about layovers?

I want to start off with a full disclaimer: I actually don’t hate layovers. Yes, non-stop flights are elite, but I’m going to try and fly Delta 90% of the time so if I have a layover oh well. As a kid I used to travel to my dads every summer and it was very rare that my dad was booking non-stop flights between Tampa and Phoenix. I remember hoping when I saw my itinerary that I would have a layover in George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). It was literally the biggest airport I’d ever seen (until flying through Atlanta more on that later). As a kid with unaccompanied minor status America West Airlines and Continental Airlines (My former favorite airline) had the coolest kids hangout rooms while waiting for the connecting flight at IAH. Think of these as like the kids version of the airport lounges. Video games, toys and other kids to hang out with while waiting around for your flight. As I got a little older and no longer needed the unaccompanied minor status, IAH was so big it gave me something to do just walking around the airport looking at all the shops, terminals and always trying to find a way into that international terminal with the duty free shop.

Now you have gotten a little insight into why this topic, for a blog. I’ve been flying coast to coast since I was 7 years old. Still today I live in Las Vegas while my mom and that side of my family are all on the east coast. So if I am traveling I’m probably connecting at some airport on the way. Another full disclaimer: some of these airports may seem like Delta bias, but yeah okay I love Delta lol! I am not sponsored by Delta in any way, though, that would be a dream! I just fly Delta a lot and thus I tend to be connecting through their hubs more often than not.

#5 - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

I’ve only been through this airport about 4 times and my first time going through it I didn’t really pay much attention as I was dealing with the loss of my uncle. The second time through this airport I ended up with a 3 hour delay so was forced to see what there was to offer. It’s not a very big airport and outside of concourse D that I’ve never been in it is basically one really long straight concourse (concourse A) and another smaller straight concourse (concourse B/C). These 3 concourses are connected by a cool underground tunnel with a light show that gives you a little entertainment if you are into those kinds of things (I am). Concourse A and B/C make up McNamara Terminal.

You will notice how nice this airport is. It might even cross your mind “why in the world does Detroit have such a nice airport after everything I’ve heard about Detroit on TV!” Beautiful airy terminal with large glass windows high up near the ceiling to let extra sunlight in. It’s probably all the money Delta poured into it making it one of their hubs. There are 5 Delta Sky Club lounges and you can't access a single one of them without Delta Status or a Delta Reserve credit card (Delta Platinum card holders used to get access with a fee), but if you do have one of those you have plenty of options to choose from. It is upsetting that the only Priority Pass options you have is the one Lufthansa Lounge if you are flying out of the Evans Terminal (Concourse D), which I don’t think I’ll ever do so it is of no use to me.

One of the best features of this airport is the express tram that runs at the top of the McNamara Terminal in Concourse A. It will run you from the middle of the concourse to one end or the other. This is great because at the end of each side of the Concourse are food court style areas where you can find a lot of options clumped up together to choose from. Speaking of food, one place you have to check out if you are there for an early morning layover is Leo’s Coney Island. Great food at a reasonable price for the airport. Their Original Breakfast is a good portion of food at the price of most non airport breakfast places in Las Vegas for the same portion size. There is a little bit of shopping for people who like to grab souvenirs in the airport. My favorite spot though is the Michigan Sports shop. It's always nice to have a layover and be able to pick up some new Michigan Wolverines gear, Go Blue!

If I am flying to the northeast and I have to have a layover then I would much rather book through Detroit instead of either of the Chicago airports. Not many airports in America currently have a draw to it because it's just a really nice airport, but this airport outclasses either of the Chicago options by miles.

#4 - Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

Flying over SLC - Taken on iPhone 13 Pro

SLC has a special place in my heart as the first time I ever had a layover here was on my way to a 2 week trip to South Africa through a class at the college I was going to at the time. It is a relatively easy airport to navigate. You currently have 1 terminal and 2 concourses. Depending where you are landing and where you are connecting it can be quite a walk and there currently isn’t any type of transit system in the airport to take you throughout the terminal. I keep saying currently because they are going through a $5.1 billion renovation to the airport and from the plans I’ve seen it's going to make this airport an absolute jewel. Currently though it is rough, last time I was there I had to board walking out onto the tarmac then taking a shuttle to another part of the tarmac and then walking on the tarmac some more to then finally get to my plane which was one of about a dozen waiting for people to board the old fashioned way.

