The Washington Post ranks the top 50 airports in the country. Most of their top 10 are defensible. For instance, Portland; Washington National; Minneapolis and Detroit are all good airports. However,
- San Diego doesn’t make their top 50.
- San Francisco doesn’t make their top 10.
- And their hometown Washington Dulles – clearly one of the worst airports in the country – is ranked #17, ahead of easy in and out airports like Dallas Love Field, West Palm Beach, and Colorado Springs.
Washington Dulles
The problem is that they looked for airports “where you may actually want to stay awhile.” And they built an algorithm around responses from 2,300 randos and drew on “Yelp reviews for airport shops, restaurants and the buildings themselves.”
An airport is not supposed to be a mall with gates. If you’re at the airport, you’re trying to get somewhere – quickly – you are flying, not taking a bus. So a great airport is one that gets you to it, through it, and out of it as fast and efficiently as possible. You want to consider:
- How easy is it to reach the airport from where people actually are? An airport close to downtown with direct rail access is great. An airport that requires a long drive, an expensive transfer, or a shuttle to reach the terminal is not so good.
- How much of a schlepp is the airport once you arrive? Is security by the entrance with gates close after screening, or does the airport force long walks, trains to remote concourses, bus gates, and layouts mean you’re traversing the airport for as much time as you’re flying?
- How well does the operation run?
Aiport access, passenger throughput, and operational reliability are much more important than pretty terminal.
Their top 3 airports are Portland (#1), Long Beach (#2), and Washington National airport. The local Washington paper can reasonably be proud of National.
Washington National airport
Washington National airport
However, Long Beach is an airport that hates air travel! Airlines there are allocated a ‘noise budget’ that effectively imposes a slot regime. There are limits on morning and night flying. The city actually rejected a plan to have customs there to allow for international flights. There are only 11 gates. Southwest and Delta actually returned operating rights there this year.
Denver airport
I give the list credit, though, because the very worst airports do not make their list of good airports – like New York JFK, Newark, Miami, Charlotte, and Philadelphia. Chicago O’Hare isn’t there either, and neither is LAX or Denver. So they’re definitely right and that score.
So, what is the thought leader’s top 10 USA airports?
@Alan — *thot leader (he was seen with Ms. Bell and Deltalina, after all…)
my list would include
dca
sfo
pdx
msp
dtw
san
ont
Portland is clearly the best airport in the United States by a very significant margin – easy and inexpensive to get to and from, and pleasant to be in. It’s superiority – in a city that is otherwise highly dysfunctional – is so evident that it surprises me that it isn’t more discussed as the lodestar for other US airports to emulate.
Simply by defecation chambers alone, IAD should be disqualified
Thot (sometimes capitalized as THOT) is a derogatory slang term for a woman considered to be promiscuous or sexually provocative. It originated as an acronym for “that ho over there” and gained widespread popularity in hip-hop culture and social media during the early 2010s.
So the retardo thinks he’s funny, it’s 2026. It’s using it over and over and over……
@Pilot93434 — Begone thot!!
@Pilot93434 — What’s a “Sukwinder Dixit”?
Come on now, what’s wrong with a mile long concourse that includes a rarely operating Sky Train?
Only if you are Bezos and you fly private, IAD to be avoided…
Sfo has always had runway issues, but is a far better option…
The Washington post also stated Joe Biden was competent and fit as a fiddle. don’t put too much value in anything the Com Post writes about.
@Paul — That’s a good point. Hasn’t WaPo basically just become Jeff’s personal propaganda promoter? I mean, these days, they’d likely bury a story by Woodward and Bernstein, if it meant protecting a corrupt administration that enables our oligarchs to keep screwing the world. Tragic.
I live within walking distance of DCA and avoid it all cost since my last 11 flights there have all been delayed by multiple hours thanks to the overcrowded schedule and the single runway. A single delay is enough to cause chaos there. IAD is far from a perfect airport but it’s far more likely that I take off on time there than I ever will at DCA.
I think flyers are too hard on Newark (EWR). Newark is just as good as any other airport.
Philadelphia is massively underrated. Yes, it is ugly and old, and the employees are not the friendliest. But it is reasonably efficient. It is near the city and you can get there. It does not take long to get to your gate from the curb. It has well above average lounges. If you know what you’re doing, you can walk to your rental car. Very few large hub airports are easier.
There are a few decent choices like PDX, SFO, MSP, LGA. But SFO is hurt severely by the fog and the current runway constraints. I don’t think DCA is anything special, having DCA-SFO more than any other route. Mediocre food options and fairly average design.
My list would be ‘:
1) DCA
2) TPA
3) SFO
4) ATL
5) SAN
6) PDX
7) DTW
8) MSP
9) SLC
10) LGA
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
“I think flyers are too hard on Newark (EWR). Newark is just as good as any other airport.”
Assuming your flight arrives on time to make your connection. United’s ops from DCA – EWR absolutely suck.
JFK is the worst major airport in the US. Its perpetually under construction, incredibly painful to reach
Denver is a fantastic airport – minus the big operational risk that is the underground train. Once they finally build the tunnel to connect all three terminals, it’s that won’t be an issue.
Is it busy? Massive? Essentially in Kansas? Yes, yes, and yes. But the food options are solid, the bathrooms are clean, and things move efficiently, relative to size. Needs a Sapphire lounge, and it’d be perfect.
This type of rankings are always suspect. They inherently require the author to assign subjective weighting to various factors.
