What customers dislike the most about flying depends upon which survey you consult.
A 2015 TripAdvisor study found that most respondents listed cancelations and delays as the most frustrating experience about flying.
A Champion Traveler Survey also found that the biggest annoyance of air travelers was delays.
And, in a 2017 survey by Air Fare Watch Dog, almost 50% of respondents lamented the preboarding process, such as checking in and getting through security.
Unfortunately, the Florida airport that was listed as the state's "worst" in the summer of 2023 has been mentioned as suffering from all of the above - although customers have mixed reviews. I'll tell you why below
The Florida Rentals Survey - What It Measured?: In July of 2023, Florida Rentals released a list of what it said were the five worst airports in Florida. To do so, it looked at flight delays, the number of scheduled flights, hotel prices, and the percentage of canceled flights.
Why Did Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) Rank as The Worst Airport in Florida?: Punta Gorda Airport is a smaller airport located in South Florida and services Florida's southwest coast. Unfortunately, PGD's rankings were damaged because Florida Rentals found that it had 24% of flights were canceled.
Additionally, there was an average 21-minute delay when taking off and an average 46-minute flight delay when arriving aircraft was late.
In contrast, the best airport - Melbourne Orlando International (MLB) averaged only an 8-minute delay.
Mixed Reviews: Customers on airline equity.com give PGD 1 out of 5 stars, citing loud noise which allegedly caused one user to miss their flight, inconsistent rules, and a lack of seating for seniors.
One reviewer wrote in April of 2023, in part:
"Long lines. Unable to hear employees calling for flights that need passengers to skip to the front of lines that are 1 hour long. Missed my flight because they can’t communicate with passengers...I couldn’t get a new flight for 2 days. I sat and waited for my ride to come back and get me, and I then witnessed an employee walk around and shout the names of 3 destinations whose flights were needing to have customers go to the front of the line immediately to check-in. I was furious because had it been done sooner, I could’ve been on my way home with my seven-year-old - who was sobbing because he couldn’t go home to his dad. I will never use this airport again. I am so frustrated."
Interestingly enough, Google Reviewers give PGD 4.5 out of 5 stars with many saying that the airport is easy to navigate and has shorter wait times due to its small size.
One reviewer in 2022 wrote, in part:
"Punta Gorda Airport is such a neat little airport! If you’re looking for very reasonably priced flights to get to southwest Flordia, fly in here and grab a car! They have a cute little snack shop outside, Flybriary, amazing parking for both short and long-term options, and you can get in and out super quick! The place was easy to navigate, and the staff was very friendly!
The Rest of the List: Although PGD ranked lowest, four other airports were also on the list of the 5 "worst" airports in Florida. Interestingly enough, most on the list are smaller airports. Here they are:
2: Orlando Sanford International (SFB)
3: St. Pete Clearwater International (PIE)
4: Northwest Florida Beaches International (ECP)
5: Destin Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
Opposing Opinion: Florida Rentals is one publication, but for objectivity, we can look at another survey. In June of 2023, Forbes measured the worst airports for summer travel.
Orlando Sanford International Airport was named the worst, as it had the lowest percentage of "on-time flights." St. Pete Clearwater International Airport ranked as the second worst, and Orlando International Airport was the third worst.
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