JD Power releases Best airport rankings 2017: MCO, SNA, SMF

FoxtrotSierra · Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:47 am

MCO takes the first place for mega airports followed by DTW, LAS, PHX, and DEN.
SNA takes the first place for large airports followed by TPA, DAL, BNA, and PDX.
SMF takes the first place for medium airports followed by IND, ANC, JAX, and PBI.

Florida ranks strong again with 4 airports this year, but no surprise to see MIA MIA. :duck:

http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/j ... tion-study

LAX772LR · Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:50 am

Meh.

Airports are different things to (the needs of) different people.

These rankings are worthless.

piedmontf284000 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:21 am

DTW is considered a mega airport but PHL isn't? Or STL and MCI are considered large but SJC and RDU are considered medium? If JDPower and Associates can't even get the size right, what's to say their rankings hold any water?

evank516 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:49 pm

Eh, MCO isn't that great. It's a nightmare when it comes to TSA.

GalaxyFlyer · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:04 pm

Makes me wonder if they actually visited MCO.

GF

travelin man · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:07 pm

SNA is "large" while SMF is "medium"? Huh? Aren't they about the same size passenger-wise?

thomasphoto60 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:13 pm

LAX772LR wrote:
Meh.

Airports are different things to (the needs of) different people.

These rankings are worthless.

Pretty much agree. I really don't see a lot of use for these rankings I take them with a grain of salt. Though airport authorities love 'em (if they are rated highly that is).

Dfthu · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:14 pm

evank516 wrote:
Eh, MCO isn't that great. It's a nightmare when it comes to TSA.

MCO is the worst I've been too, TSA is horrible. Plus whole place just kinda looks, old.

StuckinCMHland · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:16 pm

I was just at MCO two months ago and I had no problem going through TSA. I think its a great airport.

flymco753 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:16 pm

I'm mean, I'm a little biased when I say I agree that MCO is the best airport in the US.

Jshank83 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:21 pm

piedmontf284000 wrote:
DTW is considered a mega airport but PHL isn't? Or STL and MCI are considered large but SJC and RDU are considered medium? If JDPower and Associates can't even get the size right, what's to say their rankings hold any water?

DTW 34.4
PHL 30.2

STL 14 mil
MCI 11 mil
RDU 11 mil
SJC 10.8 mil

They must have a high cutoff for mega. Not sure why 30 mil doesn't get you there.

RDU had a couple thousand more than MCI so that doesn't make sense either. Those 2 should have been in the same one wherever they made the cutoff.

itchief · Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:29 pm

MCO is located close to the 'Happiest Place on Earth'. Advertisement has a lot to do with this ranking.

I do not see how it is even ranked as a MEGA airport let alone ranked as the best.

ozark1 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:16 pm

Interesting rankings. From a crewmembers perspective I have been very impressed with IND, JAX, AUS. I avoid MIA like the plague. MCI was a great concept when it was constructed, but now it is really outdated with minimal room for security lines and gate seating areas. DFW is ok, but it is way too dependent on the Skylink tram system. They are becoming more crowded (especially to and from Eagle Terminal B), and if that system were to break down, it would be a logistical nightmare to get people between terminals. I am sure other airports have this problem, but DFW is the one I am most familiar with. I was surprised to see CLT ranked as high as it was at it seems to spread out and congested, but again, not that familiar. I would concur with the very depressing STL.

mbmbos · Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:41 pm

evank516 wrote:
Eh, MCO isn't that great. It's a nightmare when it comes to TSA.

I haven't had a problem personally at MCO but I've heard nothing but complaints from friends and colleagues about TSA. The stories make me think they're on major power trips.

lavalampluva · Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:58 pm

Every list of rankings has a different list of airports. :lol:

KLMatSJC · Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:01 pm

Jshank83 wrote:
piedmontf284000 wrote:
DTW is considered a mega airport but PHL isn't? Or STL and MCI are considered large but SJC and RDU are considered medium? If JDPower and Associates can't even get the size right, what's to say their rankings hold any water?

