Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

These airports make travelers angriest (and we know why)

If you hate flying in general, then stay away from the worst airports that are making passengers angry

Dannielle Beardsley
By
Passengers waiting at the airport, killing time o their phones.
𝓴𝓘𝓡𝓚 𝕝𝔸𝕀/Unsplash

We always know where to go when we need to know what the public thinks of something — Twitter. Forbes agrees and took a little time analyzing tweets to find out which major airports we think are the absolute worst. Well, not only the ones that are the worst, but the ones that tick us off when we have to fly through them. See if you agree with Twitter about the worst airports in the U.S., or if you think we aren’t using our powers for good in this case.

The way Forbes got there

The airports

Forbes kept it to any tweets aimed directly at the 60 biggest airports. So, if you don’t see one on the list you’re looking for, that could be why.

Recommended Videos

The magic words

  • Noise
  • Staff
  • TSA
  • Complaints
  • Delayed
  • Security
  • Hours

There are specific words that were searched for to narrow things down. Forbes captured tweets that contained these words to hone in on the anger.

The airport with the most hate

  • John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, with 65% of the tweets

It seems being the neighboring airport to the happiest place on Earth doesn’t mean all that much. But if you were the airport next to one of the busiest places to visit, you might struggle to get through the day yourself. Add the holidays when things are insane at an airport anyway, and you might rethink hitting publish on your next tweet. Or your rage-filled tweet might be published faster. It’s a toss-up.

The main reasons

  • Amount and length of delays
  • The general attitude of the staff
  • TSA complaints
  • Overall noise

Those are all solid reasons to be angry at the airport. There’s nothing to make people heavy sigh more than seeing another delay when they just want to get to their destination. 

Principal at Southern California PR firm Green Flash Media Jeremy Hyatt knows firsthand why the tweets are getting heated toward the airport. He sympathizes with both sides, but states that it’s “challenging for many visitors due to long rental car and TSA lines, unexpected California taxes and fees, limited take-off and landing times, and extended luggage wait times.” Yes, all that would put a damper on things for people who just want to be on vacation. That’s not a relaxing start.

The runners up

  • Jacksonville International Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, with 60% of mad tweets
  • Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, landed 59% of the hate

By comparison, the busiest airport in the world only ranked sixth. That’s not too bad for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It could easily drop out of the top 10 in the future.

The inside of a busy airport.
K Hsu/Unsplash

What airports keep the angry tweets away

  • Indianapolis International Airport
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
  • Kansas City International Airport

These airports seem to have things together a bit more. Indianapolis International Airport actually ranks as the best in customer service for a midsize airport in North America. 

While we can’t always follow the tweets for complete accuracy — as with Tampa International Airport, which has 57% of angry tweets thrown at it, but was given top honors in a passenger satisfaction survey by J.D. Power — they do give a heads-up for potential problems. That makes planning for your flight easier, as you’ll know what you could face. Plus, we love to see what’s happening on Twitter, so keep the tweets coming.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle Beardsley
Contributor
Dannielle has written for various websites, online magazines, and blogs. She loves everything celebrity and her favorite…
Here’s how to live in your car comfortably for a few weeks (or longer) like a pro
Living in your car isn't much different than extended car camping. Here's how to gear up for it like a pro.
Relaxing in the back of a car on a mattress

The van-life movement has evolved beyond short-term escape into a way of life in the most minimal and sustainable sense. Should you decide to spend days or weeks traversing the country on four wheels sounds appealing, then this one is for you. We’ve put together a starter kit of essential tips and gear — most of which is similar to any extended car camping trip.

Here’s everything you’ll need to stay safe, sane, and happy when living in your car (or truck or van) for a few weeks or even longer. Whether you're trying to fully embrace van life or just planning an extended road trip to get out of your house, here's the low-down on how to live in your car.
Learn how to get a good night’s rest

Read more
Travelers are going to hate American Airlines’ newest policy change
American Airlines baggage policy just changed, and it might make you want to change your airline carrier
An American Airlines airplane in an airport.

Nothing upsets us more when flying than getting hit with fee after fee after fee. One specific downer is that darn baggage fee. We wear layers to save space in our suitcase and will try any tips we see on TikTok to pack way more than we need into one bag. Packing cubes are everyone's friend. Well, you might need more help because the American Airlines baggage policy changed, and it's not for the better.

For passengers flying American's basic economy fare, American Airlines no longer offers one checked bag on flights to and from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania — and the rates are pretty steep. (Note: the basic economy policies for both domestic flights and for those going to Canada and Latin America have not changed.)
The price of our over-packing problem
Your ticket (be it economy or first class), where you are flying to, and where you are flying from all factor into the cost. We know — that's annoying and confusing. Here's the deal for transatlantic and transpacific flights:
Carry-ons are still free
Each passenger still gets one carry-on and one personal item for free with their basic economy ticket. As always, check with your airline about what counts, the weight and size requirements, and all that fun stuff. But otherwise, those two are business as usual. 
First and second checked bag fees
That first checked bag is where the fees start to stack up. First bags start at $0 if you grab a first-class ticket and go up to $75 for economy seats. But if you're looking to check a second bag? That will cost you $100.
Third and fourth checked bag
At this point, you might not even want to know. You'll spend $200 per bag checked in. It might be cheaper to ship your stuff ahead of you.

Read more
These are the travel memberships and subscriptions that are worth the money
Not all travel programs are created equal. These are the rare memberships that are still worth buying
Traveler pulling a rollaboard suitcase outside an airport, sun shining directly into the camera.

From Netflix and smartphone apps to food delivery services, everyone is vying for your subscription dollars these days. Most aren’t worth the expense, in our opinion. There are a few, however, that make legitimate sense — and cents — for travelers. If you're planning to travel in the upcoming year, here are the best travel memberships and subscription services that are worth the money in 2023.

TSA PreCheck
Let’s start with the most obvious travel membership: TSA PreCheck. Even for U.S.-based travelers who only fly a handful of times per year, the recurring cost is worth the time and money. A five-year membership costs $78 (less than $16 annually). It’s guaranteed to save you hours at the airport because PreCheck passengers needn’t remove their shoes, belts, or light jackets, and can leave laptops and liquids in their carry-on luggage.

Read more