Is MSP really the worst? I think not
Posted on May 21st, 2008 – 10:08 AMBy Chris Welsch
I rank MSP in the middle of the pack, or even slightly above. My biggest complaint is the poor organization of the main concourse — a hodgepodge of improvised people-moving strategies. It wasn’t designed to be used the way it is now. After 9/11, the airport moved security to the main concourse from the gates, creating a confusing, deranging logjam of security and check-in lines that does give a bad first impression of the airport, especially on busy days. Beyond the main concourse, however, the airport has consistently improved its set up and its offerings. The monorail cuts walking time on the longest concourse (C, leading to the A and B regional gates). The restaurant offerings are way above the average, and I find the waiting areas at the gates to be much more roomy and less claustrophobic than those at Memphis, for example (which should not have been ranked above MSP.) My least favorite airport in the U.S.? LAX. It’s a dingy paper mache maze, lacking substance or design integrity, and the constant loud announcements make me feel like I’m in a bad science fiction movie. My favorite? It’s a tough question, like asking, which is your favorite molar extraction technique. But I do give McCarran high marks for speed (low marks for noise and ambiance). I also think the airport in Anchorage (larded with federal money from Sen. Ted Stevens, whom it’s named after) is pretty spectacular. Let’s have some other road warriors weigh in.
14 Responses to "Is MSP really the worst? I think not"
I found something fishy about this survey. PHL ranked high while MSP ranked at the dead bottom? The only thing I can think of is meeting expectations: In Philadelphia, expectations are lower, so as long as you get on a plane, it’s good. In MSP, we expect more, so every little thing becomes irksome; that or NWA’s constant cancellations affect airport rankings.
But seriously, I dislike the PHL airport so much: terminals are only connected by bus, or by walking to the baggage claim and then walking over and back. People are rude, Security is always slow and long, food/shopping offerings are limited…need I say more?
My favorite airport in the world (so far) is AMS (Amsterdam). I could live there, as most of us could. In the U.S….well, probably MSP, since it means I am home! I do wish that security was beyond the little “mall” area–that could’ve helped rankings.
The idea that this survey ranked Philly the best airport destroys any semblance of credibility. Having traveled Ithaca, NY to MSP through Philly many times, I am convinced PHL is where happiness goes to die. While this could be more an indictment of US Airways, the people are generally unhelpful and difficult to find. The regional terminal, E, is nice, but the fact that you have to take the bus to the rest of the terminals makes any connection infinitely more stressful. The only redeeming factor is the ability to get a cheesesteak (albeit an impostor when compared with Pat’s)…
It takes more time to get my checked bags in MSP then it does to fly from Chicago to Minneapolis - and I don’t buy the weather excuse that MAC is whining about - the baggage handling is just as bad on nice sunny spring days!
I do agree that PHL isn’t a nice airport and LAX is a national embarrassment to international visitors.
I’m not in love with MSP, but it’s in no way the worst. Try St. Louis. Awful. Concourse hallways so narrow, not enough seating, and on and on.
My complaints with MSP: slow baggage return, and the monorail out to C concourse does not always run, so you gotta hoof it — not so fun with a bag in tow.
I think the biggest problem is the fact that when you pick someone up or drop them off at the airport, there’s nowhere but that dinky Starbucks to socialize and wait. We all have to hover around that baggage claim area.
Other than that, it even connects to the light rail, which should be worth a few points, and I never ride it (and I’m a frequent rider) without seeing someone headed to or from the airport.
I also think there is something suspect regarding this survey. I have been flying 50 weeks a year for the last 9 years and have been in a lot of airports. MSP is definitely not the bottom of the heap. I can think of many airports that are worsse. I agree the wait at baggage claim is too long and there also needs to be restaurant choices for people not going through security, but a low ranking for those things doesn’t make sense. I think the MSP administrators should ask for a recount!