DTW 34.4
PHL 30.2

STL 14 mil
MCI 11 mil
RDU 11 mil
SJC 10.8 mil

They must have a high cutoff for mega. Not sure why 30 mil doesn't get you there.

RDU had a couple thousand more than MCI so that doesn't make sense either. Those 2 should have been in the same one wherever they made the cutoff.

I'm thinking that mega is airports #1-20 in passenger count, large is #20-40 and medium is #40-60. SNA is probably barely above #40, and SMF is probably just under #40.

atsiang · Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:11 pm

Wow, surprised at MCO, definitely not tops in my books. Visited there are few months ago for business and I was not impressed at all.

Redwood839 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:20 pm

Really surprised at MCO. The place looks old and colorless. Customs & Border and TSA are also horrible. Get stuck behind one of the South American flights and you'll be stuck there for a good 2 hours. It's almost playing catch up with MIA.

Polot · Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:24 pm

mbmbos wrote:
evank516 wrote:
Eh, MCO isn't that great. It's a nightmare when it comes to TSA.

I haven't had a problem personally at MCO but I've heard nothing but complaints from friends and colleagues about TSA. The stories make me think they're on major power trips.

It is not that surprising. MCO no doubt gets a ton of once a year (if even that) fliers with all their kids in tow (and all their needs). Dealing with people unfamiliar with all the rules no doubt slows things down and eventually eats away at the TSA agents.

MIflyer12 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:33 pm

travelin man wrote:
SNA is "large" while SMF is "medium"? Huh? Aren't they about the same size passenger-wise?

For the 2017 ratings, J.D. Power broke out airports by three categories. “Mega” airports were defined as those handling more than 32.5 million annual passengers. The “large” category included airports with 10 million to 32.4 million passengers while the “medium” category looked at airports with between 3 million and 9.9 million passengers.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/f ... 685927001/

Super80Fan · Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:38 pm

MCO is one of my most flown into/out airport along with being one of my favorites. That being said, one of the reasons I purchased Pre-Check was solely for MCO. TSA lines are abysmal and "most" of the TSA agents there are on massive power-trips. Having Pre-Check there turns it from inhumane to bearable. As for SNA and SMF, no comment, never flew into either of them.

klm617 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:55 pm

I think people like the atmosphere of MCO the big open gardens in the middle it's not a bunch of narrow antiquated corridors. I kind of like LAS with it's wide open concourses it doesn't feel claustrophobic. Well and of course there can't be enough things said about how great a hub Detroit is. You'll notice amongst hubs it was ranked number one pretty proud of my airport.

TransWorldOne · Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:17 pm

I haven't been to DAL in a long time. What's so great about the place? I am biased, but I find PDX very hard to beat. Tax free shopping, local food, street prices, great beer, barber shop, movie theater, open airy concourses with lots of natural light, few delays, etc. I travel extensively so I am not some just some fan boy who's unable to be objective about my home airport but I honestly have a hard time understanding how an airport like Nashville ranks better than PDX.

767333ER · Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:23 pm

MCO isn’t a bad airport or anything like that and I quite enjoyed using it the time I did, but it really shouldn’t be ranked anywhere close to the best. I’ve had better and faster security experiences through ATL! Aside from MCO’s pre security food court area, it’s looking a old, but it’s not really a dump. Another issue is how long it takes to get baggage from the airsides to the main terminal. The new building they are working on should be better in many of those areas. Of the runners up in that category I’ve been to DEN which is pretty good and PHX which I like more than I used to with its great choice of dining options. DTW is nice if you’re using Delta, though I’ve never used it. I think ATL deserves to be mentioned.

B777LRF · Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:47 pm

itchief wrote:
MCO is located close to the 'Happiest Place on Earth'.

Yup, roughly 4151 nautical miles as the crow flies. I do admit to never having heard of crows crossing oceans before, but that's for a different debate.

gwrudolph · Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:19 pm

Super80Fan wrote:
MCO is one of my most flown into/out airport along with being one of my favorites. That being said, one of the reasons I purchased Pre-Check was solely for MCO. TSA lines are abysmal and "most" of the TSA agents there are on massive power-trips. Having Pre-Check there turns it from inhumane to bearable. As for SNA and SMF, no comment, never flew into either of them.

