Airport and Border Wait Times, Timed by Travelers

How early do you really need to leave? Ask the people who just did it.

Posted wait times are often guesses, and you only find out the truth once you're in the line. BorderBudget collects the real numbers from travelers: airport lines timed on their phones, and land border waits reported with one tap. Both show up as pins on the map.

A short video on how wait times work. It loads from YouTube only when you press play.

Airports: Security and Passport Control, tracked separately

When you're at an airport, the app offers a timer. You choose which line you're in, Security or Passport Control, and start it. It keeps running with your phone in your pocket and stops by itself when you head to the gate, then logs your time for the next traveler. If you're only connecting, you can dismiss the prompt.

• Two lines, two numbers: each airport keeps security and passport control apart, because blending them hides the one that actually hurts. The pin color follows whichever is worse.
• Recent reports count: the figure on an airport pin comes from the most recent reports, so an old busy day doesn't stay on the pin.
• Security means door to gate: the security time is meant as a realistic "how early do I need to arrive" figure, so it includes any bag or document check on the way, not just the scanner line.
• A safety cap: if a timer runs for three hours, it stops and logs "3+ hours."

The timer uses your location while it runs. For it to work with the screen off, the app asks you to allow location access all the time. You can turn it off again in your phone's settings afterward, and the timer only runs when you start it.

Land borders: one-tap reports

At a border crossing's pin, tap how the line looks: about 15 minutes (green), 45 minutes (orange) or 90 minutes or more (red). The pin shows the latest report and how long ago it came in. If nobody has reported in the last 12 hours, it says so and invites you to help.

Keep in mind

These are times reported by other travelers, not official figures, and BorderBudget is not affiliated with any airport, airline or border agency. Lines change by the hour, so treat a pin as a guide and leave extra time for flights and connections. Border and entry rules are set by each country; check the official source for your trip.

Frequently asked questions

How are airport wait times measured?

Travelers start a timer in the BorderBudget app, choose Security or Passport Control, and the timer stops automatically when they head to the gate. The finished time is added to that airport's recent reports.

Why are security and passport control separate?

They are different lines with different waits. Blending them gave misleading averages, especially at the first stop of a trip abroad, so each airport tracks them separately.

Are these official wait times?

No. They are times reported by other travelers using the app, not figures from an airport, airline or government agency, and BorderBudget is not affiliated with any of them. Real waits can differ.

How do land border waits work?

Travelers tap a quick report on a border crossing's pin: about 15 minutes, 45 minutes or 90 minutes or more. The pin updates with the latest reports and says when the last one came in.

Is it free?

Yes. Viewing wait times and adding your own are free for everyone in the BorderBudget app.

Contact

Questions about BorderBudget? Reach us at developer@borderbudget.com, or check the full FAQ.