Now Reading: The Best and Worst Airports in America
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The Best and Worst Airports in America
While flying still comes with plenty of headaches (hi, baggage fees), it looks like travelers are finally feeling a little better about airports themselves. According to the latest J.D. Power airport satisfaction survey, overall satisfaction is up across North America, with scores climbing 10 points on a 1,000-point scale.
(I don’t know about you, but my airport satisfaction is at an all-time low.)
The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. and Canadian travelers and ranked airports based on things like terminal design, ease of travel, baggage claim, food and retail options, and staff friendliness.
Here’s how U.S. airports performed in 2025, broken down by size. We’ve included only the Top 5 Best and Top 5 Worst in each category — so if you’re looking to avoid a travel meltdown, this is your cheat sheet.
Mega Airports
(More than 33 million passengers per year)
Top 5 Best:
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (MSP)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Harry Reid International, Las Vegas (LAS)
Top 5 Worst:
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- John F. Kennedy International, New York (JFK)
Large Airports
(10 to 32.9 million passengers per year)
Top 5 Best:
- John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA)
- Tampa International (TPA)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Kansas City International (MCI)
- Raleigh-Durham International (RDU)
Top 5 Worst:
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Chicago Midway International (MDW)
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL)
- LaGuardia Airport, New York (LGA)
- Seattle–Tacoma International (SEA)
Medium Airports
(4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year)
Top 5 Best:
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- Ontario International, California (ONT)
- Buffalo Niagara International (BUF)
- Jacksonville International (JAX)
- Palm Beach International (PBI)
Top 5 Worst:
- Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE)
- Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
- St. Louis Lambert International (STL)
- San Jose Mineta International (SJC)
- Bradley International, Connecticut (BDL)
What Makes a Good Airport?
The airports that landed on top tend to have easier navigation, shorter security lines, better food and drink options, and friendlier staff. The bottom-ranked ones? Think long wait times, packed gates, and fewer services.
So if you’re deciding between layovers or booking a trip out of town, these rankings might save you a few headaches — or at least help you pack some extra patience.