Yep. I agree. Perhaps I just hit MCO at the wrong times, but the TSA lines are always very long for me! That whole area is so congested. I get it--thatarea is challenging in that it is a pre-9/11 security area in a post-9/11 world, but at some point, some major investment would be in order.

I would also agree with others that the buildings are definitely showing their age.

The bathroom situation there is ridiculous. Some of the bathrooms in high traffic areas have 1 urinal and two toilets! Built for much lower traffic than what it experiences these days!

The newer terminal(s) at SAN is/are awesome and perhaps my favorite(s)

I also think DEN concourses have held up well considering that they are now 25 years old. Despite the growth and UA's ridiculous boarding line-up, concourse B still seems relatively spacious and not overcrowded to me.

flymia · Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:33 pm

I was at MCO last August. Was not impressed. Terminals are old, not a ton of great options post security to eat drink or shop. At least on the side I was on. B6/F9/NK/UA side. Really was expecting more from MCO. I found say an airport like MIA to be much more modern and user friendly.

But each airport is a different thing for people and MCO has very little connecting traffic. I would imagine connecting airports score low because people have bad experiences when missing connections. I think ATL is a fine airport, but imagine how many people must hate it after missing connections.

evank516 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:47 pm

mbmbos wrote:
evank516 wrote:
Eh, MCO isn't that great. It's a nightmare when it comes to TSA.

I haven't had a problem personally at MCO but I've heard nothing but complaints from friends and colleagues about TSA. The stories make me think they're on major power trips.

The nightmare is the line at TSA, not the agents. Luckily my reason to visit Orlando has disappeared as my sister moved away. However BNA will be a new one for me thanks to her.

awschucks77 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:05 pm

The report also isn't North American - unless of course I am COMPLETELY unaware Canada and Mexico et al are no longer part of North America.

TVNWZ · Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:14 pm

I'll take TPA over MCO any day of the week. Twice on Sundays.

klm617 · Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:17 pm

LAX772LR wrote:
Meh.

Airports are different things to (the needs of) different people.

These rankings are worthless.

As everything in life so what you are saying is surveys and reviews are pretty much are useless in life. But I disagree they are all a point of reference for others so while everyone may have different needs these needs are all envompissed in this survey because I pretty sure JD Power didn't go out there and just solicited responses to a certain criteria. Do you not check reviews when you buy a car or a new electronic device same concept so yes these surveys do carry some weight as a point of reference to the best to worst options per the traveler experence

d8s · Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:37 pm

travelin man wrote:
SNA is "large" while SMF is "medium"? Huh? Aren't they about the same size passenger-wise?

A fruitless Ranking:
SMF: 2016 - Total PAX 10,118,794
SNA: 2016 – Total PAX 10,496,511

SNA is easy to get in/out of from a traffic standpoint. Food is lousy, poor selection, and most close by 7p at night.

N505fx · Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:30 pm

I put zero faith in JD Power. Having dealt with them for years, their awards are pay to play. They are a media company the core, driven by the $ and its really easy to win their awards in any given category...if you pay and play by their rules...trust me, I have done it before.

yyztpa · Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:42 pm

awschucks77 wrote:
The report also isn't North American - unless of course I am COMPLETELY unaware Canada and Mexico et al are no longer part of North America.

Either airports of other North America countries rate so poorly so as not to make the list or the quality of this survey is in doubt if they can't get the classification for the survey right.

wnflyguy · Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:32 am

d8s wrote:
travelin man wrote:
SNA is "large" while SMF is "medium"? Huh? Aren't they about the same size passenger-wise?

A fruitless Ranking:
SMF: 2016 - Total PAX 10,118,794
SNA: 2016 – Total PAX 10,496,511

SNA is easy to get in/out of from a traffic standpoint. Food is lousy, poor selection, and most close by 7p at night.

That's because everyone but WN almost done with departures by 7PM at night. Only food open caters to terminal C.

