The Washington Post ranked America’s best airports, and somehow San Francisco International Airport did not make the top 10. I realize every ranking depends on methodology, but come on…
San Francisco Belongs At The Top Of Any Best U.S. Airport List
The Washington Post recently published a ranking of the 50 best airports in America, using a blend of reader feedback, Yelp reviews, design features, ease of access, amenities, and overall “vibe.”
As View From The Wing notes, there are some defensible choices. Portland at number one? Fine. Washington National near the top? Also fair. Minneapolis and Detroit scoring well? No objection from me.
But San Francisco International Airport (SFO) not making the top 10 is crazy.
I do not say that as a Bay Area partisan. I do not live in San Francisco, and I am very much aware of SFO’s operational challenges, especially when low clouds roll in (especially now that the parallel runway setup has been suspended). But if we are talking about the passenger experience inside the airport, I cannot think of a nicer major airport in the United States.
In fact, SFO would probably be my number one.
SFO Has Become A Model U.S. Airport
What makes SFO so good is not one single feature, but the overall experience.
The terminals are bright, airy, modern, and increasingly cohesive. The food options are better than most U.S. airports and there are great lounge options, most recently a new Air India Lounge. Even the art and museum exhibits make wandering from gate to gate very interesting.
Most importantly, SFO now works as one connected airport.
I recently walked from the G gates to the A gates after arriving at SFO, and with all terminals now connected airside, the airport feels fundamentally different. SFO notes that all terminals are connected by walkways both pre-security and post-security, meaning passengers who clear at one checkpoint can walk to any gate without leaving the secure area. That is a big deal. SFO has gone from a collection of terminals to a unified airport.
Compare that to some other large U.S. airports where moving between terminals feels like punishment. At SFO, the walk is usually clean, calm, and visually appealing. It is not perfect, but the idea that SFO is outside the top 10 while some far more annoying airports rank ahead of it is hard to take seriously.
Dulles Has Beauty, Nostalgia, And Still Too Much Hassle
Then there is Washington Dulles.
I have a soft spot for Dulles. I lived in Washington, DC, and I still feel a certain nostalgia for the airport. The Eero Saarinen terminal is beautiful and the A/B concourse is bright and pleasant. I will even admit something unfashionable: I like the mobile lounges. There is something wonderfully retro about them, and they are part of the Dulles experience.
And yes, I have a strange affection for the “temporary” C/D gates that are older than I am. But nostalgia is not the same as excellence.
At #17, Dulles remains too annoying to rank above SFO (or many of the others). The train system is maddening because it still leaves United passengers with that long underground walk to the C gates. The C/D concourse is a relic that groans on. Even with the Silver Line Metro, the airport is far from the city. The whole place feels like an unfinished project.
WaPo readers may have rewarded Dulles for architecture, amenities, or local affection. I understand the affection. I share some of it. But if the question is which airport is actually better to use, I cannot put Dulles ahead of San Francisco.
Not even close.
The good news is that Dulles may finally be moving in the right direction.
United is preparing for a major new concourse at Dulles, and if that project finally replaces the tired parts of the airport with something worthy of the Saarinen terminal, IAD could become a much stronger contender in future rankings. Dulles has the bones of a great airport. It has the international network, the architectural identity, and the space to improve.
But today? Nope.
CONCLUSION
The Washington Post’s best-airports ranking includes many reasonable choices, but leaving San Francisco outside the top 10 makes little sense to me.
SFO is clean, beautiful, increasingly connected, full of good dining and lounge options, and now fully walkable airside. I recently walked from G to A, and it only reinforced my view that San Francisco may be the nicest major airport in the United States.
Dulles has its charms, and I say that as someone with real nostalgia for the place. But charm is not enough. Until the C/D problem is fixed and the train-to-long-walk routine disappears, I cannot rank IAD ahead of SFO.
Maybe United’s new concourse will change that. For now, San Francisco belongs near the very top, not #22.
image: San Francisco International Airport
I like Dulles because of the beautiful terminal. It’s historical and nice looking. However, the airport is kind of lousy.
As far as function and pleasantness, SFO is a nice airport. I like it. It’s in my top 10 in the U.S. so I agree with Matthew.
Some smaller no non-sense airports are decent. Albuquerque and Colorado Springs are among them. However, some of those don’t have comprehensive service to major hubs.
BUR for example, my home airport, is so convenient and easy to use – but it’s such a dump and lacks decent concessions and lounges.
I would rank SFO in the top 10 as well. That is until I factor in the never-ending delays and cancellations. Looking at you UA.
Agreed. Until one factors in the never-ending delays. Looking at you, UA!