Brian Sumers expresses concern at the silly naming of LAX as the best airport in North America by Business Traveller magazine.
There’s no conceivable universe in which LAX is the best airport in North America. In many ways it belongs grouped with the worst airports. Unquestionably the Tom Bradley terminal is one of the most improved. But many of the terminals are unconnected inside security, and it can take 20 minutes or more just to drive around the terminals. Traffic at that airport is horrendous.
Over the summer I named LAX the second worst airport in the U.S.. I grouped it with Miami, New York JFK, and Washington Dulles.
You take a train outside security between terminals at JFK.. and a train to where you can pick up hotel shuttles.
But what are the best airports?
It’s tough to come up with a clear winner, the way Singapore and Seoul Incheon stand out in Asia (Hong Kong has many partisans, I actually like Bangkok Suvarnabhumi more than most, and rank Seoul lower than conventional wisdom due to time from Seoul’s city center). In Europe I’m partial to Munich and Vienna.
In the U.S. we might consider but also must reject:
- San Francisco. The terminals are generally modern and fresh, and the food offerings are very good. But parallel runways just 750 feet apart mean that whenever there’s any fog off the bay the airport’s capacity drops in half and delays stack up.
- Denver. Reasonably modern airport, but baggage has always been a mess and distance from city center takes it out of contention.
- Las Vegas. It’s close to the city center, but cab lines are awful, and once you make it through security you still have to take a train out to gates.
We might reasonably include in any finals:
- San Diego. Close to city center. Gates are reasonably close once you’ve cleared security. On the flip side, terminals aren’t the most modern, dining options aren’t fantastic.
- Dallas Fort-Worth. The airport grounds are larger than the island of Manhattan, but if you enter the correct terminal there’s very little distance to walk. The airport train is pretty efficient. There’s plenty of dining options and lounges. The international D terminal is one of the brightest and most modern in the country. Terminal A’s refresh is taking too long but offers improvements. You get a pretty good experience if you’re flying American, though flying other domestic airlines things aren’t as pretty.
Delta hubs Detroit and Minneapolis are surprisingly good, and Salt Lake City isn’t awful. Chicago O’Hare is a bad airport but has Tortas Frontera, which is a saving grace.
What do you think is the best airport in the United States?
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I’m partial to my home airport, CLT. Yes, it’s a fortress hub operated by US Airways (I fly Delta out of there often). But it is close to the city center ($25 taxi and the taxi line is short), all of the terminals are connected inside security, and we have good food options with Beaudevin and Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar.
We have three parallel runways (and one perpendicular one) that operate well in poor weather.
The only two things that are tough for CLT is
– getting to the rental cars, but they are moving to the new (walking distance) parking deck very soon.
– Transferring from the high E gates to the C/D gates can involve some walking in between the slidewalks.
Minneapolis is better than all of those. Good food, good layout, train to downtown from the terminal in 35 minutes. Security not great but I haven’t seen great security in a long time. Terminal 2 for Southwest is even better. The only downside is that you’re locked into Delta.
MSP and LAS (Only take the train on 2 of the 5 gates.
The new Bradley at LAX is hands down the best terminal in the country.
Its a shame its not a hub for someone, but RDU. Hands down my favorite airport. Competitive fares, clean, modern, and rarely a wait for security. Its a very well run airport (and has a skyclub and admirals club lounge with showers).
I will put in a good word for CLT as well. I fly through there a lot. Rarely a weather delay. The walks aren’t bad (mostly). The building is new and bright. Love the food court area and that BBQ place is quite good for airport food. The restroom attendants are a nice touch. Never a bad experience there.
And Detroit (my hometown) is also not bad at all. Plus National Coney Island, Meditteranean Grill, and GAyle’s Chocolates.
@Greg
Sorry to rain on your parade but they asked best airport and I agree LAX is one of the worst airports.
I always thought Indy had a really good airport. Clean, easy to get through, decent food. Security was always a breeze going through it.
PDX! Portland has signs in the airport saying it was named best by someone.
