US Airports: Comparing the Angriest and Happiest Experiences

Travelers flying through several United States airports may want to pack extra patience in their carry-on luggage when heading to these airports.

A recent Forbes ranking found that John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, was the “angriest” when analyzing Twitter posts from travelers flying through major airports around the US. The tweets’ sentiment—including sadness, joy, love, anger, fear, and surprise—is what determined the ranking.

Angriest Airports in the U.S.

Despite being home to one of the happiest places on earth, Disneyland, John Wayne Airport was unfavorably ranked due to noise, staff issues, TSA complaints, and delays. Following this airport, Jacksonville International Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, and Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, took the second and third spots, respectively.

Happiest Airports

While travelers had a negative experience at some airports, it wasn’t all bad news. On the opposite end of the spectrum, travelers who flew through Indianapolis, Seattle-Tacoma, and Kansas City were less likely to share an angry experience on Twitter, according to the report.

The Indianapolis Airport has previously been named the best airport in North America by the Airports Council International. The airport features a variety of shopping that keeps travelers entertained, including MAC Cosmetics, FAO Schwarz Toy Store, TUMI, and Vineyard Vines.

Consumer Complaints

While passengers may be complaining about their experience on the ground at the airport, passengers are also lodging complaints against airlines and even the TSA. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently released an “Air Travel Consumer Report,” which revealed that Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and JetBlue Airways had the highest number of consumer complaints. Furthermore, the TSA received over 14,000 complaints in this report.

Busy Summer Travel Expected

Whichever airport a traveler flies through this summer, it is expected to be extremely busy. AAA recently shared that Memorial Day Weekend will be the busiest since 2000.