I base my favorite stations on the following:
1) Quality of ground staff - This is absolutely huge in the case of IRROPS or TSA moronic behavior.
2) Ease and speed of reaching gates - A pretty terminal isn't much good if I have to go on a long run when delayed.
3) At least one quality place to eat.
4) Bells and whistles
Of the hubs - I rank them in this order.
LAX - I don't care if it isn't a giant shopping mall, or about connecting to other airlines. Its the most ideal airport in the world for O&D (and I'm O&D) and has the best people on the ground.
IAD - The aesthetics aren't great, but the ground staff saved my whole vacation last summer.
SFO - Basically tied with IAD, only without the cool personal experience. Better looking airport and the food is a little better.
ORD - Mad house and lots of IRROPS.
DEN - Crazy distances possible, especially if you are connecting to/from UAX. Ground staff are, by far, the worst in the system.
Of outstations, these are great:
YYZ - Amazing staff in a station that doesn't have a massive number of 1K/GS, so those of us who are regulars there are always taken care of.
BUF - Very similar to YYZ - must be the water in Lake Ontario.
These can be lacking:
MSY - They had a good station manager, but most of the ground staff I couldn't stand.
MCO - No clue how to treat high level elites
Any UAX handled station.
Originally Posted by
euslaner
Yes, you'd think that an advanced industrial nation would have a well-functioning airport--e.g., FRA or CDG?
Uh, you do realize IAD isn't the only airport in the US, right?
Originally Posted by
mahasamatman
Sorry, but I'd say FRA is far from well-functioning. Any airport that regularly uses stairs for mainline flights (including 747s) is a third-world airport.
I disagree.
1) I love using stairs.
2) Its a far more efficient use of space.
3) Its faster, even with bussing.