Personal favorite: HNL. Outdoor lobbies, goldfish ponds, only Hawaii’
DFW is up there, especially with the Amex Lounge now. But I do know what the worst airport in the US is: FLL! Honestly, all it is is contruction and no Lounges at all! For an airport that busy/strategic? I avoid it at all costs…
I have to vote for TPA, Tampa. Clean, easily accessible, lots of parking options, never overcrowded, nice landscaping, friendly employees, and a new $250 million expansion project including an outdoor terrace with lots of green plants, an automated train, a people mover, and a new “bridge” for a taxiway. The airport is being redesigned with a look towards the future in 30 years.
DTW is great if you’re flying Delta, and it continues to get better as they add new dining and shopping options over the next few years. I love the self serve bar in the Sky Clubs and the terminal itself is easy to navigate. The biggest negative to me is the airport taxi monopoly scheme between DTW and MetroCars/MetroCab.
I want to put forward my vote for DTW too. It’s great on Delta and very good on the other airlines since the North Terminal replaced the awful, awful L.C. Smith terminal. Definitely poorly connected to the city center though, but since it’s close to Ann Arbor I never cared.
I also agree that RDU is a terrific airport
The smaller the better for me. Milwaukee is fabulous. It doesn’t have much in terms of connecting flights anymore. But just a great, functional, easy-to-use airport with some good food, ping pong table, and other fun kinds of things. Easy access, affordable parking.
If we’re going even smaller, Madison, Wisconsin (My home airport) is phenomenal. The TSA pre-check line almost only ever consists of me. I can get from the parking lot to my gate in 10 minutes or less. And there’s a Great Dane Brew Pub to pass time. It’s the perfect airport. Aside from the fact that it’s a regional airport and you can only fly direct to hubs.
IND is out of the way for most people, and only have a couple of lounges. But its airport is modern, easy to navigate, and has some of the most friendly TSA people I have come across. Often times you will find yourself being greeted by, or chat with the TSA while waiting in line. Maybe it’s a security thing, but it sure ease up the experience. 🙂
BUR(bank) is my favorite – fastest in and out. It used to be even better 20 years ago.
it’s really 2 questions you’re asking – the best airport for O&D vs. the best airport for connections
Gotta agree with Andy about RDU. Beautiful terminal, several empty gates for a new airline to come in. Hey Emirates!
MIA, only because I’m a sucker for bars that are branded by liquor companies.
Atlanta. There’s tons of direct flights everywhere with a choice of times, it’s well run, and there’s good choices dining and shopping.
for me, the most important things are: a) club access; b) fast from city center to the gate; c) ease of connections; d) decent food options close to gates.
DCA is 15m to downtown DC, has an extremely easy Metro connection, has a Delta and two AA clubs, and now has a bunch of good food both pre and post security.
I would have three categories for this: 1) best airport for nonstop domestic flights; 2) best connecting airport; 3) best international gateway. On the first, DCA is far and away the best. On the second and third, I’d argue for DFW. But DFW is still way too far from downtown Dallas to be the best overall, and the DART connection is not particularly quick to the ‘core’ (such as it were) of Dallas.
I have to put in another vote for Tampa. While not a hub, it does have non-stops to a ton a cities around the country (including essentially every hub except SFO) plus flights to London, Zurich, Panama, and soon Frankfurt. It is about the fastest in and out airport in the country and under no circumstances do you have a long walk.
I agree that DEN is pretty far from the city, but once they complete the light rail to downtown’s union station (2016), I think it’s going to be near the top of any ranking.
Best airport for Ambience, Facilities, and General Awesomeness : PDX
Best major airport (e.g., connections, international) that manages to do well in the above categories: DFW, although not easy to pick. MSP or SFO I also like. Your SFO criteria and mine don’t match.
Tampa should be given a look. Thx for your great blog.
+1 for PDX. One of the first airports to feature PreCheck. Excellent restaurants before and after security, including Rogue Brewery. Logically arranged gates to minimize endless walking. Multiple airline clubs (UA, DL, and AS). MAX tram takes you straight to downtown for $2.50. Rental car facilities for major rental car companies are across from the terminal. And no sales tax!!
“no conceivable universe in which LAX is the best airport” so funny. I wouldn’t even vote LAX as the best airport in California.
