People are compelled by their profession to frequently travel domestically within America. However, it is not always that everyone has a pleasant experience at the airports. In fact, America is notorious for having some of the worst airports in the world. In fact, the latest survey of the country’s airports showed that passengers flying around in American were disgruntled with what they saw.
Customers who responded to the survey reported that overall airport customer service satisfaction in 2010 was lagging behind customer satisfaction from other travel categories like car rentals and hotels. It was particularly noted that the large airports in the states have constantly been on the decline where customer satisfaction is concerned.
The medium-sized airports have remained more or less constant while the small airports have actually risen in rating. Conducted by J.D Power and Associates, customers were asked to give feedback on their satisfaction levels based on 6 factors. These included baggage claim, security check, airport accessibility, check-in, food and retail and terminal facilities. The responses were measured using about 27 attributes.
Topping the list of the best airports in 2010 in America was the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. With an on-time departure 84% of the time in 2010, the airport also saw on-time arrival almost 86% of the time. It was reported that passengers spent only about 10 minutes waiting in the queue to clear security screenings. The airport in Phoenix ranked top where airport amenities and safety aspects were concerned.
Following Sky Harbor International Airport was Seattle-Tacoma International, clinching the second spot. Other airports like Los Angeles Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Orlando International Airport also figured in the top five best airports.
However, passengers need to beware the low ranking airports, or airports from hell. This included the Newark Liberty International Airport, ranking the lowest in the list for the second year consecutively. This lowest ranking airport saw on-time departures only about 76% of the time and on-time arrivals 73% of the time. However, it was also recorded that security clearance only took about 7 minutes on average. Of 27 airports surveyed in America, the airport in Newark was ranked 24th for safety and 26th for airport amenities.
The JFK International Airport in New York was also ranked at the bottom of the list of airports. The Dulles Airport in Washington was ranked third-worst among the medium-sized airports which were surveyed. San Jose International Airport was also ranked low in the list of small-sized airports that were surveyed. Other airports from hell included Boston Logan International, Chicago O’Hare International, Philadelphia International, Miami International Airport and LaGuardia International.
Although some of these airports reflect a low ranking in the 2010 survey results, the consolation is that some of these airports have actually seen an improvement over the previous years. It may help to consult the list of best and worst airports in America before booking your ticket, especially if you are looking for a memorable and relaxing holiday!
