Most miserable airports in the U.S.

by Charlie Leocha on March 6, 2008

We have all long known that air travel and time spent in airports is not a stressless walk in the park. However, some airports are more stressful than others. The most stressful major airport in the U.S.: Chicago’s O’Hare, followed closely by Newark and San Francisco.

US News & World Report crunched the government and airline numbers including on-time performance and load factors to create what they call the “Airport Misery Index.” Here is their infamous 10 major airports:

1. Chicago O’Hare, IL
2. Newark, NJ
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Dallas Fort Worth, TX
5. Miami, FL
6. Las Vegas, NV
7. Charlotte, NC
8. JFK, NY
9. Atlanta, GA
10. Seattle, WA

Regional airports have their own list compiled by US News as well. Here are the 10 most stressful compiled last year:

1. Grand Rapids, MI
2. Fort Myers, FL
3. Buffalo, NY
4. Portland, ME
5. West Palm Beach, FL
6. Colorado Springs, CO
7. San Juan, PR
8. Albany, NY
9. Des Moines, IA
10. Columbus, OH

Here is the US News methodology.

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Tagged as: airlines, airport, load factors, on-time performance

  • http://www.ambiancetc.com Nina

    I must say I am a bit surprised that Grand Rapids and West Palm Beach are on the regional list. I would have thought Grand Rapids too small to be stressful! The many times I have flown from there it was a well organized experience. West Palm Beach is a beautiful airport and I also found it to be easy to navigate and well organized. JMHO :)

  • David

    I notice San Francisco on both the most stressful and the best airports list. Surely I’m reading something wrong here.

  • http://www.tripso.com/author/leocha Charlie Leocha

    San Francisco is only on the “most stressful” list.

  • David

    Oops, my bad. I thought I’d seen it there. I’ve just checked again.

    Thanks.

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