Best And Worst US Airports Named, Three Of The Worst In New York

The study examined the 30 busiest US airports and used data from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, J.D. Power, Google Maps, iFly.com and the airports’ official websites

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the best US airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport is the worst, according to a new study.

The study examined the 30 busiest US airports and used data from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, J.D. Power, Google Maps, iFly.com and the airports’ official websites. Categories included flight delays, cancellations, average security wait times, distance from the city center, public transit options, bars/restaurants, lounges, WiFi costs and parking rates.

The study placed top importance on how well each airport serves its primary purpose – getting you where you’re going on time. Next, how easy it is to reach the airport by car or public transportation? The third category is amenities like restaurants and lounges, as well as fees for parking and WiFi.

Best U.S. Airports

1. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
2. Portland (Oregon) International Airport
3. San Diego International Airport
4. Salt Lake City International Airport
5. Honolulu International Airport

Sky Harbor is a consistently strong performer: It has the shortest driving time from the city center, the 2nd-shortest public transit time, the 3rd-cheapest parking, the 3rd-most bars/restaurants per capita and the 5th-fewest flight cancellations. Its only below-average ranking is for lounges per capita (19th).

Worst U.S. Airports

26. Detroit Metropolitan Airport
27. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
28. Newark Liberty International Airport
29. John F. Kennedy International Airport
30. LaGuardia Airport

LaGuardia has the most flight delays and cancellations and the most expensive parking among the 30 surveyed airports. JFK has the longest average security wait time and the longest driving time from the city center. Newark has the 2nd-most flight delays and cancellations, plus the 3rd-longest average security wait time.

These Are The Airports To Avoid Summer 2016 Unless You Really Love Waiting

Plus: The month with the most travel delays and the most miserable airport in the U.S.

Taylor Swift crooned “Welcome to New York, it’s been waiting for you” with enough gusto to make anyone want to hop a flight ASAP. But it’s people who plan on visiting New York this summer that are likely to be doing the waiting.

MileCards.com just released its 2016 summer airport delay report, based on six years of Department of Transportation data from about 50 of the busiest airports in the U.S. The site calculated things factors including where you’ll wait the longest to take off (New York’s JFK and LaGuardia), the longest wait to get to the gate (Los Angeles’ LAX) and the most miserable airport overall, New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport.

EDUARDO MUNOZ / REUTERS

Sorry, Newark. You’ve been named the “most miserable airport” of summer 2016. 

New York/New Jersey-area airports are widely known for being, well, less than perfect — just ask Joe Biden — and MileCards’s findings reflect that notion. LaGuardia, JFK and Newark all rank in the top five for most miserable, with take-off waits at LaGuardia and JFK up to three times longer than waits at the fastest airports for taxi time, Dallas and Houston.

The report’s misery score, which is pretty much what it sounds like, was calculated by adding an airport’s on-time arrival ranking with half of its take-off wait ranking and half of its landing wait ranking for a maximum score of 100. Newark earned a whopping 95 points on the Misery Index scale, followed by JFK, LaGuardia and Chicago O’Hare with 94 each and Boston Logan at 84.

It’s not all bad news, though. Travelers interested in visiting Honolulu, Hawaii this summer might be happy to learn its airport was ranked number one for on-time travel, followed by Salt Lake City, Utah and Seattle, Washington.

The site also found June is the worst of the summer months for air travel thanks to its high delayed flight rate. And while JFK is ranked among the worst, it saw the most improvement in delay time in the past five years, alongside Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta. 

Check out the best and worst airports for on-time travel below, and head toMileCards.com to see the entire report.

MILECARDS.COM

By Jamie FeldmanLifestyle Editor, The Huffington Post

6 Airport Shops So Good, You Might Miss Your Connection

Courtesy Petrossian

That 11-hour flight just got a lot more glamorous.

With these airport dining and shopping destinations, a flight delay doesn't look so bad.

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Airports have finally realized they've got a captive audience of hungry travelers with money to spend and time to kill. They're upping their game as a result, with food and shopping as good as you'll find at any downtown hot spot. Here are six of our favorites:

PETROSSIAN, LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

Ragged from that trans-continental flight? Maybe some champagne and Royal Transmontanus caviar can take the edge off. At LAX’s newly renovated international terminal, the caviar dynasty Petrossian’s tastefully designed bar might be one of the world’s glitziest airport hangouts. And if you’re peckish but late, grab a $1,500 pre-packed picnic bag with caviar, blinis, and creme fraiche in an insulated signature pouch for your trip.

AGNÈS B. VOYAGE, DEPARTURES NORTHWEST CONCOURSE, LEVEL 6, HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

At its only airport location, everyone’s favorite Parisian-chic label showcases its understated-glam bags, briefcases, and totes, plus offers travel essentials, like butter-soft leather passport holders. A few pieces from the brand's gamine jewelry line, Bijoux, are tucked in here too.

Courtesy agnès b.

agnès b. Voyage

PERFECTIONISTS’ CAFE, LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT, TERMINAL 2: THE QUEEN'S TERMINAL

Beautifully blistered wood-fired pizza? Nitro ice cream? Ham from "100 percent acorn-fed black leg pigs"? Welcome to the world of Heston Blumenthal, the British supernova chef behind "perfect" versions of classic fare. It’s almost surreal seeing this kind of culinary genius at the world’s busiest airport.

KEEPERS DESIGN COLLECTIVE, SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT, TERMINAL 1

Many travelers pray for delays to spend more time at Changi’s shops, and the very cool new Keepers is a keeper. It’s an outpost of a happening collective that champions Singaporean designers; you’ll find eleven of the best showcased here. Look for luxe luggage tags from Extreme Exotic, Gnome & Bow’s camo tote, or a colorful bidri scarf from Ayesha.

Courtesy LEE Kitchen

LEE Kitchen in Toronto

LEE KITCHEN, TORONTO PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TERMINAL 1

A who’s-who of local food talent has upped Pearson’s eating game lately, but this sexy, low-lit addition from Susur Lee—Toronto’s Asian-fusion king—stands out with his signature pan-roasted black cod, cheeseburger spring rolls, and the Indian-accented chicken that took him to triumph on Top Chef Masters.There’s also a terrific dim sum menu inspired by Luckee, Lee’s newest Toronto hotspot.

BY MALENE BIRGER, COPENHAGEN AIRPORT, TERMINAL 3

With brands like Marc by Marc Jacobs, Marimekko, and Tiger of Sweden, Copenhagen’s sleek airport can compete with any upscale mall. But it’s Danish designer Malene Birger’s retro-inspired, beautifully draped pieces that stand out. At her only airport location in the world, look for signature styles like a liquid-looking silk shirt and laser-cut cotton trousers.

Written by Michael Kaminer

 www.cntraveler.com