I don’t know about best but I like:
PDX, DTW, SFO, SLC, SJC and DEN
Least favorite:
MCI, FLL, FCO, CDG and ORD but ORD does have a lot of services.
I don’t mind Miami.
San Jose, hands down. Easy in/out, close to city center, good food, short security lines, walk to the rental cars and parking – hell, walk to the airport if you want, I’ve done it. I’d like to see more international and east coast flights, but it’s a great airport.
CLT is as good as it gets with hub airports
Reasonably quick security, all gates connected planeside, good food options, quick to town. You should need no more than 10 minutes to get between any 2 gates in the airport if connecting through there, even if you have to go across the airport. And no more than 5 minutes to get from a US club to any gate in the airport.
LGA is a disaster. Any airport where you could have to clear security again when connecting between 2 domestic flights (even though they’re in the same terminal!) on the same airline deserves automatic consideration for worst airport. Plus no free wifi. The Delta terminal is better, but if you’re connecting from a flight arriving in the D terminal to one leaving at the far end of the C terminal, you’d better be physically fit.
fortunate enough to fly into/out of RDU about 25 times a year. terrific airport as mentioned… could use a bit more variety food-wise but what really baffles me is why there is only 1 real int’l flight (AA to LHR) daily considering the universities, tech and pharma companies in the triangle area. and there’s a whole other terminal recently refurbished that flies out maybe 5 WN flights a day; otherwise empty.
Terminal 2 at LAX is an embarrassment. I have seen nicer terminals in third world countries.
For small airports Austin is great, rental cars right outside, Salt Lick barbeque (not Blacks but still pretty good), curb to gate in 10 minutes or less.
another vote for IND. And SAV – small, easy, friendly, and charming, just like the city it leads to.
Are we talking large/hub airports only?
If not, DCA is certainly near the top of my list. Easy cab to anywhere in North Arlington or DC, US/AA lounges are pretty good, pre-check is open most hours.
Agree on SAN. T1 might not have much to do, but it’s an efficient terminal without any large distances or long lines. You don’t need to get there too early. T2 is modern and great.
I’ll plug my local airport, PWM. Very close to the downtown/Old Port, usually reasonable fares, only 11 gates but has pre-check, and the US Airways staff are great. Dining options are limited, but Linda Bean’s does pretty good airport lobster.
Another vote for CLT: super easy as a connecting airport: minimal delays, can easily make connections to just about any gate in about 10 minutes, without having to get on a train/bus/etc. Also great for O&D, especially when the rental cars are moved to the short term deck a 60 second walk from the terminal in a couple of months.
I personally love the quirkiness of BOS, but others may disagree.
DFW terminal D is great, but the other terminals aren’t anything special, in my opinion.
Surprised you didn’t mention your home airport, DCA haha. It is definitely up there as one of the nicest airports along with ease of getting to/from DC.
My favorites in the US (hard for big airports to make this list)
DCA
RDM
CLD
SEA
DTW
ANC
SBA
MKE
BUF
SJC
Solid airports, but not one of the best:
SAN (once they renovate the old terminal, they will be one of the best)
DFW (they charge toll to pick up/drop off passengers and the roads to the terminals are terrible. Supposed to make it efficient as you only have to pass the terminal that you need to pass, but it is so confusing)
BWI – solid airport, easy in/out, good concessions. Need to renovate concourse D though. Car rental location decision was stupid.
AUS
ABQ
PDX (a good part of their concession options are pre security)
MSP (terminal layout could be better – great airport but can be a long walk)
ROC
SLC (need to improve concession options, they were working on that, but haven’t had the chance to explore the new options)
MMH
SNA
IAH
Terrible airports:
IAD
MIA
FLL
ALL NYC AIRPORTS
RNO
ICT
PHL
BOS (try departing out of E during the evening/night)
There are many airports I probably forgot to include on my list. There are also many that are average like ATL, PIT, ONT, ORD, BUR, SUN, GEG, DEN, PHX, LAS, etc.
