Just in time for Holidays - Most Stressful Airports
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
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I am slightly suprised that they put FLL in there and then said PBI is better. I agree PBI is quite but I have seen other lists which consistently show PBI as "The most entitled airport" in the country. I would have thought MIA beat FLL for stress. Just my 0.02$
#19
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 2,119
Interesting list.
I've flown through a number of them (and destination'd at a few more) and some of them really aren't that bad - I find ORD and IAH totally reasonable. I've even connected internationally via different terminals at IAH in 49 minutes landing to takeoff ... wouldn't recommend it, didn't realize I'd have to clear customs (stupid US habit of not making ALL airside space secure regardless of terminal, always forget that in planning connections!) - so okay THAT trip was a tad stressful, but otherwise IAH one of my preferred connections stateside.
LAX on the other hand ...
I've flown through a number of them (and destination'd at a few more) and some of them really aren't that bad - I find ORD and IAH totally reasonable. I've even connected internationally via different terminals at IAH in 49 minutes landing to takeoff ... wouldn't recommend it, didn't realize I'd have to clear customs (stupid US habit of not making ALL airside space secure regardless of terminal, always forget that in planning connections!) - so okay THAT trip was a tad stressful, but otherwise IAH one of my preferred connections stateside.
LAX on the other hand ...
#20
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Texas
Programs: UA Plat, HH G, PC Plat
Posts: 44
I counted 14 or 15 out of 16 (can't remember if I've been to MIA). I'd go for JFK for #1 for transferring onto a domestic flight arriving internationally, but none of them are really all that bad. Not with lounge access, anyway Worldwide, I am sure there are worse, but SVO is up there.
#21
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Alexandria, Va. USA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, DL Silver, UA Gold, *A Gold, OW Emerald
Posts: 1,492
I'm feeling stressed just thinking about it
IAD is stressful for me. I have to change levels at least four times to board an airplane.
Any airport where I must ride a bus in order to connect to a flight on the same airline: CDG is the worst.
Any airport that was designed and built several generations ago. The parts no longer fit together in logical way.
Any airport where I must ride a bus in order to connect to a flight on the same airline: CDG is the worst.
Any airport that was designed and built several generations ago. The parts no longer fit together in logical way.
#23
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#24
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,581
ORD at the top?
Crazy list - totally inaccurate for thanksgiving travel
ORD is busy, but if you are connecting domestic to Domestic you can walk the whole way in max 30 min even if you are going from AA G to UA B terminal.
I just went back to ORD for the seminars (grew up there but what has changed is the security lines all along the terminals).
Unlike JFK where you may have to take the AirTrain.
Atlanta is fine as you can take a train and connect without going through security again
I think the list has to be changed to look at D-D and I-D or D-I and I-I transfers.
Any place that you have to go outside and then reenter another terminal in this day and age should be on the list.
For D-D on same airline ORD is fine; For a different airline D_D is still OK
There is no problem at ATL, DEN etc - laid out in the new herring bone style.
Boston Logan is the pits as are JFK, LGA and LAX
Crazy list - totally inaccurate for thanksgiving travel
ORD is busy, but if you are connecting domestic to Domestic you can walk the whole way in max 30 min even if you are going from AA G to UA B terminal.
I just went back to ORD for the seminars (grew up there but what has changed is the security lines all along the terminals).
Unlike JFK where you may have to take the AirTrain.
Atlanta is fine as you can take a train and connect without going through security again
I think the list has to be changed to look at D-D and I-D or D-I and I-I transfers.
Any place that you have to go outside and then reenter another terminal in this day and age should be on the list.
For D-D on same airline ORD is fine; For a different airline D_D is still OK
There is no problem at ATL, DEN etc - laid out in the new herring bone style.
Boston Logan is the pits as are JFK, LGA and LAX
#25
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA LT PLT 3.2MM, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 117
It looks like a flawed study to me. I think that the compiler of the list did nothing to compensate for the fact that some airports are simply busier than others and therefore get mentioned more often. LaGuardia, on the other hand, definitely earned its way onto the list for being a stressful airport as did JFK, and why isn't Logan much, much higher on the list?
Also connecting vs start or end of journey makes a huge difference. DFW is well designed for start or end of journey, but I pity the folks connecting there. Of course, DFW is a real mess right now even for the locals due to road construction.
On the other hand, lots of pleasant connections at ORD for me, but starting or ending there hasn't ever gone well for me.
Also connecting vs start or end of journey makes a huge difference. DFW is well designed for start or end of journey, but I pity the folks connecting there. Of course, DFW is a real mess right now even for the locals due to road construction.
On the other hand, lots of pleasant connections at ORD for me, but starting or ending there hasn't ever gone well for me.
#29
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: London
Programs: Virgin Atlantic red
Posts: 84
As a leisure traveller I have been through 4/16 airports (BOS, SFO, ORD + JFK) and the only stressful part I find is the immigration bit. Will they/won't they let me in the country! Security (going airside) process generally no hassle. Passport check, scan of belongings what is there to stress about?! When I visited ORD last year both immigration (2hr wait) and security (45 min wait) were abit of a headache but just remember there is nothing I can do but wait.
#30
Join Date: Dec 2001
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 570
I've never wondered if my taxi driver is going to rob me at JFK, or considered how much I need to bribe the airport staff at ORD...