The Best Airports in the US: Most on Time, Comfortable, and Easiest to Navigate
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There are all sorts of different ways to measure the best airports in the U.S. – the most comfortable, the easiest to get around, the ones with the best lounges, the ones that have the most on-time flights (i.e., the airports you have to spend the least amount of time in), the ones that have interesting art displays in their open areas, and so on.
We could create an index that would weigh all these factors, but that would take too much time and would result in some flawed outcomes anyway. So perhaps it’s better to just list some categories, proclaim winners, and let you sort out what being the best means to you.
And, if you can, remember to select one of these wonderful airports on your next trip itinerary, just don’t go too far out of your way.
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Most on-time airports
The Department of Transportation produces its Air Travel Consumer Reports every month. They’re interesting reading, but we’ve plucked out the good parts.
Using the DOT’s report from March 2024 – a pretty typical report from a fairly typical month, aviation-wise – here are the top five airports for on-time performance:
- Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
- Rockford, Illinois
- Casper, Wyoming
- Guam
- Pocatello, Idaho
Here’s the catch: The number of total flights from those airports for the month? Two hundred eighty-three, or less than two per airport per day.
Getting two flights per day out on time is venturing into “You Had One Job” territory, so let’s look at the best major airports for on-time performance. It’s a nice list, especially if you fly to California a lot:
- Long Beach, California
- Santa Ana, California
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Burbank, California
- San Jose, California
Shoutout to Minneapolis! Way to show California how they do things in the Midwest! Still, it doesn’t say much about O’Hare or Detroit and the rest, and top-five on-time performance is still less than 80%.
Maybe we should look at something else.
Also see: The Worst Airlines for Flight Delays
Easiest airports to navigate
We’re going to exclude Saipan and Pocatello, because they’re in a different class of easy-to-navigate. They’re basically hallways connecting the parking lot and the tarmac.
No, we’re looking for airports that move you through security reasonably quickly and aren’t laid out like the freeways in a Roadrunner cartoon.
According to USA Today, the country’s most navigable airports are:
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- San Diego, California
- Tampa, Florida
- Seattle-Tacoma, Washington
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
- Portland, Oregon
- Atlanta Hartsfield, Georgia
- Boston Logan, Massachusetts
- Washington Reagan, Washington D.C.
That’s two for Minneapolis and one for everyone else, if you’re keeping track at home.
Also read: What Airlines Owe You in Case of Flight Delays and Cancellations
Most Comfortable Airports in the U.S. (Economy Class)
If you’re not the type to hang out in a private lounge at the airport, where are the best airports to hang out?
According to Conde Nast Traveler, they are:
- Savannah/Hilton Head, Georgia
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Palm Beach International, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
- Portland, Oregon
- Detroit, Michigan
Whoa – three for Minneapolis, and everyone else trailing.
Also read: What to do if Your Flight is Canceled
Most Comfortable Airports in the U.S. (Business Class)
When the topic is the airports with the best lounges, things get upscale in a big hurry. Easy as it may be to fly in and out of Pocatello, there’s really nowhere for you to put your feet up, sip a mojito and watch Let’s Make a Deal while waiting for the Salt Lake City turnaround.
No, you need a major airport for that level of luxury. According to The Points Guy, those airports include:
- Los Angeles International (Delta Sky Club; Qantas First Lounge)
- New York Kennedy International (American Express Centurion Lounge; American/British Airways Chelsea Lounge)
- Washington Dulles (United Polaris Lounge; Capital One Lounge)
- Washington Reagan (American Admirals Club)
- Boston Logan (Chase Sapphire Lounge)
And because these airports have relatively low on-time stats, there’s the possibility that you may have to spend more time than you had planned in these lounges. How great is that?
Best Airports Roundup
If you had to make one big top-five ranking out of all these little rankings, it might look something like this:
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
- Boston Logan, Massachusetts
- Washington Reagan, Virginia
- Tampa, Florida
- Portland, Oregon
There you go – yet another reason to head to the Heartland. (And don’t forget about that fabled “Minnesota nice.”)
No matter what airport you wind up at, odds are it will be a better experience if you have travel insurance and assistance services from Generali Global Assistance. We’re here for you when the airport is not topping your personal best list. Our plans include coverages that can help with flight delays and cancellations, lost, delayed and damaged baggage, and other covered events.
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