After being grounded by the pandemic, most folks are pretty darn excited to go to the airport to fly to just about anywhere.
But once at the airport, the excitement seems to fade.
That’s what the J.D. Power 2022 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, released on Wednesday, tells us.
According to the study, satisfaction is down 25 points (on a 1,000-point scale) this year because travelers are disappointed with fewer flights, more cancellations, crowded terminals, limited food and beverage offerings in the terminals, and limited places to park.
“The combination of pent-up demand for air travel, the nationwide labor shortage, and steadily rising prices on everything from jet fuel to a bottle of water has created a scenario in which airports are extremely crowded and passengers are increasingly frustrated—and it is likely to continue through 2023,” said Michael Taylor, travel intelligence lead at J.D. Power.
“In some ways, this is a return to normal as larger crowds at airports tend to make travelers more frazzled, but in cases where parking lots are over capacity, gates are standing room only and restaurants and bars are not even open to offer some reprieve, it is clear that increased capacity in airports can’t come soon enough.”
Airport Rankings
That doesn’t mean travelers are more pleased with some airports than others.
In the ‘mega’ category – Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranks highest in passenger satisfaction, followed by San Francisco International Airport. Both Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport land in a third-place tie.
Among large airports, Tampa International Airport ranks highest, followed by John Wayne Airport, Orange County and Dallas Love Field.
And in the medium airport category, Indianapolis International Airport ranks highest, with Pittsburgh International Airport in second place and Jacksonville International Airport and Southwest Florida International Airport in a third-place tie.
The 2022 North America Airport Satisfaction Study measures traveler satisfaction by looking at six factors. In order of importance) those factors are terminal facilities; airport arrival/departure; baggage claim; security check; check-in/baggage check; and food, beverage and retail.
Where does your favorite airport land in the ratings this year?
So we fixed that with a quick visit to see how construction is going on the new roof and other spaces, do some shopping, and get a shoe selfie with the terminal’s one remaining patch of old PDX carpet.
A full story will follow, but here are a few some snaps from a 9,000-step hike through the PDX Airport.
The New Roof
A new 9-acre mass timber roof has been built off-site and will be put in place over the existing terminal and a terminal extension in giant pieces. The first piece of the roof has just been put in place.
The Last Patch of Carpet
The old carpet pattern at PDX has gained iconic status. A new patch is promised for someplace in the new main terminal. But until then, the only place to see and snap a selfie with a remnant of the old rug is in the tiny ‘listening room’ at the back of Tender Loving Empire’s store on Concourse E, near Gate E5.
Shopping
We didn’t get to do all the shopping we’d planned. But were were delighted to see the great sticker selection at the Made in Oregon shop on Concourse C.
And at the Tillamook Market on Concourse E we spotted ice-cream from Oregon’s famed Tillamook Creamery as well as Tillamook Cheese Curds, which are only only sold here, at the creamery out in Tillamook (86 miles from the airport) and online.
Did you know? Before Coors was available nationwide, the Rocky Mountain beer was so beloved by President Gerald R. Ford that his crew loaded it onto Air Force One and hauled cases back to Washington after their trips out west. #AviationDay2022pic.twitter.com/sAm3Cbsj4k
This morning we celebrated Through Our Eyes, a #PHLAirport art exhibition that displays the works of participants from the Philadelphia Autism Project. Today included remarks from Councilmember Derek Green and light refreshments. Check out the exhibit in A-East Baggage Claim. 🎨 pic.twitter.com/vZu0uVjo7R
Whether you’re waiting for a flight or here for a date night, the Phoenix Airport Museum has FREE art guides available to self-tour art and exhibitions. The guides are available on https://t.co/wy4v0PxEK2 and QR codes around the Airport.
The Stuck at the Airport team is in London this week on a trip organized by our friends at Gatwick Airport (LGW).
The assignment?
Find out if it’s easy to land at Gatwick Airport on a flight from the U.S. See if it’s easy to take public transit to and from the airport to London, Brighton, and other nearby destinations. And find fun things to do.
As they say: tough job, but someone has to do it. And Stuck at the Airport is up for the challenge.
The airline begins service between Boston and Gatwick on August 4, and we’ll be on the inaugural flight out of Gatwick. So stay tuned for details from that adventure.
The T, meet the Tube. Our award-winning service to London Heathrow and London Gatwick arrives in BOS starting this summer, and tickets are out for sale today. Book now: https://t.co/ynjwsfTDLDpic.twitter.com/wtxIbu9SUK
We chose an overnight layover at JKF so that we could stay at the TWA Hotel, which is oh-so-conveniently connected to JetBlue’s T5 terminal via elevator and a red-carpeted flight tube that is the perfect passageway to the 1960s.
The hotel is built inside the restored and reimagined Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 TWA Flight Center at JFK and has restaurants, bars, retail outlets, and some fun 60s throwback activities in the lobby.
