The Best Airports in the US…and the Worst

Airports often are an afterthought. Most of us select a travel destination, then fly into whichever airport serves it. But that airport’s quality and reliability will affect our travel experience—flying through the wrong airport can significantly increase the odds of itinerary-ruining delays, soul-crushing crowds and other unpleasant complications.

But sometimes you can choose among airports, such as when deciding between flights that include stops in different airports and when flying to or from areas served by multiple airports.

Bottom Line Personal asked air-travel expert Brett Snyder of CrankyFlier.com to identify the best and worst airports in the US. He focused on the biggest airports and the busiest airports in the US—smaller, regional airports often provide a quicker, less hectic experience but offer far fewer flights and are rarely where flights connect.

The Best Airports in the US

When choosing among airports, you can consider on-time performance, airport congestion, ease of getting to and from the airport, ease of getting from gate to gate, and airport amenities.

Safety is, of course, a big concern following the recent mid-air collision near a DC area airport and air traffic control problems at Newark Liberty International Airport. But despite these well-publicized events, travelers are extraordinarily safe when they fly through any US airport. That DC flight was the first US crash involving a commercial aircraft of significant size since 2009, and there’s no evidence that near misses are becoming more common at airports—“runway incursions” rates have been consistently low over the past decade.

The best big US airports now…

 
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is Delta’s main hub and the world’s busiest airport, serving more than 100 million passengers per year. That passenger volume could easily make flying through Atlanta a nightmare, but this efficiently designed and well-run airport is relatively pleasant and reliable. An impressive 81.6% of its flights were on time in 2024, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which ranks Hartsfield-Jackson among the best airports in the US. When flights are delayed, those delays tend to be brief. The airport is just 10 miles from downtown Atlanta and well served by train and bus lines. It features a range of lounges and restaurants. Security lines in this airport can grow extremely long on especially busy travel days, but that’s true at virtually any major airport.

 
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is like Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, a busy Delta hub that boasts an impressive track record for on-time flights—81%, as of 2024. This airport’s sensible layout means it’s relatively easy to make connections. It’s clean, bright and modern and features a wide range of restaurant and shopping options.

 
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), an American Airlines hub and large focus city for Southwest and Frontier, is compact and easy to navigate by large-airport standards. Flight delays and cancellations are relatively uncommon—about 80% of flights are on time—in part because the airport is located in a region that doesn’t have to deal with many weather complications such as snow, tropical storms or frequent thunderstorms. American is so confident that passengers will have an easy time at PHX that it allows connection times there that are as short as 25 minutes. The airport itself is modern and pleasant, with wide concourses, natural light and “Navigators” who provide assistance to travelers.

 
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), a Delta hub, is a large airport with lots of flights, but it rarely feels as crowded and overrun as other airports its size. It’s usually a breeze to make connections there. MSP lands near the top of the list for large US airport on-time performance at about 82%, and it recently received the top spot among large US airports in a JD Power passenger satisfaction survey. It’s only around 10 miles from downtown Minneapolis, an easy trip on light rail.

 
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is now a modern and efficient airport following the 2023 opening of an airy, attractive and easy-to-navigate terminal. MCI isn’t as large as some of the airports on this list, but it is a major connection airport for Southwest Airlines, and it provides a winning combination of big-airport flight options and small-airport ease.

 
Portland International Airport (PDX), an Alaska Airlines hub, opened a beautifully renovated and expanded main terminal in 2024, featuring indoor trees, an impressive range of restaurants, and tax-free shopping. PDX is easy to reach from downtown Portland, Oregon, via light rail or other travel options.

Honorable mentions…

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is undergoing a much needed major update, with a terminal expected to open later this year. It will be modern and much quicker to navigate than the prior airport layout, which was built to serve as the hub for USAir, an airline that is now part of American Airlines. Early indications are extremely promising, and PIT could find its way onto “best airport” lists soon.

New York City’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) has undergone a massive upgrade, and the results are impressive, with attractive architecture and very nice restaurants. No airport in the northeast US can realistically be included on a best-airport list—long lines, large crowds and flight delays are all but unavoidable throughout this heavily traveled corner of the country—but if you must fly through a New York airport, LaGuardia is now the best of the bunch.

The Worst Airports in the US

No one really wants to spend time in any airport—but these worst US airports are especially unreliable and unpleasant…

 
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is viewed as unsafe by some fliers due to its recent air traffic control equipment and staffing problems. As noted above, all US airports are extremely safe—even Newark—but that doesn’t mean you should fly through Newark if you can avoid it. The airport’s chronic crowds, long lines and frequent flight delays make it among the worst in the nation.

 
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is in the midst of a massive $19 billion upgrade. That might eventually make this a better airport to fly through—or it might not, since the massively expensive upgrade doesn’t include any additional runways—but at least for now, traveling though JFK remains frustrating and unpleasant.

 
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is massive and chronically crowded, leading to a hectic travel experience. The traffic on roads leading to and from LAX tends to be terrible, too.

 
Miami International Airport (MIA) is prone to long, slow-moving lines—the airport’s many Latin American flights mean many travelers are passing through immigration, checking bags and traveling with children. Thunderstorms often cause flight delays.

 
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) has added so many flights over the years that it often seems stretched beyond its capacity. Flight delays are common, with on-time performance of just 73.9%. But FLL is more compact and easier-to-navigate than Miami International 30 miles to its south.

 
Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is outdated and inefficiently designed. Getting from one concourse to another often requires lugging your luggage around outdoors in the Hawaiian heat, which can make for sweaty, unpleasant travel.