Lee Abbamonte describes airports as ‘a mandatory evil’ – the place he goals to spend as little time as doable.
However some are much better than others, and as somebody who has been to over 700 airports worldwide, together with each single one in America, the 45-year-old jet-setter is in a novel place to guage.
As New Yorker who lived in Manhattan for 21 years, Abbamonte says he has private beef with the Large Apple’s three main airports – notably John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in Queens.
‘Site visitors will be an absolute nightmare,’ the journey influencer stated in an interview with DailyMail.com – including that from Manhattan, attending to the airport can take from half-hour as much as about two and a half hours.
However there’s one US airport he takes specific umbrage with: Miami Worldwide.
Lee Abbamonte, 45, has been to each nation and each US state no less than thrice
‘That airport is simply completely abysmal. It is previous, it is gross. And if you need to join there, oftentimes you need to undergo safety twice as a result of the terminals do not essentially join and the strains are actually lengthy,’ Abbamonte stated.
He stated he’d had two flights out of Miami canceled for no obvious cause after hours-long delays. And on one event an enraged fellow passenger was arrested following a violent outburst, and after hours of ready the flight was nonetheless canceled.
‘Simply an absolute full s**t present, six hours of my life simply utterly wasted. And you are not even actually given a cause,’ Abbamonte stated.
It is maybe unsurprising, subsequently, that when not too long ago compiling his high 20 airports worldwide, not a single US metropolis made the checklist.
However to assist home vacationers scout out the most effective spots, he has now supplied DailyMail.com a listing of his ten favourite US airports.
1. Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport
This airport – one Abbamonte has flown out and in of ‘1,000,000 occasions’ – tops his checklist of favorites for a large number of causes.
He lives in Los Angeles now, and Phoenix is simply an hour and a half away by aircraft. Being an avid golfer, he stated he is by no means had an issue checking his golf golf equipment when he goes to the Arizona metropolis to tee off.
‘There’s by no means numerous site visitors, the safety strains are negligible,’ Abbamonte stated.
‘Each time I’m going to Phoenix, it is only a breeze. The individuals who work there are usually fairly good. You get numerous retired folks simply moonlighting, chilling out.’
Serving 48.7 million passengers in 2023, Phoenix is without doubt one of the busiest airports on the checklist. It is a hub for American Airways and provides nonstop flights to greater than 125 locations world wide.
An indication shows an an unofficial temperature as jets taxi at Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport at nightfall on July 12, 2023
2. John Wayne Airport: Orange County, California
Initially named Orange County Airport, it was renamed in 1979 after actor John Wayne died that yr. Recognized for enjoying gunslingers and cowboys in western films, Wayne lived in Newport Seaside, a neighborhood close to the airport.
Surrounded by the cities of Irvine and Costa Mesa, the airport is about 41 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
Abbamonte described it as the right airport to fly out from for locals who don’t need take care of the hustle and bustle of LAX, one of many busiest airports within the US.
It is also a superb possibility for vacationers flying in who do not essentially wish to be in downtown Los Angeles however are in search of a extra laid again expertise in Newport Seaside, Laguna Seaside or Anaheim.
John Wayne is simply too small to be a hub for any specific airline, however it served 11.7 million passengers in 2023.
Aerial view of John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, on Thursday, Might 11, 2017
3. Palm Springs Worldwide Airport: Palm Springs, California
A inexperienced oasis in the course of the southern California desert, Palm Springs was integrated in 1938 and shortly turned a preferred getaway for Hollywood stars seeking to keep away from the prying eyes of gossip journalists.
Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and lots of different well-known folks have been frequent guests.
Palm Springs additionally occurs to be considered one of Abbamonte’s favourite locations within the nation. He loves it as a result of its an enormous golf vacation spot like Phoenix, however it additionally has nice climate and the folks there are dedicated to an outdoorsy life-style.
A lot in order that even the airport is exterior.
‘It is an out of doors airport as a result of the climate’s stunning there. It is at all times heat and the gates are exterior,’ Abbamonte stated.
He added that when you contact down, you are proper in the course of Palm Springs, making it simple to get to wherever you wish to go.
Palm Springs Airport served 3.2 million passengers in 2023, a leap of practically 9 p.c from the yr prior.
Palm Springs Airport is exclusive as a result of since its climate is so average, every part, embody the gates the place passengers wait for his or her flights, is exterior
4. Jackson Gap Airport: Teton County, Wyoming
Jackson, a ten,000-strong city in Wyoming’s Jackson Gap valley, is a paradise for winter sports activities, boasting three upscale ski resorts with summits as excessive as 10,450 toes.
The city is residence to the Grand Teton Nationwide Park and is inside driving distance to Yellowstone Nationwide Park.
However guests who determine to remain can trip at its many dude ranches or just stroll round city and marvel on the nice views of the encompassing the Teton mountain vary.
The airport itself is within the foothills of the Tetons, which in accordance with Abbamonte, makes for an exhilarating touchdown.
‘It is simply this beautiful, stunning airport to land in,’ he stated. ‘And also you stroll out of your your aircraft and also you’re…taking a look at snow capped peaks behind you. It is simply beautiful.’
