Our Review of Denver Airport (DEN)

Table of contents: Our Review of Denver Airport (DEN) Pros and Cons of Denver Airport (DEN) Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Denver Airport (DEN)

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Denver Airport (DEN)

PROS

Location: The Denver airport is situated around 20 miles northeast of downtown Denver. It is conveniently accessible by major roads and public transit alternatives, such as the RTD A Line commuter train, making commuting to and from the city easy.

Hub: DIA Airport works as a hub for Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, Denver Air Connection and Southern Airways Express. And it is also a focus city for Southwest Airlines.

Modern Facilities: Denver Airport is known for its modern amenities, which include business rooms and free WiFi. Both business and leisure visitors may find what they need at many stores, eateries, and lounges that are available. There is free WiFi available all around the airport.

Baggage Handling & Security Checks: Efficient baggage handling systems contribute to a smooth travel experience. Security procedures are generally efficient, with multiple lanes to reduce wait times, except during peak travel time.

Lost & Found: Please get in touch with Denver Airport Lost & Found if you lost any items in the airport’s public areas. This service aids in locating misplaced items within airports.

Accessibility: The airport is well-connected by the RTD A Line commuter rail, rental cars, shuttles, and ride-sharing services. There are also various parking options available, including short-term, long-term, and economy parking.

CONS

Seasonal Overcrowding: The airport may get packed during periods of high travel demand, which can result in lengthier waits at baggage claim, security, and at check-in.

Weather Delays: Denver occasionally has weather-related delays, especially in the winter when snow and ice may cause problems with flight schedules.

Navigating Terminals: Navigating between the main terminal and the concourses requires using the underground train system. Please note that concourses B and C are only accessible by train which may lead longer transfer time during peak travel times.

Walking Times from security checks to gates: The walking time from security checks to different gates may vary. Please check the walking time in prior and plan accordingly.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2’ Guide)Terminals and Concourses: Denver International Airport has one main terminal, Jeppesen Terminal, which is divided into East and West sides. From here, you can access three concourses: A, B, and C.

Transfer between Concourses: Concourse A can be reached via a pedestrian bridge or the airport train system, while Concourses B and C are accessible by train only. Make sure you have enough time for transfers, especially during peak hours.

Transport to and from Denver: Denver and the surrounding areas are well-connected to the airport. Options include the RTD A Line commuter rail, which runs every 15 minutes and takes about 37 minutes to downtown Denver. Other modes of transportation include automobile rentals, shuttles, taxis, and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

Check-in Areas: Check-in counters are located on Level 6 of the Jeppesen Terminal. It is divided into the East and West sides, with different airlines operating from each side. This level is used for passenger drop-off and check-in counters. From here, there is access to gate areas.

Dining and Shopping: DEN has a huge selection of eating and shopping establishments across the concourses. There are plenty of sit-down eateries and fast snack options available, in addition to a large number of retail outlets for last-minute shopping.

Family-Friendly Facilities: DEN offers nursing rooms that are conveniently located post-security on each of DEN’s concourses, and one nursing room located in the center of the terminal on Level 5 near arrivals. Each room offers a tranquil environment to nurse while traveling. The rooms are available 24/7 with comfortable seating, wheelchair accessibility, power outlets, sinks, changing tables, etc.

Lounges: There are multiple lounges available at DEN, offering amenities such as food, drinks, and comfortable seating. Travelers with flight delays can relax in these lounges.

Additional services: Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. Wheelchair requests, lost & found, and business rooms.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation