Most folks have their favorite airports, but what really makes one better than the next?
Each year a number of different consumer advocacy groups publish lists of their Top 10 domestic
airports in the United States.
To arrive at their favorites, these organizations typically take into consideration things like
customer satisfaction scores, timeliness of flights, ease of access, and airport amenities.
It's true.
Not all airports are the same.
And just because you had a particularly awful experience at one doesn't mean they're all
going to disappoint you.
Now, chances are, you probably don’t often have a choice of what airport you’ll be
flying in or out of.
Typically when you need to catch a flight, you bee-line it to the closest airport to
where you live.
But in this video, we’ll just imagine that you can choose to go to whatever airport you’d
like in the country.
Taking into consideration the criteria most often referenced when comparing America's
airports while drawing upon our own travel experiences, we've come up with our ranked
list of the best Airports in America.
Keep watching to see which American Airports have earned a spot on our favorite list.
10: Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport
As far as mega airports go, Minneapolis-St. Paul is one of the only ones to make it to
our top ten list.
The airport serves the twin cities and features fantastic terminal facilities.
It's the seventeenth busiest airport with more than 38 million passengers a year.
While you might think that so many travelers would make this airport a nightmare, the way
that it's laid out makes it easy to navigate while not being too overwhelming.
The airport is a hub for Delta, accounting for 65% of annual traffic.
It’s also home to Minnesota’s Sun Country Airlines.
9: Tampa International Airport
Of the busiest airports in the US, Tampa International is one of the top-ranked.
Travelers report that the speed at which one can make it through security, coupled with
the sensible layout and cleanliness of this airport, makes it one of their favorites.
The airport also offers free one-hour parking, which makes pick-up and drop-offs far less
challenging than at other airports.
While it might not have quite as many long-haul flights compared to Florida’s Miami or Orlando
airports, it still offers direct flights to many European cities such as Zurich, London,
and Frankfurt.
Before we tell you more about some of the best airports in the country, take a moment
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8: Dallas Love Field
After flying out of Dallas Love Field a few times, we never want to step a foot back into
the much larger yet horrendously chaotic Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
While Dallas Love Field is one of our favorites, there is one major caveat about flying out
of here.
They, unfortunately, don't offer any international flights.
That being said, if you're flying domestically, you're going to be blown away by the level
of care that you receive here.
There are a number of fun little touches that make this airport shine.
For one thing, there are areas that are designed for both adults and kids alike to learn about
the city.
There are also musicians in some areas that help create a very peaceful vibe.
The airport is also extremely close to the downtown area.
You’ll have to go twice as far from the city center to make it to Dallas/Fort Worth.
As such, it’s much easier to get quickly to the heart of downtown Dallas with fewer
transfers if you’re taking public transit.
7: San Diego International Airport
Looking at things like delay times, amenities, and commute, San Diego is one of the best
international airports in the country.
There are plenty of amenities to meet all of your needs, and the airport has an impeccable
record of on-time flights.
Beyond that, its location is also extremely convenient.
Fun fact: San Diego International is the second busiest single-runway airport on the planet.
6: Salt Lake City International Airport
The design of Salt Lake City’s airport earns it a top spot on our list.
Airports are often faced with challenges when it comes to acoustics.
Some airports are simply too loud.
When it comes down to it, this can be resolved by having appropriate flooring.
In this regard, Salt Lake City is one of the quietest and most serene airports in the country.
Not only can you have a conversation with the person next to you, but you can clearly
hear the announcements coming from the PA system.
5: Miami International Airport
Miami International has a great atmosphere which plays off its location in the Sunshine
State perfectly.
It also has excellent food, beverage, and retail options.
Some of our favorite places to grab a bite to eat here include Shula’s Bar, Estefan’s
Kitchen, and Gilbert’s Bakery.
The airport also has a Bacardi Mojito Bar as well as a Corona Beach House, which further
taps into that Floridian Beach vibe.
4: Raleigh Durham International Airport
This international hub airport features wide open spaces, large windows, rocking chairs,
and other amenities designed for comfort.
Located directly between the cities of Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, each of these
two locations are easy to get to from the airport, thanks to the excellent bus and shuttle
system.
Raleigh Durham also has a great selection of restaurants, especially if you're interested
in trying out some of North Carolina's world-famous BBQ.
3: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Arizona’s busiest and largest airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and a base
for Southwest.
It first opened in 1935 as a one-runway rural airport.
The popular frequent-flier website The Points Guy ranked Sky Harbor as the best US airport
for the second time in 2018.
According to that source, the airport offers the best overall experience for travelers
when taking into account things like delays, commute, restaurants, ease of access, and
terminal layout.
While we agree that Sky Harbor is one of the best, we still wouldn’t go quite as far
as giving the top spot.
2: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airports
New Orleans debuted their new terminal in 2019, helping it slide up to our number two
spot.
The food, beverage, and retail options here are unparalleled.
Where else can you grab a po’ boy or some crawfish on a layover?
Some of our favorite eateries here include Ber Sazerac, Ye Olde College Inn, and Leah’s
Kitchen.
At the latter, we enjoyed a bowl of what may very well be the best gumbo we’ve ever had.
The absolute best dining destination here, however, is the world-famous Cafe du Monde.
Grab a cup of their signature chicory coffee and a beignet before boarding your flight.
Trust us, you won't be disappointed!
Five to fifteen million passengers fly in and out of New Orleans each year, making it
one of the smaller airports on this list, but its compact size and charm is what make
it so great.
It’s also earned numerous industry awards for its hygiene measures, which is especially
good to know in the COVID age.
Beyond great food and cleanliness, New Orleans has excellent parking facilities, reliable
WI-FI access, and an ambiance that will set your mind at ease while your rushing to make
your flight.
Security wait times are very short, and the airport's staff are all incredibly helpful
and friendly.
Louis Armstrong is also one of our favorite jazz musicians, so we'll give it another point
just for that reason alone.
1: Portland International Airport
Portland International is by far the biggest airport in Oregon, with more than 20 million
passengers passing through its terminals annually.
That might sound like a lot, but compared to airports like Atlanta or JFK, it’s not
nearly as hectic or crowded.
Even so, it’s still large enough to offer a wide range of dining options and features
modern amenities that you would expect from a major international airport.
When it comes to ranking airports, it's the little things that add up to make the overall
experience.
In this way, Portland soars beyond the rest of the airports discussed in this video.
While no one singular thing makes it great, it's the sum total of its parts that makes
it our absolute favorite.
Never have we ever had a stressful experience at Portland International.
If anything, every time we've flown in or out of it, it's been a net positive experience.
Portland has some of the happiest passengers you'll ever see at an airport.
Folks tend to applaud the airport for featuring things like water fill stations in the bathrooms
and other subtle touches like that that let you know that they genuinely care about the
well-being of their customers.
The airport has won countless awards over the last few years and is currently undergoing
a major renovation and expansion of its main terminal.
This is expected to be completed in 2025 and will create more space in the pre-security
areas to make guests feel less confined.
So, this video is sure to be controversial.
We’re certain that a few of you are already furiously typing away in the comments section
about how we got this list all wrong.
To be fair, it’s very difficult to objectively rank the various airports in the country.
It’s also not easy to push aside your individual experiences to look at things from the big
picture.
At any airport, you’re liable to have a negative experience – the inverse is true
as well!
Anyway, we’d love to hear a little feedback from you.
What are some of your favorite airports in the United States, and what makes them so
special from your perspective?
Let us know in the comments sections down below.
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As always, thanks for watching, and safe travels!