Having to make one’s way through the airport is a part of travel that can be horribly annoying at the best of times. Dealing with lengthy commutes, delayed flights, and overzealous TSA agents can certainly put a damper on otherwise enjoyable vacations. This is truer at some airports than at others. A recent study done by Business Week was very helpful in pointing out spots to avoid as well as those that make flying a reasonably pleasant experience.
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It is probably no surprise to frequent travelers that Newark (EWR) in New Jersey and LaGuardia (LGA) in New York had the highest overall customer dissatisfaction rates among airports in North America. These places were closely followed by Dulles (IAD) in Washington D.C., O’Hare (ORD) in Chicago, and John F. Kennedy (JFK) in New York. The latter two on that list, Kennedy and O’Hare, also have the lengthiest commute from the city center to the airport itself. Other places where getting stuck in traffic could cause problems are Person (YZW) in Toronto, Los Angles International (LAX), and LaGuardia (LGA). Leaving Chicago is also bound to be an irritating experience as only 68% of flights at Midway (MDW) leave on time and the prognosis isn’t much better at O’Hare because only 69% of their flights depart as scheduled. Other problematic spots include Newark, Washington Thurgood Marshall (BWI) in Baltimore, and Fort Lauderdale (FFL).
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However, for those seeking a stress-free airport experience, there is hope. Travelers should attempt to fly out of Vancouver International (YVR), Portland International (PDX), Austin-Bergstrom (AUS), Tampa International (TPA), or Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) as these airports were reported to be the best in North America. Departing bustling metropolises is a breeze in both Boston (BOS) and Atlanta (ATL). In both places, the nearest airports can be reached from the city center in about 20 minutes. The San Francisco International (SFO), Portland International, and Kansas City (MCI) airports could likewise be reached from the nearest city in under a half hour. Planes were most likely to leave on time from Canadian facilities. Ottawa International (YOW), Vancouver International (YVR), and Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL) all topped the list with 85% of all flights at each airport departing as scheduled. Runner’s up included Seattle-Tacoma International and Detroit Metropolitan (DWT), both of which had 83% of their scheduled flights leaving the runway at the correct time.
Travelers who either live by these airports or might end up passing through them during the course of their journeys should keep these facts in mind when making a booking. After all, who doesn’t want a more expedient and hassle-free route to their final destination? Of course, we here at Galba Travel hope that everyone not only has a safe and pleasant holiday season but also enjoys any future trips they may be in the process of planning.
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Sources: Business Week