It seems to me there are three categories. The best airport to fly out of is only relevant if you have a choice (e.g. ORD or MDW) or want to consider it in relocating. The best to fly into is relevant if you have a choice (e.g., IAD or DCA) or use it when considering vacation spots. Obviously, if I’m flying to Atlanta or live there, why would I care how ATL ranks (unless, of course I was considering moving to Atlanta or was considering it for vacation). For many decisions, the true question is the best to connect at.
San Diego is an operational mess. One runway + constant fog + no ILS on runway 27 + one main taxiway is the perfect formula for hell.
No amount of fancy new terminals will make it better. Adding more gates has only added to the congestion. Recently flew in last week, and we waited for 45 min for the alleyway to clear.
IAD is not one of the best, but I do like the clean and bright A/B terminal with multiple decent lounges, which you can walk to. Maybe the Wapo folks only fly international J? C/D are miserable, and the train and long walk and mobile lounges are a hassle, but maybe the new E will somewhat redeem the UA experience. Check in and security areas are pretty efficient (though for non GE folks, CBP can be pretty slow). Also, if you are in NOVA, it is reasonably accessible, and for dependability, particularly in bad weather, it beats DCA.
Since the new terminal opened I would place PIT in the top 10. Very efficient, easy to clear security, Good gate houses. Decent F+B. Few delays. A little soft on the lounge side, but other than that it’s fine…and architecturally stunning.
Nobody ever talks about SAV. It is a great little airport. The gates are easy to get to, parking is so cheap you feel guilty about it and the garage accurately points you to open spots. During the holidays, they have an orchestra or chorus or a pianist in the lobby. Not much shopping, but who cares?
When someone has to state “Not fake news” it usually is. Just like “Truth Social” isn’t either.
It depends on what you value. A beautiful terminal? Quick access to ground transportation? Lots of seating? An array of amenities? Lots of lounge choices?
Personally, I prefer a good terminal layout and quick access to ground transportation. If I want to go shopping, I’ll go to the mall or more likely order from Amazon.
The old LGA terminal was perfect in the fact that gate to outside was less than a five minute walk.
I’ve lived near and flown from IAH, DFW, BNA and CLT over the course of my career. Frankly all have pluses and minuses. I tend to look for the positives instead of obsessing on the negatives. Also some are horrible connecting airports (CLT) but great if you originate there
LGB is an excellent airport for a number of reasons including the ability to locate garage parking, walk from long term parking and be to at the gate under 12 minutes. (with Clear TSA pre check). Ability to board the plane with from both the front and back.
Flights are limited but time is $, and this new facility has great food and beverage options.
O’hare is one the best if you live in the Chicago area. It is easy to get to the gates and you can fly to a ton of places non-stop including international. Sure John Wayne in OC is smaller and easier to get around but you are limited in non-stops. Other big hubs are also good if they are your home airport. I used to live 20 minutes from it and now 30 or so. It was an easy drive.
These rankings are very subjective. The Colorado Springs airport is very small. Parking and security and gate access are a total breeze. It probably ranks low because it lacks a lot of dining and shopping options; and it’s outside of the southern part of the city, which is the older area of the city. It is very user friendly. It’s very no nonsense. It is all about being a user friendly airport, not a mall food court. But like a lot of those other cities, there aren’t a lot of airport options, and you aren’t going to connect there. You can’t compare an airport like COS to one in a major urban area, unlike Denver up the highway.
ONT over SNA Gary? John Wayne has to be in any top 10 of most convenient and well appointed. It’s a beautiful terminal
@Greg – SNA hates air travel though
@Kenneth – agreed, but the WaPo includes Paine Field in its list! And ABQ!
Another list from people who don’t know anything. And praise for O;Hare from someone who lives here! Minority of one. Shlepping to get gates, obtuse signage, many not so great to lousy lounges (LOT in T5 is good), took out moving sidewalks even in areas that lack stores because they could not maintain them, has plans at great expense to turn itself into some kind of colossus of the north complete with palm tree so you will never to able to get where you are going.(they should get together with Da Bears). Also don’t know why anyone is going to Portland. Can’t think of a US airport that belongs on a best list next to Singie or Istanbul.
I would add Kalamazoo, MI to the top 50. You can get from long term parking in 5 min. Add 1 min if your checking a bag. Downsides, only served by Delta, American and United, and services only 3 airports…ORD, MSP and DTW. Grand Rapids, MI would be another one I would add to the top 50.
We each have our own personal favorites based upon where we fly and our experiences at X airport there. If ever there was a case where YMMV, this is it.
I don’t have a top ten list, but I do have a group of favorites. That said, PDX does clearly rise to the top. DCA and SFO would certainly be included. SFO gets a bad rap due to weather, but I’ve suffered only one serious delay (and one flight cancellation due to mechanical reasons) in the past two years — FAA landing restrictions and runway construction notwithstanding…SFO cannot control the FAA, and runway construction is a) needed, and b) falls under the category of fecal material happens. At least the construction isn’t as disruptive as JFK’s or what LGA went through.
Others in my Top Ten — in random order — would include SEA (you might have to switch terminals but the underground trains make that easy and they run every four minutes), MSY (love the new terminal, the food and music [hate the TSA wait times, though), PWM (easy in-and-out, despite weak concessions, and TSA is a piece of cake), SBA (small, quaint, beautiful albeit with limited flights and concessions), SAN, SNA, and YVR…isn’t Canada our 51st state?
@Jon F — New Terminals 1, 6/7 about to open at JFK later this year, and the construction on the Van Wyck is nearly complete. Good things take time (see new LGA, which was painful transition for at least 5 years, but well worth it.)
@jack the ladd — PDX is fine; visiting next month. ‘The dream of the 90s is alive in Portland.’ Sure, lots of nice, new airports overseas, but we got some new stuff, too (LGA, EWR Terminal A).