San Francisco International selected as Top Airport in United States
Top Ten Airports in the US
Some people love airports. They love the feel of anticipation of travel, the strange atmosphere and novel surroundings. Others, particularly business travelers loathe them –they hate the difficult connections between terminals, the bleak spaces, the bad food and the endless delays. Relating to an airport is a very personal thing.So how do you rate an airport? You can measure elements like on-time performance, lost baggage or customer complaints but that doesn’t take into account comfort and sheer enjoyment. I don’t know what Singapore Changi Airport’s on-time performance is like but I really don’t care as I’d gladly spend an extra hour in its spectacular terminal.
Other criteria, such as, terminal comfort, ambience and cleanliness, wait times and service, terminal signage, friendliness of airport staff, ease of connections, entertainment facilities, shopping and dining options, are all other ways of rating an airport. Using these criteria here is our rankings for Top North American Airports.
According to British travel publication Skyrax, Asia's airports are by far the best airports in the world. In 2006, not one North American facility cracked their top ten list. (Their list was: 1. Singapore Changi Airport; 2. Hong Kong Int'l; 3. Munich Airport; 4. Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan) 5. Seoul Incheon Airport; 6. KLIA Kuala Lumpur Airport; 7. Helsinki Vantaa Airport; 8. Zurich Airport; 9. Dubai International Airport; 10. Copenhagen Airport.)
Service at US airports has fallen along with that of carriers. But some have risen above the rest and have maintained their positions although they have a long way to go to catch the European and Asian competition.
So what of North America? CityBloc.com looked at a number of surveys and reports and also traveled through these facilities and compiled its own Top Ten list of North America’s Best Airports. Dum roll please…
1. San Francisco
As you would expect of this world class city, San Francisco International (SFO) has a wide range of excellent food and drink establishments, great shopping, a medical clinic, and even assistance for lost or stranded travelers. To pass the time you could visit the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library, and various art exhibitions. SFO's billion dollar international terminal, which opened in 2000, is the largest international terminal in North America, and the largest building in the world built on base isolators to protect against earthquakes. Access is the big plus for SFO, as you can get to the circular terminals by car via a designated highway, straight onto the BART system through a terminal station or a shuttle can take you to the Millbrae train station where you can get trains to San Jose, the peninsula and beyond.
2. Denver
Certainly one of the most attractive airports in North America, the Jeppesen terminal at Denver International Airport (DEN) looks like a whipped meringue, although the structure was inspired by the snowcapped peaks of the nearby Rockies.On the negative side, DEN is located 23 miles northeast of Denver and a taxi ride can cost $50. But once there, you have lots of options to spend your wait time. There are dozens of places to eat and three shopping plazas. The airport features millions of dollars worth of art scattered throughout in permanent and revolving exhibitions. Perhaps the best thing to look at though is outside the terminal. On a clear day, you give can view a majestic 100-mile expanse of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
3. Minneapolis-St. Paul
Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP) has quietly established itself as one of the best airports in the world for business travelers. A lot of effort has gone into accommodating business travelers and the terminals feature "hypercharge" stations that can restore laptop, cell phone, or PDA power faster than standard outlets, cheap wi-fi access, internet kiosks and workstations, three private offices and 12 self-service cubicles are also available 24 hours a day; You can even rent a laptop. If that doesn’t appeal you’re only a 15-minute shuttle ride to the Mall of America. Add this to the best on-time performance and you have why MSP makes our list.
4. Vancouver
Canada’s sole representative on the list. Vancouver International (YVR) was voted IATA (International Air Transport Association) best mid-size airport in 2006. British Columbia’s main airport boosts a cool and airy terminal with brilliant views of the nearby Coastal Mountain Range. The airport has a reputation as a premier gateway airport between Asia and North America as it is the closest major North American airport to Asia on the great circle routes, which saves air carriers and passenger’s time. Although Vancouver has a population of just 2.4 million, YVR boasts there are more non-stop service flights to Asia relative to size of local population than any other airport in North America. Look for even more improvements as the 2010 Olympics in nearby Whistler draw near.
5. Charlotte
For those traveling to or from the Southeast, Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) is rapidly becoming a popular substitute for Atlanta's infamous Hartsfield-Jackson, the country's busiest airport and among the worst in terms of traveler reviews. Newcomer JetBlue has helped drive down fares from this airport, and brand new additional runway has helped accommodate growth. Average wait at security (peak hours): nine minutes
6. Dallas
Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) finally addressed the most hated aspect of its design in the last couple of years. What used to be a frustrating tramp to reach gates along horseshoe-shaped terminals is fast and easy thanks to a first-class train system that takes passengers where they need to go in nine minutes or less. DFW also boasts a brand new international terminal, crowd-free lounges with comfy Herman Miller chairs.
7. Cincinnati
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has garnered quite the reputation as a business friendly hub over the last couple of years. The airport's unique configuration, and simultaneous landing/takeoff capabilities, makes CVG a particularly efficient airport for flight operations. CVG was the second largest hub of Delta Air Lines and the central hub of Delta's subsidiary airline. After that Airline’s bankruptcy, flight numbers were reduced significantly. The airport is the third most important international hub for the SkyTeam Airline Alliance, offering daily international flights to Paris, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Nassau, Rome, Montreal, Toronto, Jamaica and Mexico. The airport is home to 14 large Art Deco murals that were originally created for the Cincinnati Union Railway Station during the Great Depression.
8. Milwaukee
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), the largest airport in Wisconsin, and feeds almost six million passengers through its gates each year. Only eight miles from Milwaukee city centre it is also 50 miles from downtown Chicago, making it a second choice for people living in the northern part of the Windy City who don’t want to battle the pain of O’Hare. The airport is widening its concourses and renovating its retail areas with stores like Brooks Brothers and PGA. According to the airport website, it’s a 10-minute walk between the farthest parking space and the farthest gate
9. Hartford
With 7.3 million passengers per year and 140 daily departures, Bradly International (BDL) is quickly becoming one of New England’s busiest airports. It's too far away to serve corporate-heavy Stamford, but serves the greater Hartford area well, where a new convention center is bringing in significant traffic. Bradley is also making a pitch for New Haven travelers and also provides an alternative to Massachusetts travelers who find it nearer than Boston’s two airports.
10. Fort Myers
Southwest Florida International (RSW) reflects the area it serves – fast growing, hip and hot. Fort Myers, and Naples in particular, have been booming for nearly a decade. The airport's six million passengers reflect an increase of more than one million in each of the last four years. The airport opened a new $440-million terminal in 2005, one that better serves the mix of new business and tourist travelers. A second runway currently under construction and a 28-gate Midfield Terminal Complex are being designed in order to expand the airport’s yearly capacity to 10 million passengers.CityBloc.com