The 25 worst airports in America

**brianhos** · 11-20-2012, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

Sorry...just not seeing that. When is the last time you've been at DFW, and what terminal was it?

I was there this spring, it was horrible. But I must have hit one of the old terminals. Flying from Austin to DSM.

**brianhos** · 11-20-2012, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by weR138

I've been to seven on this list and while I've had bad experiences at O'Hare, Atlanta was worse by far on a couple occasions. That airport SUCKS.

International in Atlanta is really nice.

**CtownCyclone** · 11-20-2012, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by brianhos

International in Atlanta is really nice.

I'm sensing a theme...the international terminals are the best ones.

**Buster28** · 11-20-2012, 01:57 PM

I have been to 15 of the 25 on the list, although some of them only a single time. Have flown through Phoenix, Denver, Vegas, Houston, St. Louis, Chicago (Midway and O'Hare), Minneapolis, Detroit, San Diego, and Los Angeles at various times to get back and forth from San Francisco. Never had a problem in Phoenix and I always found stuff to do when I've had longer layovers there.

Denver has caused me some delays because of snowstorms. I try to never use Chicago, Minneapolis, or Denver in winter months and prefer to connect through Houston and Phoenix to go west. Also, I try to avoid ORD at all cost (they never give you enough connection time!), but using Southwest through MDW has been ok for me so far. Can't wait until Southwest adds another destination from Des Moines that makes travel to the west more convenient, like Denver, Phoenix, or Las Vegas.

I have always liked SFO, but there can be an awful lot of delays. Have encountered more problems with arrivals than departures, usually because of the marine layer that won't clear out or stormy winter weather in the area makes it impossible for them to use both parallel runways at the same time as they can when it's clear. Oakland, in spite of the fact that you can see it from SFO, has fewer issues with weather delays and it sometimes makes a good alternative destination.

This isn't completely related to that, but it's close enough: in July, I flew from Kansas City to San Francisco through San Diego on Southwest. I had only 25 minutes of connecting time between flights. My connecting gate was right there when I got off, but saw my flight was delayed three hours because of thunderstorms that had disrupted flights all over the west. The other two flights for SFO were also severely delayed. I saw on the board that all the Oakland flights were on time. I asked to be put on standby for the next OAK flight that was leaving in half an hour. Fortunately, I was the 1st standby passenger called, got on the flight to Oakland, took BART around the Bay to SFO where I rented my car and checked into my hotel. After all that, I was still almost two hours ahead of where I would have been if I had chosen to wait for my original plane.

**Agkistrodon** · 11-20-2012, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by ZJohnson

Not really sure why all the hate on PHX?? I have flown in/out of that airport more than any other and not once have I had a delay...not kidding. It's super easy to get in and out of the airport and is actually pretty nice. Every airport I have had issues with have been on the East Coast.

It's fine if you don't have to change airlines... I almost missed a flight because on a 1-hour layover I had to leave the terminal I was in to go into another terminal and go through security again. I've never had to do that at any other airport.

**Farnsworth** · 11-20-2012, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

The 25 Worst Airports in America, From Newark to Dallas (Photos) - The Daily Beast

Interesting to see. I've been to 18 of the 25 they list, and in my opinion, they got most of the worst ones, although the omissions of Sky Harbor and SeaTac are glaring. I disagree with Denver being on the list, though. I've always had good experiences there, and they have a ton of amenities if you get tied up there for a while.

For me, the worst will always be O'Hare, with Atlanta being a close second, and Dallas at 3rd.

We have had completely different experiences then. I HATE HATE HATE Denver, with a firery passion. I don't mind O'Hare but I've only been there once.

**CycoCyclone** · 11-20-2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by klamath632

What's so bad about Sky Harbor? I've never had a problem there, and the Internet is free.

I had to kill a man in Phoenix just to try to find my transfer plane

**jdoggivjc** · 11-22-2012, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

Sometimes the airline you fly on, can have an effect on your perception of an airport. Detroit, is a good example. If you fly Northwest or Delta, you'll always go through their new terminal, which is gorgeous, has a really good gate to gate transit system, and is generally very pleasant. However, if you get unlucky and have to fly out of their old terminal, it can be much worse. Gates are lined up along long, dark hallways with very little seating, and few amenities.

Another one that falls into that category is Charlotte. Their main terminal is awesome. But their old terminal is designated for Southwest Airlines, and it's like a 3rd world country over there. There is literally a demarcation zone, where you go from one terminal to the next, and it's very noticeable. All of a sudden, the floors are dirtier, the ceilings are lower, the lights are dimmer. Obviously it's the difference between an old building and a new one, but I can see how people flying into the same airport can have entirely different experiences.

When was the last time you flew out of Detroit's old terminal? Yeah, it's long and not as "nice" as the Delta terminals, but the terminal is far from dark, I've never had a problem with seating, and there are plenty of amenities.

**jdoggivjc** · 11-22-2012, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by MrOtter

About the Denver airport:
Something is rotten in the Denver airport (13 Photos) : theCHIVE

Those murals are pretty strange indeed. But I've also always had a great experience flying into or out of DIA so whatever.

Oh and to the folks talking about the Memphis airport, can't agree more. One of my very favorites. The airport itself is, well, an airport, but the food is absolutely heavenly.

All of the children of the world bring in the weapons from their country, handing them to a German boy. The gas mask man from the previous scene is now dead, two doves perched on his body. All of the children appear to be relieved. The deeper metaphor is the return to peace, a rebirth; there will be no more need for weapons in the new world. Oh great, my flight just got delayed for, lemme’ see here, All of Eternity.

Read more at Something is rotten in the Denver airport (13 Photos) : theCHIVE

The artist is clearly a Nazi. I mean, come on - the world turning its weapons over to the Germans? When did that ever work out well?

**clonefan10** · 11-22-2012, 08:18 AM

DFW is my favorite airport that I've been too. Very modern, very clean. Was last there about 4 years ago. O'Hare is O'Hare--probably the airport everyone has been to the most. Spent a while in customs after returning from a trip overseas in June but it wasn't over-the-top long. Spent a night in LaGuardia a few years back and it sucked, but spending the night in any airport is gonna suck. St. Louis isn't the greatest. Took a flight out of LAX last summer at 4 in the morning and was surprised with how busy it was. There probably isn't a time when it's not busy. Flew from there to Denver, which was nice but I was only there for like 30 min. Looked cool because it was surrounded by mountains though.