Airports in USA

Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the largest airports, both in the United States and in the world. It is also one of the top ten busiest airports worldwide. Denver International Airport’s beautifully constructed rooftops, which are said to resemble the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains, are conveniently located just 25 miles (40km) from downtown Denver.

An airport the size of Denver International is sure to have ample shopping opportunities for both domestic and international travellers. Passengers using the airport who are not keen on shopping will find that there are many other activities and distractions at the airport, including beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and a number of commissioned art pieces located throughout the terminal buildings.

United Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines and Frontier Airlines all use Denver International Airport as a hub. Flights to Denver International Airport are available from most airports across the United States, such as LA, Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Chicago; and from many international destinations including London, Cancun, Toronto and Frankfurt.

An airport the size of Denver International Airport is sure to impress even those travellers who think they've seen it all. However, it seems that this airport goes one step further. Not only does the design of the airport highlight the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, but it also has an environmental management system in place that aims to make the airport itself a more environmentally-friendly place - perfect for travellers wishing to keep their carbon footprint in mind.

One of the busiest airports in Florida, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is an important hub for cruise passengers headed to the Everglades, and for connections between the Caribbean and North America.

Second only to Miami International Airport for southern Florida traffic, you’ll find flights to Fort Lauderdale International Airport from cities such as Chicago, New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Boston, Montreal, Port-au-Prince, Cancun, Guatemala City, Nassau and Kingston.

A sprawling structure serving more than 22 million passengers each year, the airport’s four terminals are only accessible by shuttle, but friendly staff members are always on hand to help you get where you need to go.

Facilities and entertainment are adequate and many frequent flyers love its efficient processing times and budget airlines, choosing Fort Lauderdale as a convenient alternative to the bustle of Miami International.

As the main gateway to Hawaii, Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is one of the busiest airports in the United States, with 21 million travellers passing through it each year. The airport is busy with old-fashioned terminal buildings that haven't changed much since they were built in the 1960s.

There are three terminals at Honolulu Airport, and as the airport is not as well-signed as it could be, transferring between them can be very confusing. The Commuter Terminal and the Interisland Terminal serve smaller regional airlines. The Interisland Terminal also sees some flights to and from the US mainland and Hawaiian Airlines' international flights. The Overseas Terminal, also called the International Terminal, serves all other international arrivals and departures.

The city of Honolulu, about five miles (8km) from the airport, has more than 1 million inhabitants and is as bustling as any major city. Although you might want to go further afield for that remote-island holiday, it's a warm and hospitable first experience of Hawaii.

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is conveniently located just 9 miles (14km) from central Jacksonville, on Florida’s sunny north Atlantic coast.

The airport is easy to navigate as it consists of one terminal with two concourses (A and C). A third concourse is planned for the airport, but will only be operational after 2013. The airport is also used by the Florida Air National Guard, so keep an eye out for some impressive military jets.

Jacksonville Airport is used by most North American airlines. Many airports across the United States, such as those in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Baltimore, Chicago, Washington and New York are connected to Jacksonville International Airport.

With loads of shops and eateries, there’s always a lot to do at the airport. Jacksonville International Airport even has an art gallery and live music performances during peak travel seasons. It's the perfect gateway to the sun-kissed beaches of northern Florida.

John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is one of the busiest airports in the United States. It is also the first taste of New York City that most passengers get when flying to the United States. The airport is located in Queens and is 12 miles (20km) from Manhattan, where most tourist attractions are located.

JFK Airport is well stocked with every type of amenity a passenger could ask for. There are loads of shops, restaurants and bars at the airport, as well as hotels, parking and public transport facilities. However, busy airports often forget the finer details and JFK is no exception. Passengers may find it less than user-friendly at times, mostly due to its large size, and the enormous volume of passengers filing through on domestic and international flights (more than 46 million each year).

With eight terminals, flights to John F Kennedy International Airport are easy to come by on most major airlines. Passengers booking flights with American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and Evergreen International Airlines should find it easy to get a flight to JFK Airport as all these airlines use the airport as a regional hub.

John F Kennedy International Airport is not only a gateway to the Big Apple – for many, it is a gateway to the United States. Although big, the airport is well equipped to deal with loads of passengers and using JFK should not be a daunting experience.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is situated in the borough of Queens, 8 miles (13km) east of Manhattan. It is New York’s primary domestic airport, and is the smallest of the city’s main commercial airports, despite the fact that more than 24 million passengers make their way through it each year.

According to a customer satisfaction survey by JD Power and Associates, LGA is ranked last out of 66 US airports. It’s also ranked last out of 31 airports for on-time arrivals. The customs and immigration facilities often come under fire from frustrated travellers arriving on international flights to LaGuardia Airport – so be prepared to queue at peak times, especially after midday.

Despite its downfalls, LaGuardia is a fairly popular airport due to its close proximity to Manhattan. Although not lavishly designed or decorated, the airport is clean and pleasant enough while the staff are generally friendly and helpful. The Port Authority is exploring development options, the result of which may actually lead to the demolition and rebuilding of LGA in an attempt to create a more efficient, smooth-running airport.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is located 16 miles (26km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. As the sixth-busiest airport in the world, it’s hardly surprising that LAX serves as a primary gateway to this region of the United States. Flights to Los Angeles International Airport arrive daily from major international hubs across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

Los Angeles International has nine terminal buildings and on average it serves approximately 60 million passengers per year, and handles more than 600,000 aircraft take-offs and landings. Currently there is a project underway to build an additional terminal building west from the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The terminal will have ten gates, and is expected to be completed in 2012.

As this is a busy mega-airport, queues can be long and chaotic. The best thing to do would be to give yourself plenty of time to get all of the hassles of checking in and clearing customs over with, and then relax at one of the restaurants or pubs and get a nice big meal and a refreshing drink. Then, if you still have some time to spare, you could do a little gift shopping for that special someone.

Located five miles (8km) south of Las Vegas’s central business district, McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the largest airport serving the notorious Sin City, handling a whopping 40 million passengers each year.

Flights to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport come from all over the world. However, the most popular routes are short domestic flights from US cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago and Salt Lake City.

The facilities at McCarran are good, and staff members are friendly and efficient. The newer – and smaller - Terminal 2 has less to occupy your time and fewer places to sit, which can get annoying at peak times. Other than that there are few complaints to be made about the airport, so relax and try your luck at the slots while you wait for your flight.

Situated 8 miles (13km) north-west of downtown Miami, Miami International Airport (MIA) is South Florida’s main airport. Due to a vast number of tourist attractions and sizable local populations, it’s one of the largest hubs in the US and acts as the country's main gateway to Latin America. Having served just fewer than 36 million passengers in 2010, the airport is the 28th busiest in the world, with flights to Miami International Airport coming in from most continents.

Unfortunately, though, the airport has a reputation for being slow and disorganized, especially when it comes to luggage procedures. Passengers in transit often miss flights as they are required to clear immigration before collecting their baggage, after which they must then transfer it to their connecting flight. Moreover, it’s common practice for staff to remove bags from carousels and place them on the floor, leaving passengers to crowd around heaps of luggage and compete for a chance to locate theirs. Signage is lacking and unclear, and many airport personnel speak Spanish only.

However, MIA has a wide variety of eateries, bars and retail outlets to keep layover passengers amused. Musical performers also provide entertainment throughout the airport’s public spaces and numerous wall paintings add colour and vibrancy to the interior of the terminal building.