Monday, October 22, 2012

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! 

10 comments:

  1. I really enjoy Sky Harbor in Phoenix, AZ (PHX). Lots of shops and restaurants that gives your family and friends something to come early for.

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    1. And, with the nice weather year round, not much fear of weather delays! Thanks!

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  2. Ontario California is a nice smallish airport. Quick in and out, well maintained, a reasonable amount of food options, and relatively close to the greater LA area.

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    1. I never knew about this airport, what a great tip. Thanks!

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  3. Thanks, Paul. I just had a chance to go to a convention in Ontario, but opted out. Your comment may change my mind next time!

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  4. I like the great bookstore in the Milwaukee airport, and the airport in Detroit was nicer than I expected, with a cute little train. Leave extra time for security in Vegas. If you fly in/out of the front range, such as here in Denver or Colorado Springs, expect some turbulence, but we do have the greatest pilots in the world because many are former Air Force pilots!

    Oh. Midway is almost downtown Chicago, and you fly in close to the tops of the buildings; I prefer ORD because it's farther from the congestion. (Chicago traffic is the worst!)

    Take a good map or GPS to the Miami airport. The crime is bad.

    Bring your French dictionary to the DeGaulle airport. They want you to try to speak French, even the shop owners do.

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  5. You have a good point about weather. If I have to connect, I like to connect in Dallas or Atlanta. On the other hand, sometimes a non-stop is worth the extra money! (I once spent an overnight in the Minneapolis airport. No sleep.)

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  6. Nice shout-out for craft beer in Denver ;-) I also really like Portland Airport. Craft beer, a kids play area, and the city light rail goes directly to the airport. There is a full mall there, and the stores are required to charge the same prices as they would outside of the airport. There's no sales tax, either!

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    1. Shopping in the airport always seems expensive, so what a nice perk in Portland! And, the public transportation is an added bonus, probably a great money and time saver.

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  7. If you switch Delta planes in Atlanta, be prepared to jog one or two concourses. They do have a "train" you can take, but it's still a hassle.

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