Last week we discussed airline seating, and which airlines were trying to stuff two hundred pounds of American into a 100 lb. bag. This week, thanks to U.S. News and World Report, we consider what airports to avoid.While most of the time travelers buzz from one terminal to another, barely noting the bad food and overpriced golf clothes for sale along the way, every once in a great while a snowstorm or terrorist attack traps thousands of visitors for days at a time. Where would you rather sleep on the floor?
USNWR's Airport Misery Index, developed in cooperation with The Boyd Group, breaks their subject into two classes, large airports and small. The candidates for the most miserable large airports:
- Detroit, MI -- Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) --Hub --Northwest
- Chicago, IL -- O'Hare (ORD) --Hub- American (NYSE:AMR), United (NASDAQ: UAUA)
- Charlotte, NC -- Charlotte Douglas Intl (CLT) -- Hub -- US Airways (NYSE: LCC)
- New York NY -- Kennedy (JFK) --Hub -- Delta (NYSE: DAL), JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU)
- Newark, NJ -- Liberty Intl (EWR) (The airport People's Airlines made famous has brought ignominity upon the Garden State. Ask most people what they know of NJ, and they'll likely refer to the Newark Airport and Tony Soprano, neither favorably.) -- Hub -- Continental (NYSE: CAL)
- Oakland, CA -- Metro Oakland Intl (OAK)
- Houston TX -- Wm. P.
LHobby (HOU) - San Jose CA -- Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl (SJC)
- Dallas, TX -- Love Field (DAL) -- Hub -- Southwest (NYSE: LUV)
- St. Louis, MO -- Lambert Intl (STL) -- Hub -- American
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-04-2007 @ 6:11PM
Taylor York said...
# Houston TX -- Wm. P. Lobby (HOU)
?
first, william p HOBBY
second, HOU is george bush international..
6-04-2007 @ 6:12PM
Tom Barlow said...
Thanks for the name correction. George Bush Intl is IAH, not HOU.
6-05-2007 @ 10:53AM
Jose said...
For those of us who travel or work for an airline, like myself, reading that list of the 5 best major airports is funny to say the least. Those airports are not major airports. The airport themselves are not small but there connecting points are. All of those airports have limited service within the U.S. and even less direct flight to International destinations. If you notice you named airlines mini-hub airports compared to major airline hubs like Continental in Houston and Newark, United in Chicago and Northwest in Detroit, and Delta in Atlanta. They might be one of the worst in the sense of air traffic, passenger amounts, lines, security, etc but what do you expect it is a MAJOR INTERNATIONAL HUB. Its is also important to note that half of the aggravation of airports is the long wait at security, but what can you expect from Government employees. Just like waiting in line in motor vehicles. Be honest with you the U.S. Today World News report article and this followup make no sense.
6-13-2007 @ 2:02PM
Matt said...
What are you talking about. Detroits new Northwest Terminal is one of the best airports i've ever been in. Get a clue!
6-18-2007 @ 5:11PM
John said...
DAL/Love Field is not a major airport. DAL/Love Field is the old dallas airport before DFW was built. DFW IS a major airport.