Skip to main content

Detroit tops airport satisfaction study

By A. Pawlowski, CNN
Passengers arrive to check in at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which topped the satisfaction study.
Passengers arrive to check in at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which topped the satisfaction study.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • More than 12,000 people grade their departing and arriving airports
  • Features evaluated include accessibility, check-in, security, terminal comfort and food
  • Detroit Metropolitan Airport receives the best grades among large airports
  • Newark International comes in last in the survey

(CNN) -- Many air travelers know: Getting through the airport can make flying look easy.

Whether it's hunting for a parking space, waiting in line to check bags, making it through security, finding your gate and scrounging for a decent meal -- the mad scramble to finally buckle in can be as exhausting as spending your flight confined to a tiny seat.

A new report shows which North American airports seem to make the experience painless and which can add to the frustration.

The study, conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, surveyed more than 12,000 people who took a round-trip flight between January and December 2009.

They were asked to grade their departing and arriving airports on categories like accessibility, the check-in experience, the security process, the level of comfort in the terminal, the food choices offered and baggage claim.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Michigan received the best grades among large airports -- those servicing 30 million or more passengers per year -- while some of the country's best known airports came in at the bottom.

Large Airport Scores
(Overall satisfaction score based on a 1,000-point scale)

1. Detroit Metropolitan
2. Denver International (tie)
2. Minneapolis/St. Paul International (tie)
3. Orlando International
4. Phoenix Sky Harbor International
5. Charlotte Douglas International
6. Dallas/Fort Worth International
7. George Bush Intercontinental/Houston
8. McCarran International
9. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (tie)
9. Seattle-Tacoma International (tie)
10. Toronto Pearson International
11. San Francisco International
12. Chicago O'Hare International
13. John F. Kennedy International
14. Philadelphia International
15. Miami International
16. Los Angeles International
17. Newark International

Source: J.D. Power and Associates
2010 North America Airport Satisfaction Study
Video: Scanners pose little risk
RELATED TOPICS

Detroit Metro officials were "pleased and honored" by their top ranking, said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson. The results may be especially surprising given that the airport tied for 12th place in the prior study, done two years ago.

So what changed?

Air travelers seem to like the airport's "two clean, pleasant and efficient new terminals with fun shops and restaurants," Robinson said in a statement. The airport's North Terminal opened in fall 2008; its McNamara Terminal has been operating since 2002.

Robinson also praised air carriers for helping make Detroit what he called a reliable connecting hub.

"Much of the credit goes to our airline partners, who have committed themselves to improve on-time performance and luggage handling," Robinson said.

Detroit Metro performed particularly well in the terminal facilities and baggage claim categories, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Meeting basic needs

Denver International in Colorado and Minneapolis/St. Paul International in Minnesota tied for second place in the study, followed by Orlando International in Florida and Phoenix Sky Harbor in Arizona.

iReport: What do you think of the rankings?

Airports paying attention to passengers' basic needs ranked high in the report, said Stuart Greif, vice president and general manager at J.D. Power and Associates.

So while travelers enjoy perks like wireless Internet access at an airport, they focus on good organization and comfort. Effective signage, something that might seem innocuous, was particularly important to travelers, Greif said.

"It's still about getting the passenger into and through the airport as easily and efficiently as possible," Greif said.

"Just as airports may be improving their operations over time, passengers as consumers -- their expectations constantly evolve and change. Today's breakthrough performance is tomorrow's baseline."

Bottom of the list

The five large airports that landed at the bottom of the satisfaction study are some of the most familiar names to air travelers, including John F. Kennedy International in New York, Philadelphia International in Pennsylvania, Miami International in Florida and Los Angeles International in California.

Newark International in New Jersey came in last in the survey.

A spokesman for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates JFK International and Newark, pointed out the airports have fared well in previous surveys.

"We take our responsibilities to our customers seriously," said Ron Marsico, adding that about $15 billion has been spent over the past 15 years to improve flight operations and passengers' experiences.

Newark International is undergoing a major Terminal B modernization program that has resulted in a larger domestic baggage claim area and bigger security checkpoint areas, Marsico said.

There's financial incentive for airports to keep travelers satisfied.

People who report being "delighted" with their experience spend an average of 45 percent more in an airport than those who say they are "disappointed," J.D. Power and Associates found.