The best (and worst) airports in America

Where does your local airport land?
plane silhoutte sunset


The Daily Navigator strives to help you make the best personal finance decisions. While we produce content according with strict editorial integrity this post may contain references to partner products. Here’s a full explanation for how our team makes money.

During a year fraught with travel chaos, J.D. Power has revealed the best and worst airports in America. 

The trusted consumer research firm put airports into three categories: Mega, Large, and Medium-sized. The six factors they evaluated were terminal facilities, airport arrival/departure, baggage claim, security checks, check-in/baggage check, and food and retail services. 

Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) landed in 1st place in the Mega airport category thanks to their terminal facilities, TSA, baggage claim, and how well they handled the surge of passenger volume increases this year. 

At the bottom of the Mega airport category is Newark Liberty (EWR). The Jersey airport’s infrastructure couldn’t keep up with the increase in passengers this year. Additionally, their location is a sore spot for traffic, making it hard to access and leaving travelers stressed. 

Passenger volume greatly affected overall satisfaction ratings and brought them down by 25 points. Fewer flights, overcrowded terminals, and sparse food offerings were all big contributing factors to the steep drop.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone. This post contains references to products from one or more of our partners and we may receive compensation when you click on links to those products.

Stay in the know

Get expert insight into credit cards, loyalty programs, financial tips, and more delivered right to your inbox.

Related Stories

Smart Points Logo

Stay in the know with
Smart Points Newsletter

Get expert insight into travel credit cards, loyalty programs, points tips, and more. Recent edition →

Get expert insight into travel credit cards, loyalty programs, points tips, and more. Recent edition →

Advertiser Disclosure

This article contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The relationship may impact how an offer is being presented. Our site doesn’t include all the offers available. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER!

$900 CashBack OR
90,000 bonus points

Worth over $1,500 in travel!

Partner offer. Terms apply.

DFC Partner Perks App Link Image
Special Discounts for Our Members

Save Big with Perks

Get $5,000+ in immediate travel savings with Perks. Unlock next level travel benefits, for life. Get discounts from the world’s best travel brands you won’t find anywhere else. No credit required.

DFC Concierge App Link Image
Special Discount for Our Members

93% off lifetime access

Save $1,200 and 10 hours of your time on every vacation. With Lifetime access to DFC Concierge, get fully customized trip itineraries to make every vacation unforgettable.

Dollar Flight Club App Link Image
Special Discount for Our Members

50% Off PREMIUM

You can save up to $500 on your next adventure without lifting a finger get email alerts when we find flights up to 90% off leaving your home airport. Just let us know your departure airport and we’ll do the rest.

The Daily Navigator Commitment

The Daily Navigator is an integral part of the larger DFC Media family. Through each of our brands, we’re dedicated to helping our readers travel, spend, and live smarter.

With products dedicated to affordable travel, educational content, and personal finance, we deliver the day’s essential content with none of the filler — all in a way that’s fast, easy, and fun to read. Every day million of audience members trust us to deliver educational content so that they can make informed decisions faster. We hope you’ll join them.

We’re happy to have you here!