Worst airports in the US

[keweenawlove]

I'm always asked why I make the 9 hour drive home instead of just flying. This is why. Only 53% of flights into the airport were on time last year. And with only 2 flights in and out a day, a delay can bump you back a few days if you're dealing with connections.

qz.com/313040/theres-nearly-a-50-chance-youll-be-late-if-you-fly-into-these-us-airports/

Here's the rest of the worst.

[Susie]

Dec 18, 2014 9:04:57 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Only 53% of flights into the airport were on time last year. And with only 2 flights in and out a day, a delay can bump you back a few days if you're dealing with connections.

Totally feel you on this.

I've spent the night at airports that are a 3 hour drive from home, just because oops! no more flights to your city tonight! 

Some of the airports on that list are sooo small though.  New Castle, DE?  Watertown, NY?  I can't imagine ever flying commercial to one of them.  I mean, if you're going to New Castle, PHL is what, a 20 minute drive?

[Pom]

I would imagine Houghton is mainly a weather problem?

When I lived in Michigan, I'd fly in and out of Pellston in the winter. IF I was really lucky, I'd get to DTW. Most of the time, we'd get diverted to TVC. It sucked. And that was back in the days before everyone had cell phones so getting in touch with your ride from the airport at your destination, after you missed ALL YOUR CONNECTIONS was so fun... not.

[y4m]

Yeah I'm not sure these are fair--they are just all so small!

The worst airport I've experienced in a LONG time is Kansas City.

Security at every gate? Blocking taxi apps, but also not having a taxi line, and instead requiring passengers to pick up a payphone to call a cab to them?

I don't think we're in the 90s anymore, Kansas.

[irene adler]

Every single flight I've taken out of Outegamie gas been delayed. It usually results in a rerout one Alaska aitlines, so I get a free beer out of the deal.

I still love flying out of there, especially because I have family who lives <5 miles away.

[Deleted]

THat list appears to be mostly small regional airports.

I've been stuck at O'Hare for 10 hrs due to our gate being blocked ( no idea why they couldn't just give us a different gate)
and 9 hours at JFK due to first fog and then when it lifted our crew couldn't fly due to the hours they had already put in. once a new crew came THEN the pilot ran out of hours!! You'd think Delta would have their sh*t together and KNOW they were nearing these cut off times. We were loaded on and off the plane 3 times and it was a mess!!!

[keweenawlove]

Dec 18, 2014 9:53:09 GMT -5 Pom said:

I would imagine Houghton is mainly a weather problem?

To an extent. Even in the summer it seems bad thought too because if there's the smallest bit of fog, they don't land. I like to blame it on United because it seems to have gotten a lot worse since they took over 4 years ago. We had Delta before that and it wasn't nearly as bad.

[lys]

Yup. My airport is on the list at more than 53% - 2 flights a day to a hub.
We choose to drive the 7-8 hours to a hub (detroit, chicago, minneapolis), spend the night and then fly out from there the next day. Takes longer, but is actually cheaper.

[v]

Dec 18, 2014 10:07:40 GMT -5 @susan3589 said:

THat list appears to be mostly small regional airports.

I've been stuck at O'Hare for 10 hrs due to our gate being blocked ( no idea why they couldn't just give us a different gate)
and 9 hours at JFK due to first fog and then when it lifted our crew couldn't fly due to the hours they had already put in. once a new crew came THEN the pilot ran out of hours!! You'd think Delta would have their sh*t together and KNOW they were nearing these cut off times. We were loaded on and off the plane 3 times and it was a mess!!!

You can't blame airlines or airports for weather delays. I mean, safety first?

Also, since they can't predict the weather crew-related delays aren't easily controlled. It isn't like there are a ton of pilots waiting around just in case.

[keweenawlove]

Dec 18, 2014 9:39:04 GMT -5 Susie said:

Some of the airports on that list are sooo small though.  New Castle, DE?  Watertown, NY?  I can't imagine ever flying commercial to one of them.  I mean, if you're going to New Castle, PHL is what, a 20 minute drive?