For connections or D&O? For D&O, I think DFW is by far and away the best — at least if you’re flying AA. The airport’s spread-out design actually becomes a virtue since it effectively eliminates choke points and makes terminal parking really convenient. Seven huge, widely separated runways effectively eliminate air traffic delays. Putting aside the Centurion Club, the Admirals Clubs here are all really nice as well.
I’d have to say Tampa. Flew there last month, it was flawless.
I like my home airport PHL. Very close to downtown, flight connections to everywhere, decent food and always improving. Baggage issues much improved. Plenty of parking options.
Ontario airport outside LA. Never wait for anything. Nearly empty terminals. Carl’s Jr for thick burgers or deli chain fare. This is as close as you’ll get to driving up to the plane.
The new MSY (in a few years)!!
DCA without a doubt! I’ve consistently gone from my house to airside, next to my plane, in less than 25 minutes. Single runway, tight controls, fairly smooth ops. Great connection to the city.
CLT best connecting hub. Dominated by a single airline, so easier to organize operations. Parallel runways with lots of capacity. No major consistent weather issue (summer storms, winter snow, fog). Compact, walkable terminals (even including E).
JFK delta terminal is the worst in the US and Tom Bradly at LAX is the best. (I agree with Greg) There is literally mold falling from the JFK ceiling and instead of cleaning it, they put up tarps to catch the mold. Not even joking. I don’t think there is a “best” airport in the U.S. But traveling through Denver, either on an international or domestic flight, is a seamless process. Just don’t try to get to the city in a hurry.
Hands down, my favorite airport in the US is Long Beach, CA (LGB). Not a whole lot of folks have a chance to pass through, but if you do, you’ll be charmed by the incredibly short security lines, beautiful airside outdoor patio (with firepits), dining options which are almost exclusively outposts of locally owned joints, free wifi, beautiful design, and comfortable seating. Due to capacity controls and a long, well-oriented runway, there are almost never delays.
First off, it’s absurd that LAX is the best airport in North America. There are at least half a dozen major airports in Canada that are better than LAX (even the overpriced beast that is YYZ still beats it). I can only assume the BT voters forgot about us.
As for best airport in the US, I’d also vote for DTW. Of course, I haven’t had the chance to visit a lot of the smaller regional US airports, but generally I find them more agreeable than the majors.
DFW is my favorite – particularly Terminal D. Coming in from international flights is usually very smooth, particularly now with the kiosks for passport control. Getting to any terminal is a quick ride on Skylink. My biggest complaint is that they don’t have pre-check in the security area at the top of the escalator when you leave the international arrival baggage area. ORD is painful, as it LAX, but I do like the walk from the AA domestic terminal to TBIT – It gives me a chance to get a nice outdoor walk in before getting onto a long TPAC flight.
Best airport: TPA
Worst airport: MIA and JFK
Your question is kind of meaningless unless you divide into two categories (or maybe 3):
(1) What is the best airport for connections?
(2) What is the best airport for city access?
(3) What is the best airport if you have time to kill (some overlap with (1)?
That being said I would tend to concur that SFO, DEN and SLC are good places to kill time (connection and restaurants). Surprised DCA did not make your list – excellent in all respects.
DFW, LAS and LAX would all be disqualified on food alone. IAH is surprisingly good – ATL is hit or miss (international terminal is horrible at night – others not so bad).
From SFO I rarely have to connect in the USA but when I do my top choices (weather aside) would be ORD, DEN, IAH, PHX or SLC. On the east coast I guess IAD is the best of the litter. Avoid NYC-area and MIA like the plague. LAX is not bad for delays but a horrible place to arrive or hang out.
JFK is actually pretty great. I don’t know why you dislike it. There’s no reason to change terminals or take a hotel shuttle for people who live in (or whose destination is) NYC. It’s bad for transferring, sure. That doesn’t bother me as a resident.
And if your main criterion is closeness to city center, I don’t understand why you like Munich and Vienna. They’re both quite far.
It’s probably worth noting that if you’re into snowsports, it’s hard to beat SLC’s location 40 mins away from some excellent powder. I’ve landed in SLC with my plane’s tires having left the only prints in 3 inches of powder — it’s hard to top that.