Best (and worst) Airports in America

With approximately 30,000 domestic flights per day, the United States is a nation of frequent flyers!  As many of you know, likely from first hand experience, glitches in airline schedules can cause stress as well as unexpected hours spent in airports due to delays.  Below are some of the best and worst airports in the US (ranked by Travel+Leisure's readers)... 


Many of the "worst" airports 
are in cold climates!

Topping the list of America's worst airports is New York's La Guardia (LGA) - ranking poorly for check-in, security, Wi-Fi access, design and cleanliness.  While its proximity to NYC is of value, that's about the only positive attribute.  Coming in second to last is Los Angeles (LAX) - with what I consider poor design (good luck making a tight connection) and an out-dated appearance, not what one would expect from glamorous Hollywood!  Jumping to number six worst is Chicago's O'Hare (ORD).  I personally disagree with this harsh ranking since the airport does have plenty of shops and eateries as well as public transit into the city, nonetheless flying through O'Hare doesn't top my list.  It's always very busy, and with the bad winter weather in Chicago, I recommend another airport (in a warmer climate) for connections.  Finally, the last of the "worst" I'd like to mention (lets focus on the positive, right?) is Washington's Dulles (IAD).  Personally, I'll always remember one Dulles flight - I had a very tight connection due to an initial flight delay.  The flight attendant asked everyone without a connection to "stay seated."  The woman sitting next to me said "Good luck, this is Washington and everyone thinks they're important."  Sure enough, everyone on the plane got up when we arrived at the gate, making it nearly impossible for those with tight connections to make them.  For this reason, I agree with Dulles ending up on the "worst list," as do many of the T+L readers too!

Flying into SFO often provides a good
view of the Golden Gate Bridge!

On to the "Best Airports" with Minneapolis (MSP) and Charlotte (CLT) topping the list due to their smooth check-in processes, security and overall experience (lounges, WiFi access, staff).  Jumping to number five is San Francisco's SFO (my local airport), which is easy to navigate (shorter security since it's broken up by gates), a relatively new and clean international terminal, with plenty of food and shopping options, as well as public transportation (taxis, BART) into the city. 

LAS is close to the famous "Strip"

Las Vegas (LAS) comes in at number seven on the T+L list, likely due to its proximity to downtown, airport entertainment (slots, anyone?) and fast WiFi.  But, the security lines can be longer than the famous "Strip" itself!  Number nine is Denver (DIA).  While it does deserve praise for it's cleanliness, food (and craft beer) options, the massive single security line and distance from downtown (25 miles - seriously!) make it an airport where arriving two hours before your flight is a necessity, not a recommendation.

Hope you are able to use these rankings to your advantage, and book flights through the "best" airports in the US.  It's sure to make your whole travel experience much more enjoyable!