They're all really small airports so I'm not sure if the moral of the story is the airlines are just a lot more likely to cancel flights into them. It's sooo much more frustrating to deal with cancelations at them though because like you said, a lot of times there’s just not another flight out where at the big airports, there’s usually something. And places to eat at the airport.

I don’t know the east coast very well but if there was a major airport within an hour, I wouldn’t be flying out of a little one. My issue is one is 10 minutes from my parents house, the next closest is 2 hours away at number 7 on the list

[Deleted]

Dec 18, 2014 10:13:36 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Dec 18, 2014 9:39:04 GMT -5 Susie said:

Some of the airports on that list are sooo small though.  New Castle, DE?  Watertown, NY?  I can't imagine ever flying commercial to one of them.  I mean, if you're going to New Castle, PHL is what, a 20 minute drive?

They're all really small airports so I'm not sure if the moral of the story is the airlines are just a lot more likely to cancel flights into them. It's sooo much more frustrating to deal with cancelations at them though because like you said, a lot of times there’s just not another flight out where at the big airports, there’s usually something. And places to eat at the airport.

I don’t know the east coast very well but if there was a major airport within an hour, I wouldn’t be flying out of a little one. My issue is one is 10 minutes from my parents house, the next closest is 2 hours away at number 7 on the list

fog lifted after 2 hours. They HAD to know how much time the crew/pilots had left.

[Susie]

Dec 18, 2014 10:13:36 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Dec 18, 2014 9:39:04 GMT -5 Susie said:

Some of the airports on that list are sooo small though.  New Castle, DE?  Watertown, NY?  I can't imagine ever flying commercial to one of them.  I mean, if you're going to New Castle, PHL is what, a 20 minute drive?

They're all really small airports so I'm not sure if the moral of the story is the airlines are just a lot more likely to cancel flights into them. It's sooo much more frustrating to deal with cancelations at them though because like you said, a lot of times there’s just not another flight out where at the big airports, there’s usually something. And places to eat at the airport.

I don’t know the east coast very well but if there was a major airport within an hour, I wouldn’t be flying out of a little one. My issue is one is 10 minutes from my parents house, the next closest is 2 hours away at number 7 on the list

Watertown is up near the Canadian border, but it would at least be a reasonable drive to Syracuse (totally ballparking, 2 hours?).  Still a regional airport, but a significantly larger one.  I hadn't realized (and wouldn't have guessed) that Watertown had a commercial airport at all.

I was also surprised to see the New Castle, DE airport on the list because I've driven past it, but I actually didn't realize commercial flights went there.  Philadelphia is literally 20-30 minutes away.  So silly.

I'm sure it's probably different out west.  When we were considering a trip to Zion National Park and were considering flying into one of the two tiny airports in Utah near it (St. George was one I think?) I imagine they are tiny like some on this list.  It was the two flights a day kind of thing.  I was cringing a bit thinking about it.

[tacosforlife]

Yeah, I'd like see a list of the worst airports that service over x number of flyers per day. Is O'Hare REALLY as unreliable as I think it is?

I'd also like to see a ranking of airport facilities. Is Laguardia REALLY as bad as I remember it?

I think it's noteworthy that a lot of these airports are not only super small, but also in snowy climates. Small planes + infrequent flights + snowy weather = bad times.

[Deleted]

Dec 18, 2014 10:13:36 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Dec 18, 2014 9:39:04 GMT -5 Susie said:

Some of the airports on that list are sooo small though.  New Castle, DE?  Watertown, NY?  I can't imagine ever flying commercial to one of them.  I mean, if you're going to New Castle, PHL is what, a 20 minute drive?

They're all really small airports so I'm not sure if the moral of the story is the airlines are just a lot more likely to cancel flights into them. It's sooo much more frustrating to deal with cancelations at them though because like you said, a lot of times there’s just not another flight out where at the big airports, there’s usually something. And places to eat at the airport.