There’s an infinity pool on the roof (fees apply) and, out in the back on the ‘tarmac, there’s a Lockheed Constellation “Connie” L-1649A that has been transformed into a cocktail lounge. This summer, guests and visitors can go roller skating rink or ride bumper cars on the hotel’s tarmac as well. (Fees apply).
You don’t need to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the lobby and tarmac activities. And many activities, including photo ops in cool spaces, Twister, and long-distance phone calls on retro pay phones, are free.
Arriving at Gatwick Airport
The JetBlue flights to Gatwick Airport leave JFK at around 7:30 pm and land at Gatwick the following morning at around 7:30 am. That means you can plan a full day in the city.
Our flight landed early, so I was glad Gatwick Airport had arranged for me to rest and refresh at the onsite YOTELAIR London Gatwick Airport.
This was the first YOTEL to open in the United Kingdom – way back in 2007 – and offers short-stays (from 4 to 8 hours) in very compact ‘cabins’ that are perfect for naps, a refresh after a long flight, or an overnight if you have a very early flight or late arrival.
Each cabin is super compact, with a bed, bathroom, small desk, WiFi, USB ports, mood lighting, smart TV, and a little bit of storage space. (You can also leave luggage at the front desk, or ‘Mission Control.’)
I had everything I needed for a refresh and even discovered a small fold-out stool hanging on the back of my cabin door just as I was leaving. Coffee, tea, and bottled water are complimentary at the front desk and guests can borrow alarm clocks for wake-up calls. Meals can be ordered and delivered as well.
Here’s a snap of Gatwick Airport’s mascot, Gary Gatwick, checking out the Yotel cabin. You’ll see more (lot’s more) of him during our London visit as he’s my travel partner for the week.
Gatwick to London in less than 30 minutes
It’s always a delight to have an ‘aha’ moment when traveling and learn about a tool or service that you know will change your travel habits.
In the past, I’ve always arrived in London at Heathrow Airport and headed to town via the London Underground, known as the Tube. The new Elizabeth Line seems like its speeds up the travel time, but in the past, the ride from Heathrow to central London could take up to 45 minutes and become very crowded as it got closer to the city, especially during rush hour times.
But traveling from Gatwick Airport to London on the Gatwick Express was far easier and way more pleasant.
The ride from the Gatwick Airport train station to Central London’s Victoria Station on the direct Gatwick Express was a 30-minute breeze.
I liked that this is a train (not a subway) and that the train station is easy to access, with a major upgrade on the way. Trains run every 15 minutes and travelers can use an Oyster smartcard to pay for rides. Prices vary by time and type but are discounted 10% when purchased online or via the app.
Trains from Gatwick also go to the Sussex coasts, for example, Brighton and Eastbourne.
It would have been easy to transfer to underground Tube lines once I arrived at Victoria Station, but my hotel was an easy 10-minute walk and along the way, I passed the Victoria Palace Theatre, where Hamilton is playing.
As I mentioned, Gatwick Airport mascot Gary Gatwick is my tour guide this week, and he received a very enthusiastic welcome at the check-in desk at the St. James’ Court.
Our agenda this week will include a lot of touring in London, Brighton, and West Sussex – all places easily accessible from Gatwick Airport.
So please stay tuned as we catch up on our adventures each day. Have some tips on places we should go? Please add them to the comments.
— Dallas Love Field (@DallasLoveField) July 25, 2022
Operations resumed late Monday afternoon at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) after a frightening incident involving shots fired inside the terminal building.
According to Dallas police, a woman entered the airport near the ticket counter, went into a bathroom, and exited wearing a hoodie and brandishing a gun. She began shooting at the ceiling and was taken into custody after being wounded by a Dallas police officer on duty.
No one else was injured, but flights were grounded for several hours. All passengers had to be rescreened, more than 1000 flights were delayed, and more than 100 flights were canceled as a result of the incident.
Police and displaced travelers are pictured at Love Field earlier today following a shooting at the airport. pic.twitter.com/pszWXu8bJQ
Portland International Airport (PDX) is getting a new timber roof and it’s both quite impressive and quite a complicated undertaking.
Here’s a short video showing one of the important steps it takes to install a 9-acre mass timber roof over an existing terminal.
How do you install a 9-acre mass timber roof over an existing terminal? First, you install 34 giant steel columns. After months of setting the foundations. With the most brilliant construction workers and fabricators in the PNW. #LookUpPDX#PDXNextpic.twitter.com/vv8QrQMztV
As long as we’re looking at time-lapse construction videos, here’s one from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), where they’re building a new terminal.
Prepare for arrival!
In June, rebar installation for the underground foundations of the new terminal continued. Crews lifted and placed 36- and 39-ton steel beams over the train tunnel. #PITTransformedpic.twitter.com/fNLJhgN2Te
— Pittsburgh International Airport (@PITairport) July 25, 2022
