With the many hours we spend at the airport before boarding, the ever-changing TSA rules, and the inevitable jet lag, air travel can be pretty stressful. That’s why flying out of a premium airport can really make or break your trip, whether it’s for vacation or work.
To find out which airports are the best departure and arrival spots across North America, JD Power got to work. The firm analyzed feedback collected between 2024 and 2025 from more than 30,000 travelers in both the U.S. and Canada. The results crowned a spot well-known to Angelenos in Orange County: John Wayne Airport.
Just over half an hour from L.A., John Wayne Airport took the top spot for overall passenger satisfaction among large airports in North America. Travelers praise its roomy terminals and faster-moving lines compared to other major airports.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles International Airport might be famous for celebrity sightings, but that doesn’t make passengers any happier. LAX ranked 15th out of 20 mega airports and dropped two spots from last year’s rankings.
Among other large airports in California, Sacramento International Airport ranked 11th out of 27 nationwide, followed by San Jose International Airport at 14th, San Diego International Airport at 15th, and Oakland International Airport at 21st.