I don’t know the east coast very well but if there was a major airport within an hour, I wouldn’t be flying out of a little one. My issue is one is 10 minutes from my parents house, the next closest is 2 hours away at number 7 on the list

Lol yep! I only flew out of #7 once but had no issues, lol. When I lived up there I usually just drove to my parents' house and flew out of O'Hare if I was flying anywhere. Thankfully (?) I didn't do a ton of travel as an undergrad anyway.

I think it's funny how several of these comments are like "oh, those are just REGIONAL airports". Yeah, not everyone has a major airport within driving distance so for many people that's the only option. I've been fortunate that while living in these little areas, I've always had family near a major airport so I could crash with them/get a ride to a better airport - but it is also super annoying that every vacation in the last 14 years has required 2 extra nights away from home. A 7 day trip becomes a 9 day trip, and I hate it!

[rubytue]

I flew into Waterloo IA once. It was my first experience with tiny airports. I got of the plane to go looking for the cab line and found parked cars (in the drop off/pickup lane!), no cabs, and crickets. On the plus note, all 15 ppl on my flight were there for the same reason, and about 14 of them had done pre-trip research and knew to call the hotel shuttle. Me? Well, I was kinda use to buisness travel where you hop off the plane and just grab a cab to your hotel.

Oh, and we couldn't go to the gate area until the TSA guy finished screening the bags, so he could screen us.

After that, I'm not surprised it had so many cancelations and delays.

[keweenawlove]

Dec 18, 2014 10:39:18 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

Yeah, I'd like see a list of the worst airports that service over x number of flyers per day. Is O'Hare REALLY as unreliable as I think it is?

I think it'd be really interesting to see rankings by major airline hubs too. I've had so many more issues with O'Hare than MSP and DTW which are pretty comparable climates. I think United just sucks.

[keweenawlove]

Dec 18, 2014 10:38:11 GMT -5 Susie said:

I'm sure it's probably different out west.  When we were considering a trip to Zion National Park and were considering flying into one of the two tiny airports in Utah near it (St. George was one I think?) I imagine they are tiny like some on this list.  It was the two flights a day kind of thing.  I was cringing a bit thinking about it.

My hypothetical trip to Zion has us flying into Vegas. It’s 2 ½ hours away but sounds so much less risky!

[msmerymac]

MY PARENTS KEEP TRYING TO GET ME TO FLY INTO WATERTOWN. Now I just drive. The only people who use it are military, but it's only an hour or less to Syracuse. Same with New Castle - DE didn't even have a commercial airport for a while, because you can just drive to Philly.

But I call shenanigans. Newark is the worst airport in the world.

[keweenawlove]

Dec 18, 2014 10:54:34 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

But I call shenanigans. Newark is the worst airport in the world.

Also a United hub, lol.

[Deleted]

Houghton and Sawyer aren't really fair inclusions because I would bet almost all of those delays are primarily weather related. Those are awful airports to fly into/out of in the winter.

[msmerymac]

Dec 18, 2014 10:45:51 GMT -5 rubytue said:

I flew into Waterloo IA once. It was my first experience with tiny airports. I got of the plane to go looking for the cab line and found parked cars (in the drop off/pickup lane!), no cabs, and crickets. On the plus note, all 15 ppl on my flight were there for the same reason, and about 14 of them had done pre-trip research and knew to call the hotel shuttle. Me? Well, I was kinda use to buisness travel where you hop off the plane and just grab a cab to your hotel.

Oh, and we couldn't go to the gate area until the TSA guy finished screening the bags, so he could screen us.

After that, I'm not surprised it had so many cancelations and delays.

I had to go to a wedding in Waterloo once. I flew into Chicago and drove from there, lol. Minneapolis is also about 4 hours away.

[Susie]

Dec 18, 2014 10:53:16 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Dec 18, 2014 10:38:11 GMT -5 Susie said:

I'm sure it's probably different out west.  When we were considering a trip to Zion National Park and were considering flying into one of the two tiny airports in Utah near it (St. George was one I think?) I imagine they are tiny like some on this list.  It was the two flights a day kind of thing.  I was cringing a bit thinking about it.