This airport ranks this high for me for a few key reasons. Flying into this airport is beautiful, it doesn’t really matter what time of year it is, you are always going to get a display put on by the surrounding mountains and even the great salt lake itself. This airport is also a great “hop skip” airport from Las Vegas for me. When I say “hop skip” maybe i don’t know the real meaning of that phrase but for me it means a short flight to a layover. If I have to do a layover I tend to prefer either the initial flight to be very short or the connecting flight to be very short. I don’t like to do 2.5hrs then layover then another 2.5hrs. I have multiple reasons for this, but the main one is that when I fly back home to Tampa the red eye flights are usually the cheapest. With a red eye I want to try and sleep. If I have a short initial flight then a long flight I can get that layover out of the way and then sleep on the 4hr+ flight into Tampa. 2 medium length flights with a layover really don’t give you that luxury. SLC is about 1.5hrs from Las Vegas and then I turn that into about a 4hr flight into Tampa. Works out perfectly for me.

Being a Delta hub there is a Sky Club for travelers who have access. Outside of that there are very few options. If you are an active member of the U.S armed forces (thank you for your service!) you do have access to the USO lounge as well as family members. The only other “lounge” access are the Minute Suites. If you are a Priority Pass Select member then you get your first hour free and your second hour at a discounted rate of $34. These are perfect for quick naps, quick business meetings or anything else you can get done in 1-2 hrs. If you are not a part of Priority Pass Select you can still visit the Minute Suites, it will cost you $55 for your first hour and then $13.75 for each 15 min increment after the first hour, reservations need to be made online before accessing the Minute Suites.

LEGO Store at SLC - Taken on iPhone 13 Pro

Even though I tend to not eat when I fly through this airport there are a good selection of places to eat. Having Smashburger, Shake Shack and Jimmy Johns are clutch, quick but good, options. If you like to drink there are multiple breweries throughout the airport to sit down and catch a drink before your flight. The shopping options are pretty typical of most airports, multiple newsstand style shops, local souvenir shops, and a couple higher end shops. There is one major outlier though, they have a LEGO store in the airport! Yes you read that right a LEGO store, not a vending machine, but a legit store with legit LEGO products. Not just the kids stuff either, they have the 18+ LEGO options as well. You can let your inner child, and wallet, go wild while you are waiting for your next flight.

#3 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

This airport makes the list for a few reasons but nostalgic experiences are at the top of them. This was the connecting airport for my first ever trip out of the country to China when I was in high school. Back in that time Delta (briefly) had a concept called Delta Song and the only way you could fly it was direct flights to specific airports and one of them was LAX. The seats were more spacious, they had TVs in the headrests when at the time most flights did not, they offered a great selection of personal choice shows, movies, music and games, and the food options were good as well. After getting that taste of Delta Song any time I traveled west I tried to get on one of those flights. Even if it meant flying over my destination for a layover and then to backtrack.

LAX is a major international airport and in the Delta terminal you may find your domestic plane gated next to Korean Air jumbo jets. Being in a terminal that has heavy international traffic comes with its perks. You are going to have a good selection of food options and multiple shopping locations with higher end products as well. It’s almost like a mini mall. It’s also fun for people watching, as you will see and hear from a collection of people you may not see all the time in your daily life.

The other perk of being in a major international airport is you are more likely to find multiple airport lounges. LAX has plenty of lounges from all the major players. Delta, American and United all have multiple lounge options as well as American Express Centurion and code share lounges such as alliance and sky team. The one thing you won’t find, and is really a disappointment, are Priority Pass lounges. Priority Pass doesn’t have a large footprint in America like it does internationally, but you would think it would be available at a major international airport. The fact LAX doesn’t have a Priority Pass lounge is a disappointment for travelers who don’t have status at an airline but still want a lounge experience.

#2 Denver International Airport (DEN)

Astronaut John L. “Jack” Swigert whom the sole terminal at DEN is named after - Taken on iPhone 13 Pro.

Have you ever thought about a place and even though you’ve never been there you just knew you were going to love it and that it was meant for you? That’s how I felt about Denver. As mentioned in a previous blog I grew up in Florida as a teen who just knew he would love snowboarding, even though I’d never been. Through video games, magazines and videos I knew it would be fun and I knew one of the places I wanted to snowboard was in Colorado. I knew I wanted to be in Colorado so bad I even applied to the University of Colorado in Boulder. I got accepted into the university, but at this point I realized I could not afford to go to Colorado and the dream of living and snowboarding in Colorado was dashed.

Fast Forward a decade later and I finally did make it to Colorado, not to snowboard but to watch my 49ers get beat by the Broncos because Jimmy G ran out the back of the end zone! Heartbreak aside, I absolutely loved the city and would love to go back, especially in the winter to go snowboarding. Well I said all that to say the feeling I had about Denver as a kid is the same feeling I have about their airport now. I haven’t gotten to explore all the amenities, especially their new Capital One Lounge but I know I will love it when I do!

