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America's Worst Airports (PHOTOS)

We tallied votes on 67 domestic airports in six categories: flight delays; design; food and drink; shopping; check-in; and location. When an airport failed miserably in one of these categories, the other scores were typically low as well.
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TravelandLeisure.com

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A southern airport named for a political power couple ranks as the nation's worst. But don't blame partisanship--Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, AR, earned the lowest score from a consensus of travelers.

They voted in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards survey, and the results are in. We tallied the votes for 67 domestic airports in six categories: flight delays; design; food and drink; shopping; check-in; and location. When an airport failed miserably in one of these categories, the other scores were typically low as well.

But it's not a matter of chance. We've analyzed the data, so read on for America's worst airports.

--Everett Potter

More from Travel + Leisure:
America's Best Airports
America's Best and Worst Airports for Delays
World's Fastest Trains
World's Scariest Runways
World's Most Beautiful Airports

Americas Worst Airports (PHOTOS)
No. 1 Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, Little Rock, AR (LIT)(01 of07)
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Travelers of all stripes gripe about the Little Rock airport’s security lines, which have made local headlines for wait times that can stretch to an hour. It also scored poorly for check-in, delays, design, food, and shopping. In part, the results may simply reflect the fact that this is a small airport, with no airline clubs and barely a handful of stores and restaurants. It does deserve kudos for providing free Wi-Fi.

Photo: Jeff Greenberg / Alamy
No. 2 LaGuardia Airport, New York City (LGA)(02 of07)
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What is there to love about LGA? Not much. It gets pitiable marks for the shopping and food options in its dilapidated halls. (This is an airport notorious for putting out buckets to catch the drips from its ceilings.) One of the smallest major airports, LaGuardia was not designed to accommodate a sprawling 21st-century security apparatus. And travelers have noticed: its check-in experience was voted worst among 67 domestic airports.

Photo: Courtesy of The Port Authority of NY & NJ
No. 3 Billings Logan International Airport, MT (BIL)(03 of07)
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You’d think that Billings, a gateway to Yellowstone National Park, would have an unremarkable—or even charming—airport. Think again. Billings Logan seems to have rubbed fliers the wrong way. T+L readers disapproved of its design and felt it was plagued by flight delays. As for food and shopping, the sage advice is to eat lunch and get your Montana souvenir before you hit the airport.

Photo: Andre Jenny / Alamy
No. 4 Newark Liberty Airport, NJ (EWR)(04 of07)
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Flight delays and lengthy lines at check-in are perennial gripes about Newark, as is the location. (Tip: taking NJ Transit to midtown Manhattan will save you money as well as time otherwise stuck in traffic.) The shopping and food options don’t come close to elevating Newark, nor does the outdated design.

Photo: Songquan Deng / Alamy
No. 5 Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham, AL (BHM)(05 of07)
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A solidly poor performer in our reader survey, Birmingham–Shuttlesworth comes across as plagued by delays and check-in issues. Its location ranks a lowly 52 out of 67 airports. It’s a small airport, with just a few lackluster shops and places to grab a bite, so perhaps understandably doesn’t stand out in the food or shopping categories. While it may be unfair to compare it to its big-city brethren, many travelers seem to do just that. The construction of a modern terminal (already partially operational) may improve their impressions.

Photo: Craig Holmes/LOOP IMAGES/Loop Images/Corbis
No. 6 John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City (JFK)(06 of07)
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JFK rated a notable 23rd for its shopping possibilities, with a selection sure to please those with expensive and eclectic tastes (Bulgari, Coach, Harley-Davidson). Then it largely went downhill. Readers griped about systemic flight delays and glacial check-in lines. After all, JFK grapples with more international inbound visitors than any other U.S. airport. The recent opening of Delta’s Terminal 4 should improve the experience for some travelers (thanks to modern comforts like numerous electric outlets and a Shake Shack outpost).

Photo: Courtesy of The Port Authority of NY & NJ
No. 7 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)(07 of07)
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It’s rare to hear an encouraging word about LAX. So when readers declare that the airport’s shopping is respectable—giving it a ranking of 36 out of 67—that may be a backhanded compliment. Check-in, design, and location were all considered a drag. But things should look up for travelers at LAX with the expansion and renovation of Tom Bradley International Terminal. It reopened in September 2013 with massive LED multimedia screens and charging stations; many restaurants and shops are scheduled to roll out in the coming months.

Photo: 2007 Los Angeles World Airports

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