Fans of Chicago’s Midway International Airport may be surprised to hear that it was ranked the worst airport in the United States by a popular travel news site.
But travelers who have been disappointed by the airport’s food choices, or whose flights have departed hours late, may not be so shocked.
In The Points Guy’s Wednesday ranking of the 50 busiest airports in the United States, Midway pulled in last overall, weighed down by an abysmal score for amenities, which took into account airport lounges, dining and shopping. Midway only has one lounge, and even though it has been renovating its restaurants, it still lacks the diversity of options that other airports provide, the website said.
In addition to amenities, the ranking considered 33 other factors including delays, cancellations and the time it takes to get to the airport. Midway ranked 33rd for commute time, 46th for on-time flights and 46th for amenities.
O’Hare’s overall ranking was buoyed by its robust amenities — it was 39th for commute time, 43rd for flight record, but sixth for amenities. It was ranked 30th overall.
San Diego International was ranked No. 1 overall.
Matt McGrath, a spokesman for the Chicago Department of Aviation, which oversees the airport, launched his own attack on the rankings.
“The Points Guy seems to be missing the point. Midway International Airport is routinely ranked highly among airports of comparable size in customer satisfaction, and travelers enjoy its convenience,” he said in a statement. “With that convenience comes limitations: namely that airport rests on one square mile in the middle of a densely-populated residential neighborhood with no room to grow.”
Even so, the airport is adding more than 70 new concessions and amenities as part of a renovation project, he said.