Flyguy

ozark1 · Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:54 pm

Holy Cow.... I just experienced CVG. If you are in need of exercise it's a great cardio workout from the AA gates to baggage claim. I remember the days when it was east to navigate but now, you need a map to get through the place! Oh well, just an example of how many people there are in this world!

atypical · Tue Sep 26, 2017 8:57 pm

Removed because I can't read

AAvgeek744 · Tue Sep 26, 2017 11:02 pm

awschucks77 wrote:
The report also isn't North American - unless of course I am COMPLETELY unaware Canada and Mexico et al are no longer part of North America.

Yep. I'd put YVR higher than quite a few of these airports.

bpat777 · Tue Sep 26, 2017 11:46 pm

MCO isn't too bad but I wouldn't consider it to be the best. The times I'm there the TSA lines are ridiculous but I figure it's to be expected given how popular Central Fla is. I agree with JAX being up there. That's a nice facility. The SMF WN/AS terminal is really nice as well.

My top 3 airports are: RDU, TPA and AUS. RIC and IND are very nice also. Mega airports I wld say: ATL, DFW and IAH. For the traffic they each see, I never wait long to take off. Even with storms in the area.

AAvgeek744 · Wed Sep 27, 2017 12:00 am

yyztpa wrote:
awschucks77 wrote:
The report also isn't North American - unless of course I am COMPLETELY unaware Canada and Mexico et al are no longer part of North America.

Either airports of other North America countries rate so poorly so as not to make the list or the quality of this survey is in doubt if they can't get the classification for the survey right.

Why is it YVR ranks high in several studies, often the best in North America yets not here? I can find quite a few airports I'd put in in front of on this list.

rbavfan · Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:17 am

Dfthu wrote:
evank516 wrote:
Eh, MCO isn't that great. It's a nightmare when it comes to TSA.

MCO is the worst I've been too, TSA is horrible. Plus whole place just kinda looks, old.

And cluttered, but at least not LGA.

bluefltspecial · Wed Sep 27, 2017 5:38 am

I can see SMF getting a decent ranking but I don't understand the whole medium large mega thing...

As for SMF, they have lots of "local" eateries, rather than just Sabaros and burger king in their new terminal. I enjoyed flying out of the new terminal quite a bit. Last time I flew out of the old terminal was over a year ago and they were doing a complete refurb on it, hopefully doing the same style thing.

evank516 · Wed Sep 27, 2017 1:22 pm

rbavfan wrote:
Dfthu wrote:
evank516 wrote:
Eh, MCO isn't that great. It's a nightmare when it comes to TSA.

MCO is the worst I've been too, TSA is horrible. Plus whole place just kinda looks, old.

And cluttered, but at least not LGA.

Actually my experiences with the TSA lines at LGA (CTB, Delta and old US Terminals) were much better than many of my MCO experiences. T4 at JFK on the other hand, yeah I've learned to just check in at T2 and take the jitney across the tarmac if I fly Delta.

Yflyer · Wed Sep 27, 2017 5:15 pm

bluefltspecial wrote:
As for SMF, they have lots of "local" eateries, rather than just Sabaros and burger king in their new terminal. I enjoyed flying out of the new terminal quite a bit. Last time I flew out of the old terminal was over a year ago and they were doing a complete refurb on it, hopefully doing the same style thing.

By old terminal I assume you mean Terminal A, which actually isn't all that old (it was built in the late 1990s). When I hear "the old terminal" I tend to think of the old Terminal B, which was demolished after the new one opened. But yes, they completely renovated the food court in A and brought in more local restaurants like they have in B.

I'm also a fan of the public art in the new terminal. Too bad the airlines I usually fly on are all in the other terminal.

capitalflyer · Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:48 pm

lavalampluva wrote:
Every list of rankings has a different list of airports.

Yes, and LGA, JFK, and EWR are near the bottom on all of them. Will LGA renovations change this at all?

airbazar · Thu Sep 28, 2017 6:38 pm

evank516 wrote:
Eh, MCO isn't that great. It's a nightmare when it comes to TSA.

I agree. How is MCO top when TSA is such a nightmare. All their "good" concessions are landside which means that unless you want to miss your flight due to the long TSA lines, you can't use them.

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