Favorites:
Burbank (small but you get to board from the back AND front of the planes at the same time)
HOU (Houston Hobby) (also small but good amenities, esp. Papasitos Tex-mex)
Tucson, AZ (clean, easy to get around)
LAX (pretty nice especially terminals 1 (Southwest) and 6 (Continental) but terminals 2 (NWA) and 4 (AA) are not so good)
SFO (Very modern and well organized)
MSP (check in underground and use the stealth security checkpoint on the bridge)
Least Favorites
Dulles, IAD (those “moon buggies” are ridiculous)
Dallas (why does the transportation system only go around one direction?)
Kansas City (ALL amenities are outside security)
O’Hare (nearly missed connection because it took almost 30 minutes to RUN from one gate to another)
MSP is a horrible airport and NWA is the WORST airline I have ever flown.
Their staff are by far the most rude of any airline I have ever flown — taking Customer Service to a new low.
Amsterdam is an awesome airport, as are Zurich, Munich, even Incheon in Korea.
I haven’t been there in a while but I think Atlanta should be pretty low on this list too.
Personally I love Burilington, VT — it is small and fast.
Milwaukee gets my vote for best domestic airport. There are a lot of provisions for laptop users, or people who just want to lounge during longer layovers. They have decent food options.
Newark is, hands down, the worst airport that I have ever been to.
Over 4 Million miles flown in my lifetime and having visited over 150 airports worldwide, I would rank MSP in the bottom 20% in the WORLD!!! Poor people movers, crappy luggage carousels, unbelievable waits for luggage and gates, all add up to a total disaster. Detroit used to rival MSP for poorest airport, but the investment in a new concourse has made them 1000% better. It goes to show that you can remodel an airport 50 times and you still have a pig with lipstick…. Should have moved it when we had the chance 10 years ago!!!
I live in Dallas now. Bruin, the DFW train goes around both ways, I don’t know what you are talking about. What I hate about DFW is I rarely fly back to the same terminal I left from, and it can take 20 minutes to get back to my car. MSP ramp is better. DFW is more convenient for picking people up IF you know which gate. MSP baggage claim is pretty bad (SLOW and low ceilings = claustrophobic), but the food is good and I always liked parking. My least favorite is Miami, especially terminal A, which was a complete DUMP but is now being renovated. Washington National is not great, either. O’Hare is terrible for on-time performance, as is any NYC airport. MSP is generally very good, except when a NW flight arrives and can’t get a gate (because they’re early), then can’t get a gate agent to open the door. I never understand that one.
I pretty regularly travel between Washington National, Washington Dulles, BWI, MSP, Boston Logan and O’Hare. I’d definitely say MSP is the best airport of that bunch. My biggest complaint is that the check-in lines at MSP can get pretty ridiculously long. Other than that, the staff seems to be friendlier than most, the security lines move pretty fast (Dulles is awful), and it has by far the best options for food. I don’t understand what Chris and Badaboo think is so great about Munich and Anchorage. I wasn’t impressed with either one. I definitely didn’t appreciate being moved from my gate to the plane on an extremely crowded bus in Munich.
Anyone who has ever had to take a cab from MSP will rank it at the bottom for that reason alone. . . after waiting forever for your luggage you then get to haul it up and down a couple elevators and through what seems like half the airport to get to the cab stand. Meanwhile, those getting a personal pick-up can just walk out the door — guess MSP wants to encourage endless lines of private cars rather than the use of cabs or shared transport! Besides being a personal inconvenience for me, it makes no sense from either a traffic or security standpoint.
Just want to say smoking area in airports would be nice. Atlanta airport is best while waiting for connections. There are smoking rooms on every concourse.
Worst is Lax it would take a hour to go out for relaxing moment for a smoke.
Same for MSP no accomendations.
Kerri Westenberg has globe-trotted for National Geographic and other magazines. Now she zips around the region, on the lookout for travel news you can use.
Chris Welsch has traveled to more than 40 countries on six continents; he is as enamored of the Great Plains as he is of the Great Barrier Reef.
Elizabeth Larsen lived in Salzburg, Austria, and has traveled throughout Europe and the Americas. She can say "diaper," "bottle" and "crib" in four languages.
Troy Melhus has heli-skied on glaciers, dived alongside Monk seals and raced for 24 hours on a mountain bike. All this, and he rarely spends more than $500 on a trip.