Worst Airports for Connections in the USA

Philadelphia International Airport.
(photo: Getty Images/CNBC)

Some people prefer to connect on a flight rather than flying direct because it breaks down what can be very long journeys. But connections also leaves open the opportunity for a delay or missed connection not to mention leaving one wondering if checked bags make the flight as well.

CNBC reports that several factors come in play: "Some U.S. airports have more late or missed connections than others, depending in part which airlines use them and where they're located. Some airlines are notoriously unreliable, and some airports are in cities that take regular beatings from bad weather."

The ranked airports were based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation using statistics from worst records for on-time arrivals in 2011 and on-time departures covering 29 major airports (defined as serving at least 1 percent of total passengers boarding domestic flights in one year, excluding small airports). The report shows two figures, the first is the percentage of flights that arrived late and the second those that departed later than scheduled.

1. Newark Liberty International (NYC)  33.28% arrived late / 27.03% departed late.
2. San Francisco International   28.62% / 23.72%
3. LaGuardia Airport (NYC)  27.82% / 22.49%
4. Logan International Airport (Boston) 26.39% / 21.11%
5. John F. Kennedy International Airport (NYC)  24.66% / 22.49%
6. O'Hare International Airport (Chicago)  24.52% / 25.6%
7. Philadelphia International Airport  23.84% / 21.1%
8. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport  22.28% / 17.59%
9. Washington Dulles International Airport  21.39% / 20.19%
10. Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport  21.12% / 19.74%

Regarding #1 ranked Newark, the report says: "When it comes to on-time arrivals, Newark Liberty International Airport has the worst record of any U.S. airport. A whopping one in three flights -- 33.28% arrived late. It also has the worst record for on-time departures, with 27.03 percent taking off later than scheduled.

In a 2011 article on the Consumer Reports website, the two most chronically delayed flights in the U.S. both originate from Newark. Both flights go to Atlanta during rush hour, both flights have an average delay of one hour and 21 minutes, and both flights delayed between 50 percent and 60 percent of the time.

To add insult to injury, Frommer's give this unkind assessment of the Newark airport itself, particularly Terminal B: "The airport's idiotically puts security before individual piers in Terminal A and B, which means that rather than having a whole terminal's food and shopping to entertain you, you're stuck on a single pier."

Click HERE for the full report on the CNBC website.

Newark Liberty International.
(photo: Getty Images/CNBC)

America's Worst & Best Airports Ranked by T+L

La Guardia Airport (photo: jimcintosh/flickr)

Another report from Travel & Leisure reveals the best and worst airports in America. The magazine's readers rated the airports based on flight delays; design; amenities; food and drink; check-in and security; service; and transportation and location.

The worst list is always more interesting since we tend to argue because of how we vary in our determination of what constitutes a "best" airport. I'm disappointed that my favorite DFW is on the worst list and surprised that LAS is on the worst list.

Worst Airports in the USA:
1. New York (LGA)
2. Los Angeles (LAX)
3. Philadelphia (PHL)
4. New York (JFK)
5. Newark (EWR)
6. Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
7. Washington Dulles (IAD)
8. Boston (BOS)
9. Houston (IAH)
10. Atlanta (ATL)
11. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
The magazine reports regarding number one worst ranked La Guardia (LGA): "Dilapidated La Guardia hasn't aged well. The airport has the dubious honor of ranking the worst for the check-in and security process, the worst for baggage handling, the worst when it comes to providing Wi-Fi, the worst at staff communication, and the worst design and cleanliness. If there was a ray of hope, its location, was considered superior to six other airports."

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
(photo: rmpenguino/flickr)

Best Airports in the USA:
1. Minneapolis (MSP)
2. Charlotte (CLT)
3. Detroit Metropolitan (DTW)
4. Orlando (MCO)
5. San Francisco (SFO)
6. Baltimore (BWI)
7. Las Vegas (LAS)
8. Seattle (SEA)
9. Denver (DEN)
10. Miami International (MIA)
11. Phoenix (PHX)
The magazine reports regarding number one ranked best ranked Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP): "This may be the cheeriest and most welcoming airport in the nation. T+L voters loved the shopping and food and drink options at this mini-mall of an airport, and when it came to ease of check-in and security, Minneapolis also took the No. 1 spot. It came in second for design and cleanliness, baggage handling, staff communication, and airport location. Only its Wi-Fi offerings were lackluster (11th place), but that still left this midwestern oasis as the clear winner."

Click HERE to view the full article and analysis of each ranking on the Travel & Leisure website.