Is 45 minutes enough at LGA? 27% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 105 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 120 in July.
Separately, 5.9% of flights into LGA were cancelled or diverted (9.4% in July). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through LGA →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at LGA too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 25% | 23% | 30% | 25% | 29% | 31% | 35% | 29% | 20% | 21% | 22% | 29% | 32% |
| 50 min | 19% | 16% | 23% | 18% | 22% | 25% | 28% | 22% | 14% | 14% | 16% | 22% | 24% |
| 60 min | 14% | 12% | 19% | 14% | 18% | 20% | 23% | 18% | 10% | 11% | 13% | 17% | 20% |
| 75 min | 11% | 9% | 14% | 10% | 13% | 16% | 19% | 14% | 8% | 8% | 10% | 13% | 15% |
| 90 min | 8% | 7% | 11% | 7% | 11% | 13% | 15% | 11% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 12% |
| 120 min | 5% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 8% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at LGA (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| DAL Dallas | 1,557 | 26% |
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 4,714 | 26% |
| ORD Chicago | 11,641 | 25% |
| DCA Washington | 4,844 | 24% |
| HOU Houston | 1,358 | 24% |
| MCO Orlando | 5,149 | 24% |
| MIA Miami | 5,955 | 23% |
| DFW Dallas | 6,650 | 23% |
| PBI West Palm Beach | 3,008 | 23% |
| RDU Raleigh | 4,339 | 22% |
| MSY New Orleans | 1,391 | 21% |
| ORF Norfolk | 2,198 | 21% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville | 1,202 | 14% |
| IND Indianapolis | 2,990 | 14% |
| PIT Pittsburgh | 3,365 | 15% |
| MKE Milwaukee | 1,326 | 15% |
| BGR Bangor | 1,167 | 15% |
| CAE Columbia | 1,302 | 15% |
| CMH Columbus | 3,187 | 15% |
| MSP Minneapolis | 1,967 | 15% |
| PWM Portland | 1,606 | 15% |
| MCI Kansas City | 1,879 | 15% |
| CVG Cincinnati | 1,857 | 16% |
| BUF Buffalo | 2,316 | 16% |
Last flights of the day from LGA
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| MSP Minneapolis | 6:05 p.m. | 4.8 |
| TPA Tampa | 6:55 p.m. | 6.2 |
| STL St. Louis | 6:59 p.m. | 9.1 |
| CLT Charlotte | 7:10 p.m. | 13 |
| PBI West Palm Beach | 7:29 p.m. | 6.8 |
| RDU Raleigh | 7:30 p.m. | 10.1 |
| MIA Miami | 7:50 p.m. | 14.1 |
| IND Indianapolis | 7:50 p.m. | 7.7 |
| CMH Columbus | 7:55 p.m. | 7.4 |
| BNA Nashville | 7:59 p.m. | 11.5 |
| CHS Charleston | 7:84 p.m. | 5.9 |
| MCI Kansas City | 8:05 p.m. | 5.3 |
| GSP Greer | 8:15 p.m. | 5.1 |
| IAH Houston | 8:17 p.m. | 10.9 |
| CLE Cleveland | 8:30 p.m. | 6.9 |
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 8:50 p.m. | 10.7 |
| MCO Orlando | 8:55 p.m. | 10.8 |
| DEN Denver | 8:55 p.m. | 12.5 |
| ORF Norfolk | 8:55 p.m. | 5.4 |
| GSO Greensboro | 8:59 p.m. | 5.5 |
| DTW Detroit | 9:00 p.m. | 7.9 |
| DCA Washington | 9:20 p.m. | 12.4 |
| PIT Pittsburgh | 9:20 p.m. | 8.2 |
| ORD Chicago | 9:25 p.m. | 29.9 |
| RIC Richmond | 9:29 p.m. | 7 |
| MDW Chicago | 9:30 p.m. | 6.3 |
| BUF Buffalo | 9:50 p.m. | 6 |
| BOS Boston | 9:59 p.m. | 20 |
| ATL Atlanta | 10:00 p.m. | 20.8 |
| DFW Dallas | 10:55 p.m. | 16.5 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at LGA?
Often, not always. Over the past year 27% of flights into New York landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 20%; with 90, 12%. Separately, 5.9% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at LGA?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 105 minutes on an average month and 120 minutes in July, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.