These are North America's best airports, according to J.D. Power's 2024 rankings
It's been a busy and expensive year for travel, with record-breaking crowds and rising prices across the board. But according to a new report from J.D. Power, that hasn't stopped travelers from enjoying the journey — especially if they're traveling through some of the country's best airports.
This year, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, and Indianapolis International Airport (IND) ranked at the top of their respective categories in the market research firm's 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
In the "mega" airport category — which J.D. Power defines as airports with 33 million or more passengers per year — MSP took the top spot with a score of 671 on a 1,000-point scale.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) was the runner-up in the mega category with 643 points, while Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) came in third with 633 points.
At the other end of the spectrum in the mega list, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) finished in last place for the third year in a row, with a score of 552.
The "large" airport category, which includes airports that see 10 million to 32.9 million passengers each year, was led by SNA, with Tampa International Airport (TPA) coming in second, followed by Missouri's Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in third.
IND was the top-rated "medium" airport, which J.D. Power defines as those with 4.5 million to 9.9 million passengers annually.
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J.D. Power's methodology determines a scoring system out of a possible total of 1,000 points. The scores are based on surveys from 26,290 U.S. and Canadian travelers completed between August 2023 and July 2024, with questions across seven key factors: ease of travel through the airport, level of trust with the airport, terminal facilities, airport staff, experience departing from the airport on the ground, food and retail experience, and the experience arriving at or traveling to the airport.
Even with various headaches this year, J.D. Power found that airports had generally fared well despite the record crowds; 60% of passengers surveyed said that they had positive experiences at the airport and enjoyed spending time there, while another 59% said that the airport had helped "alleviate the stress of travel."
Notably, however, passengers are spending less money, on average, in the terminals, suggesting that rising prices are taking a toll even as more people spend on vacations.
"Huge air travel demand has not slowed down in North America, despite the steadily rising costs of flights, ground travel, hotel rooms and pretty much anything you can buy in an airport," said Michael Taylor, J.D. Power's managing director of travel, hospitality and retail. "Most travelers are still enjoying the experience. However, we are starting to see a breaking point in consumer spending, with average spend per person in the terminal declining significantly from a year ago."
Here is the full list of airport ratings, divided into J.D. Power's mega, large and medium categories:
Mega Airports
1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) — 671
2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) — 643
3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) — 633
4. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — 628
5. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — 623
6. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) — 611 (tie)
6. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — 611 (tie)
8. Orlando International Airport (MCO) — 596
Segment average: 595
9. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) — 593
10. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — 591 (tie)
10. Miami International Airport (MIA) — 591 (tie)
12. Denver International Airport (DEN) — 588 (tie)
12. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — 588 (tie)
14. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — 586
15. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) — 585
16. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) — 575
17. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) — 574
18. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) — 569
19. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) — 559
20. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — 552
Large Airports
1. John Wayne Airport (SNA) — 687
2. Tampa International Airport (TPA) — 685
3. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) — 683
4. Dallas Love Field (DAL) — 675
5. Nashville International Airport (BNA) — 668
6. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) — 667
7. Sacramento International Airport (SMF) — 663
8. Portland International Airport (PDX) — 659 (tie)
8. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) — 659 (tie)
10. Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) — 655
11. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) — 650
12. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) — 647
13. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) — 644
14. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) — 641
15. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) — 634
16. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) — 633
17. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) — 631
Segment average: 629
18. San Antonio International Airport (SAT) — 614
19. Oakland International Airport (OAK) — 612
20. Dulles International Airport (IAD) — 611
21. San Diego International Airport (SAN) — 610
22. Calgary International Airport (YYC) — 599
23. Midway International Airport (MDW) — 598
24. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) — 593
25. St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) — 583
26. Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) — 576
27. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) — 541
Medium Airports
1. Indianapolis International Airport (IND) — 687
2. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) — 686
3. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) — 675
4. Ontario International Airport (ONT) — 672
5. Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) — 670
6. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) — 669 (tie)
6. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) — 669 (tie)
8. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) — 668
9. John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) — 658
10. Bradley International Airport (BDL) — 654
11. Eppley Airfield (OMA) — 653
12. Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) — 646
Segment average: 646
13. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) — 626
14. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) — 625
15. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) — 580
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.