My hypothetical trip to Zion has us flying into Vegas. It’s 2 ½ hours away but sounds so much less risky!

Agreed.  We were most of the way to the same conclusion when we aborted the plan because we couldn't get a camping permit.  We went to the Grand Canyon instead.

Dec 18, 2014 10:54:34 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

MY PARENTS KEEP TRYING TO GET ME TO FLY INTO WATERTOWN. Now I just drive. The only people who use it are military, but it's only an hour or less to Syracuse. Same with New Castle - DE didn't even have a commercial airport for a while, because you can just drive to Philly.

But I call shenanigans. Newark is the worst airport in the world.

[heyrebekah]

Dec 18, 2014 10:39:18 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

I'd also like to see a ranking of airport facilities. Is Laguardia REALLY as bad as I remember it?

I flew out of there once and I was shocked. It felt more like a small town bus station than an airport near a major city.

[keweenawlove]

Dec 18, 2014 10:56:16 GMT -5 @kjewell said:

Houghton and Sawyer aren't really fair inclusions because I would bet almost all of those delays are primarily weather related. Those are awful airports to fly into/out of in the winter.

I'll give them maybe 70% weather delays but Houghton has shut down for days at a time because of technical issues like the radar wasn't working properly. Their equipment just isn't as good so they can't land planes in conditions you would be able to at bigger airports.

[msmerymac]

Really, they just didn't want to drive to Syracuse and pick me up around Christmas. Because Syracuse is the snowiest city in the US. So when American began flying into Watertown, my stepfather was pushing it on me. But damn, the flights were expensive. And now I live ~300 miles away instead of 2600.

[delawarejen]

Dec 18, 2014 9:39:04 GMT -5 Susie said:

Dec 18, 2014 9:04:57 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Only 53% of flights into the airport were on time last year. And with only 2 flights in and out a day, a delay can bump you back a few days if you're dealing with connections.

Totally feel you on this.

I've spent the night at airports that are a 3 hour drive from home, just because oops! no more flights to your city tonight! 

Some of the airports on that list are sooo small though.  New Castle, DE?  Watertown, NY?  I can't imagine ever flying commercial to one of them.  I mean, if you're going to New Castle, PHL is what, a 20 minute drive?

Yes, it's 30 minutes (assuming it's not rush hour or something), but New Castle doesn't even have service any more - Frontier now has gates at PHL so they dropped us.

[v]

Worst biggies according to Conde Nast Traveler readers www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-11-24/the-best-and-worst-airports-in-america-readers-choice-awards-2014

Worst for delays: www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-and-worst-airports-for-delays-2013/

And yes, tacosforlife, LGA is still a hole

[aurora]

Dec 18, 2014 10:51:20 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Dec 18, 2014 10:39:18 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

Yeah, I'd like see a list of the worst airports that service over x number of flyers per day. Is O'Hare REALLY as unreliable as I think it is?

I think it'd be really interesting to see rankings by major airline hubs too. I've had so many more issues with O'Hare than MSP and DTW which are pretty comparable climates. I think United just sucks.

Yes, absolutely this!  I think they were the first big one to do down to a zero in customer service.

[keweenawlove]

Dec 18, 2014 11:37:31 GMT -5 aurora said:

Dec 18, 2014 10:51:20 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

I think it'd be really interesting to see rankings by major airline hubs too. I've had so many more issues with O'Hare than MSP and DTW which are pretty comparable climates. I think United just sucks.

Yes, absolutely this!  I think they were the first big one to do down to a zero in customer service.

And it looks like at least 3 of the worst airports on the list that v just posted are United hubs. Two of the best were Delta. I'm too lazy to look up the others.

[zoidberg]

Chippewa Valley Regional is TINY. Tiny, tiny. One gate. They only get those teeny little 30-40 seat planes.

And the big airport that they fly to and from? O'hare. I don't think that airport is to blame at all, the root of it (and in my opinion, the worst airport in the world) is O'hare. I hate it so much. I want to raze it and salt the earth so that nothing so foul ever springs up to take place.