Airports in USA

Situated eight miles (13km) north-west of downtown Miami, Miami International Airport (MIA) is South Florida’s main airport. Due to a vast number of tourist attractions and sizable local populations, it’s one of the largest hubs in the US and acts as the country's main gateway to Latin America. Having served just fewer than 36 million passengers in 2010, the airport is the 28th busiest in the world, with flights to Miami International Airport coming in from most continents.

Unfortunately, though, the airport has a reputation for being slow and disorganized, especially when it comes to luggage procedures. Passengers in transit often miss flights as they are required to clear immigration before collecting their baggage, after which they must then transfer it to their connecting flight. Moreover, it’s common practice for staff to remove bags from carousels and place them on the floor, leaving passengers to crowd around heaps of luggage and compete for a chance to locate theirs. Signage is lacking and unclear, and many airport personnel speak Spanish only.

However, MIA has a wide variety of eateries, bars and retail outlets to keep layover passengers amused. Musical performers also provide entertainment throughout the airport’s public spaces and numerous wall paintings add color and vibrancy to the interior of the terminal building.         

Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) is the biggest and busiest airport in the Midwest, serving the greater Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul. So close together that there is no visible distinction, the cities make up a sprawling metro area of more than 3.5 million people.

Most airlines fly in and out of Terminal 1, also known as the Lindbergh Terminal (named after Minnesota native Charles Lindbergh). Terminal 2, the Humphrey Terminal, is named for popular local politician Hubert H. Humphrey, whose name also adorns the nearby football stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.

Flights to Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport come from all over the world, but its most popular routes are to domestic cities such as Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas and Milwaukee.

The airport is clean and attractive, with helpful staff and sparkling facilities that make flying through the airport a pleasure. Its convenient location near two downtown areas and many attractions makes it a great place to start a vacation in Minnesota.

There aren’t many direct flights to Mobile Regional Airport (MOB), in fact you can only fly directly from Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Memphis and Charlotte. Despite this, Mobile Regional is a busy little airport with more than 50 daily flights.

You may expect that a small airport like this would offer bargain fares, but that isn’t the case with Mobile Regional. As no low-cost carriers such as JetBlue or Southwest operate from the airport, the fares tend to be higher than nearby Pensacola Regional Airport.

The facilities at Mobile Regional are basic, with only a couple of restaurants and newsstands to keep passengers entertained between flights. A lack of entertainment and children’s amenities make it a less-than-ideal airport for stopovers. Still, if you do fly into Mobile Regional Airport, you can expect a warm Southern welcome from the friendly and helpful staff.

Nashville International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located 8 miles (13 km) south-east of Nashville. Having recently undergone a five-year renovation plan, the vastly improved airport building now comprises an enormous passenger terminal with 47 gates and four concourses.

A mid-sized airport offering warm service and adequate shopping and dining options, with a strong emphasis on honoring and promoting the state’s rich musical heritage, Nashville International serves as a pleasant gateway to the greater Tennessee region. Like all airports, queues can sometimes be lengthy (especially during holidays); however, operations are generally smooth and staff efficient.   

As the largest commercial airport serving the New Orleans and southeast Louisiana area, Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) welcomes around 8 million passengers each year. The airport is located 11.5 miles (19km) west of New Orleans, and is the second lowest-lying international airport in the world, sitting merely 4.5 feet (1.4m) above sea level.

Flights to Louis Armstrong International arrive daily from across the United States, with occasional flights arriving from Canada and South America. Some of the major airlines that operate at the airport include Continental Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines among a number of others.      

If you're spending some time at the airport, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the efficiency you'll encounter here. Queuing won't take up too much time, and staff are friendly and happy to help. There'll be enough to keep you occupied, although if you’re waiting in Concourse D, then you'll have to make do with limited refreshment options.

Situated within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth in New Jersey, USA, Newark Liberty International is approximately 15 miles (24 km) south-west of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Having handled just over 33 million passengers in 2010, it is the United States’ tenth-busiest aerial hub.

Newark Liberty International comprises three passenger terminals: Terminal C consists of two ticketing levels, while Terminals A and B have four levels. Ticket counters are on the top floor, gates and shops are on the third floor, an international arrivals lounge (Terminal B) and baggage carousels are on the second floor, and short term parking areas make up the ground floor. Each terminal features three concourses.

With clean amenities and a decent array of dining and shopping venues, quick check-in and security facilities and numerous transport options to and from the airport, Newark Liberty International is, in spite of its relatively small size, an efficient airport worthy of being the country’s fifth-busiest international air gateway.  

Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) is located six miles (8km) from downtown Oklahoma City. The airport is named for a popular comedian and cowboy from Oklahoma. In fact, travelers going to Oklahoma should be sure to pack their Stetson, or just have fun seeing how many cowboys you can spot while at the airport.

The airport has a limited selection of shops and restaurants and only one terminal with concourses branching off it. It serves nearly 3.5 million people each year. While this makes it Oklahoma’s busiest airport, it is not a high-traffic airport by North American standards.

Flights to Will Rogers World Airport can be booked on many popular US airlines. There are a number of cities across the US with flight connections to Oklahoma City; some of the busiest non-stop flights to Will Rogers World Airport come from Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Newark, Detroit and Salt Lake City.

Will Rogers World Airport offers a more personal feel to flying. Yes, there are still security checks and sometimes the queues can get long, but most of the time passengers will have an easy airport experience. Perhaps, naming airports after comedians makes them less stressful places or maybe it’s just the laid-back feel of Oklahoma.

At just 2.3 miles (3.7km) east of downtown Ontario, Ontario International Airport (ONT) is a small but well-equipped alternative to Los Angeles Airport and John Wayne Airport for passengers flying to California.

The number of flights to Ontario International Airport has been declining steadily in recent years (there were 4.8 million passengers in 2010, but the terminals are built to handle twice that) - some say due to the lack of direct flights to major destinations, in comparison with other airports nearby. However, those who use the airport agree that it is a convenient alternative, well connected to nearby air fields and towns, easy to get in and out of, clean and with good basic facilities.

A major gateway to the Sunshine State, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is Florida’s second-busiest airport (Miami International is busiest) and the 29^th busiest in the world. It's not to be confused with Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), which also serves the city but is further from the major attractions of Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios Florida. Orlando International is a mere 6 miles (11km) from the downtown area.

Flights to Orlando International Airport arrive from across the US and the Caribbean, South America and major hubs in Europe.

This spacious airport is easy to navigate, has lots of natural light, features loads of shops and restaurants, and is decorated with masses of leafy pot plants and fountains. Staff members are generally pleasant and helpful, and overall, it's a great introduction to sunny Florida. 

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is conveniently located just 3.5 miles (6km) west of Palm Beach, Florida. It’s a really accessible airport as it is just off the Interstate Highway (I-95) and it is close to Boca Raton, Jupiter and a number of surrounding counties.

Passengers using Palm Beach International Airport will find that there’s a fair selection of shopping opportunities ranging from gifts and souvenirs to newspapers and books. Restaurants at the airport range from those serving on-the-go passengers to full-service dining, as well as a couple of bars.

There are loads of domestic flights to Palm Beach International Airport and even a few international flights. The international flights to Palm Beach are generally from the Bahamas and from Canada, but the flights from Canada tend to be seasonal. The airport is serviced by a wide selection of North American airlines as well.

Palm Beach International Airport is a friendly airport that is easy to navigate and security queues are usually quite short. While there aren’t that many passenger amenities, Palm Beach International tends to be a relaxing airport to use and it makes travel a lot less stressful than some of the busier or more crowded airports in Florida.