Denver isn’t a huge airport but it is a nice airport, and a busy airport. They have a train that will take you to and from the concourse but they also have an option for you to walk if you would like. I think that’s a nice addition as other airports don’t feature this and you have to wait for the train instead of being able to walk if you are in a hurry. The main attraction at the airport is the giant center rotunda with restaurants, shops and some nice art displays.

This is a United Airlines hub so you will find 4 United lounges. They also have a Delta Sky Club and American Airlines Admirals lounge. Unfortunately again there are no priority pass lounges. For non-status holders an American Express Centurion lounge and the previously mentioned Capital One Lounge are available. One of the reasons why this airport is so high on my list is because of the Capital One lounge.

With my Capital One Venture X credit card I get access to all Capital One lounges and more and more are popping up, including at my home airport in Las Vegas. This is a great perk and only getting better with more locations becoming available. I have never been to one of the lounges myself but everything I’ve read online and seen on YouTube make me very bullish on these lounges. I can’t wait to have a chance to check one out myself!

As a primary Delta flier I don’t usually get an opportunity to fly through Denver international unless I’m visiting the city. With that being said if Delta isn’t an option, then booking a connection through Denver is at the top of my list. Lounge access to make the layover more comfortable is always top priority, and as long as it doesn’t raise the cost of the flight, it’s worth it to plan your layover accordingly.

#1 - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Sculpture exhibit inside the tunnels connecting the concourses at ATL - Taken on iPhone 13 Pro.

Busiest airport in the world, absolutely massive. I’ve missed flights here. I’ve had to run from concourse E all the way to concourse A to make a connecting flight here. Why then is this airport my #1 airport for layovers!? Well to make it simple because of all the points listed about the other airports all rolled into one.

Atlanta has a nostalgia factor as it too was one of the connections on my way to Africa. This is also the airport I connect to most on my way back home to visit family. When I fly through here I just know I am almost home.

Atlanta also has a wide selection of airport lounges. You are going to have your options from the Airlines, the minute suits option listed previously as well as a Priority Pass lounge! They also have a spa and a USO lounge, though the USO lounge is located outside of security so use at your own risk. If Atlanta can get one of the credit card lounges opened as well it would really cement itself at the top of this list!

Atlanta is massive and though it may not be the most beautiful airport on this list it definitely tries. You have a transit and tunnel system that will connect you to each concourse in the airport. This makes traversing the airport a little more bearable. They also have a tunnel system in case you need to rush and can’t wait for a train to get you there. The tunnel system is really where ATL stands out. They have art and history installations through the tunnel ranging from the history of the airport to installations by professional sculptors and artists. They even have this cool jungle feeling part of the tunnel!

Tunnel connecting concourses at ATL - Shot on iPhone 13 pro.

ATL has a good selection of food and shops. At each concourse you will find a center rotunda with a food court and multiple shops across from the food court. This is on top of the many other options you will find scattered around the concourse. The food court area is always my favorite though because it has seating and multiple options to choose from all in one place.

For me Atlanta is also perfect for red eye flights from the west coast heading home. If you are able to sleep on planes then you would have a 4-4.5 hr flight as your first leg. If your flight leaves at midnight that gets you into Atlanta around 7amish with 4hrs of sleep which isn’t too bad at all!

Honorable Mention!

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

If you really want the best airport in the country to have a layover (if you’re 21+ that is) then look no further than my local airport LAS. Where else can you gamble and possibly win a little money while waiting for your next flight! As mentioned before Capital One is opening a new lounge. There is also an American Express Centurion lounge. There are two Priority Pass options, on top of the airline status lounges. The food options are getting better and better especially depending on the concourse you are in (Southwest has better options then Delta currently unfortunately). LAS isn’t a major hub for any major airline so it would be unlikely to have a layover in Las Vegas unless you are flying Southwest. If you get the opportunity, though, take it. Unless you have a gambling addiction, then maybe stay away from this one.

Well there you have it, my top 5 airports for a layover. They are heavily weighted to Delta hubs but that’s because those are the airports I connect through the most as a Delta “loyalist.” When you are deciding which flight to pick I know there are many factors you look through before “which airport to have a layover in.” Preferred airline, price and non-stop are probably your first choices. If all things considered are equal and you have to have a layover then these airports are a few to consider. At the end of the day you have to decide what matters most to you on a layover. Do you have lounge access? Are there good food options? How likely is the local weather to affect your flight? Those things can make a difference in how pleasurable your layover experience is, and worth looking into adjusting your flight route for. Let me know in the comments your favorite airports to fly through, layover or not. Or let me know in the comments how crazy I am for writing a whole blog post about airports to have layovers in!

Layovers? Are we really talking about layovers!?