Magazine rates airports for passenger headaches

Which airports are likely to give the traveler a hassle-free experience, and which ones are likely to bring headaches to your trip? U.S. News & World Report took a look at the nation’s 47 largest airports and created a “misery index” based on two factors: the percentage of flights delayed at that airport, and the average load factor on flights departing there. By combining the two scores, the magazine rated all 47 airports. The nation’s best airports, according to the magazine’s misery index, are (in descending order): San Jose, Memphis, Kansas City, New Orleans and Santa Ana (Calif.). The worst airport is Chicago O’Hare; just above ORD, in ascending order of less misery, are Newark, San Francisco, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Miami.

Meanwhile, Airports Council International released the results of its annual passenger survey on airport service quality. Based on more than 200,000 replies, the new survey found that the top five airports in the world are all in Asia: Rated number one by passengers was Seoul Incheon, followed (in order) by Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong and Central Japan Airport. Other results listed the best airports in different regions of the world. In North America it was Dallas/Ft. Worth; in Europe, Oporto, Portugal; in Latin America, Guayaquil, Ecuador; in the Middle East, Tel Aviv; and in Africa, Johannesburg.