Airports are a strange kind of popularity contest. For some reason, certain ones get talked about like they’re five-star resorts instead of chaotic hubs filled with overpriced snacks and eternal TSA lines.
Sure, some have fancy lounges and decent food options, but that doesn’t mean they’re deserving of all the praise. These airports are constantly hyped like they’re life-changing experiences when in reality… they’re just fine, at best.
10. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
People act like Sea-Tac is the sleek future of air travel, but it’s mostly long walks, limited seating, and a confusing layout. The Pacific Northwest charm wears off fast when you’re sprinting from one end to the other with zero moving walkways in sight.
9. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Logan is constantly hyped as being “easy to navigate,” but that only applies if you already know your way around a maze. Between the traffic nightmare and terminals that feel like separate cities, it’s not the smooth experience people claim.
8. Miami International Airport (MIA)
MIA has the energy of a nightclub at 2 a.m. but none of the fun. It’s chaotic, crowded, and somehow always humid indoors, yet travelers still talk it up like it’s a cultural landmark.
7. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Sure, there are art and yoga rooms, but you can’t zen your way out of constant delays and high prices. SFO gets way too much credit for aesthetics while the logistics are a hot mess.
6. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Everyone knows O’Hare is a mess, but somehow it still makes “best airport” lists just because it’s big. It’s a stressful sprawl of terminals, confusing signage, and weather delays waiting to happen.
5. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Yes, it’s one of the busiest airports in the world, but that doesn’t make it good. It feels like a massive people-mover simulation with zero charm and a 50/50 shot that your luggage makes it with you.
4. Denver International Airport (DEN)
People love the quirky conspiracy theories, but have you actually tried to find your gate here? It’s an endless journey through beige tunnels and train rides with a side of altitude headache.
3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
DFW is massive, and everyone acts like that’s a good thing. It’s more like a logistical obstacle course that requires a degree in navigation just to get from security to Starbucks.
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2. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The LAX hype is purely celebrity-driven because nothing else explains why people speak so fondly of it. It’s crowded, outdated, and the traffic alone could ruin your vacation before it starts.
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1. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
JFK is somehow treated like the crown jewel of East Coast travel, despite being a nonstop exercise in frustration. Between the inconsistent terminals, lackluster amenities, and eternal construction, the praise makes zero sense.
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