Jackson Gap Airport is the busiest airport in Wyoming and had about 706,000 arriving passengers in 2023, in accordance with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Jackson Gap Airport sporting a extra rugged look than most airports within the nation. On high of being a preferred snowboarding and mountain climbing vacation spot, Jackson Gap is thought for large recreation looking of elk, antelope, bison and lots of different animals
5. Kona Worldwide Airport: Kalaoa, Hawaii
Kona is one other outside airport and like Jackson Gap, Abbamonte stated touchdown there’s a nice expertise due to its proximity to the lava fields of the island of Hawaii, usually referred to as the Large Island.
‘I simply love Kona, flying in there’s cool, you’re feeling such as you’re touchdown within the ocean or in a lava area after which swiftly you are there.’
The Large Island has Volcanoes Nationwide Park, and the island has change into Abbamonte’s second favourite vacation spot in Hawaii after Maui
He added that the airport is small, environment friendly and much more manageable than the one in Maui.
Kona Worldwide Airport served upwards of three.7 million passengers in 2023.
Kona is one other airport with outside gates, like Palm Springs Airport
6. Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport: Arlington, Virginia
Ronald Reagan Nationwide Airport is the busiest in Washington D.C., serving barely extra passengers than Washington Dulles Airport.
Reagan can also be a lot nearer to Washington than Dulles, and is linked to town’s metro system, whereas Dulles will not be.
BWI, the opposite airport that serves the D.C. space, is even farther from D.C. and is definitely far nearer to Baltimore, Maryland.
Abbamonte places it extra harshly.
‘Dulles sucks. BWI sucks,’ he stated. ‘Dulles and BWI are whole nightmares in case you’re going into D.C.’
Plus, once you fly into Reagan, he stated you get nice views of the Nationwide Mall and the White Home.
President Invoice Clinton signed a invoice in 1998 naming the airport in honor of Ronald Reagan.
The airport is a hub for American Airways, has 98 nonstop locations and served 25.5 million passengers in 2023.
Passengers stroll by means of at Reagan Nationwide Airport initially of the Memorial Day weekend in Arlington, Virginia on Might 26, 2023
7. Harry Reid Worldwide Airport: Las Vegas, Nevada
Harry Reid Airport is considered one of two airports within the US that has slot machines ready for travel-weary passengers as quickly because the step off the aircraft (with Nevada’s Reno-Tahoe Worldwide Airport being the opposite).
Apart from instantly satiating guests’ must gamble, the airport is without doubt one of the busiest in America and in Abbamonte’s opinion, a reasonably environment friendly one too.
It served a record-breaking 57.6 million folks in 2023, which was solely barely behind the 62.5 million that flew by means of John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. It is also a hub for Southwest Airways.
‘I like Las Vegas, I am an enormous Vegas man, I am there like as soon as a month,’ Abbamonte stated.
He added that rideshares and taxis selecting up passengers there have set costs now, which prevents you from getting ripped off by cabbies.
In fact, most individuals who undergo the gates of Harry Reid Airport finally head to the Las Vegas Strip, however there are different locations close by to go to, together with the Crimson Rock Canyon Nationwide Park and the Hoover Dam.
A aircraft takes off from Harry Reid Worldwide Airport close to casinos alongside the Las Vegas Strip on Wednesday, September 29, 2021
8. Key West Worldwide Airport: Key West, Florida
Key West, an island metropolis with the excellence of being the southernmost level within the continental US, is without doubt one of the hottest home trip locations.
Key West is primarily identified for its many seashores and vibrant nightlife, however it additionally has some shocking bits of historical past.
As an illustration, the home Ernest Hemingway lived in on the island from 1931 to 1939 has since been became a historic website.
There’s additionally the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, the place guests can see the Civil Conflict-era fort named after the twelfth US president.
Key West’s airport is small and has a relaxed vibe, in accordance with Abbamonte.
There’s additionally sand bar on the airport, which he stated he has by no means seen at every other airport.
It is without doubt one of the busiest small-sized airports within the nation, serving 1.2 million passengers in 2023.
Key West’s airport is without doubt one of the busiest small-sized airports within the nation, serving 1.2 million passengers in 2023.
9. Glacier Park Worldwide Airport: Kalispell, Montana
This airport is within the northwest of Montana, and is a heartbeat away from Glacier Nationwide Park, which Abbamonte stated is ‘among the best nationwide parks within the nation.’
The city of Whitefish has additionally change into a preferred vacation spot for individuals who like to fish.
He calls the world an important place for ‘higher class winter enjoyable,’ although there’s additionally stuff do to in the course of the summer time months, together with golf.
The airport served roughly 790,000 passengers on home flights in 2023.
Inside eating space of Glacier Park Worldwide Airport
10. Gerald R. Ford Worldwide Airport: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Abbamonte stated this airport is ‘one of many cleanest’ he has ever been to, and it is near town of Grand Rapids.
The airport was named after President Gerald Ford in 1999, after rising up in Grand Rapids and later serving as US Congressman from Michigan from 1949 to 1973.
Contained in the airport, there’s a museum devoted to Ford and what he did for Michigan that Abbamonte discovered ‘healthful.’
‘I’ve solely been there twice, so I am hardly an knowledgeable on it,’ he stated. ‘It was only a clear, environment friendly, nice airport.’
Abbamonte described the airport as ‘healthful’ and one of many cleanest he is ever been to
