Best and worst airports for a layover, according to a frequent flyer

Ott said Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the best for layovers because there are many premium lounges.

“It’s one of those places where if you do have a layover and you really need to kill time, there are both top-notch lounges and an airport hotel directly in the terminal,” Ott said.

Ott said one of his favorite lounges in the US is DFW’s Capital One lounge. Amex Centurion and Delta Sky Club also have lounges in Dallas, and a Chase Sapphire Lounge is set to open there in the future.

According to Ott, smaller airports are generally the worst for layovers.

“I think there’s a just inherent advantage to being a big airport because big airports can attract retail,” he said.

For example, Ott told BI he often has layovers at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky.

“I’ve been there a lot. It’s not a fun place to wait for flights,” he said. “You have nothing to do.”

In 2019, BI’s Katie Warren reported that the Kentucky airport was the smallest she’d ever been to, with just two runways.

However, travelers with a tight layover may appreciate that Blue Grass Airport has the shortest walk to the gate in the US at just 0.11 miles.

“I like Seattle-Tacoma Airport because they’ve done a really good job of cultivating more local stores and Seattle-centric things,” Ott said. “If you’ve got an hour and 45 minutes, it’s easy to kill time there.”

Ott added that he’s enjoyed sifting through records at a music store during layovers and sampling Washington state wines at a bar.

Business Insider previously reported that the airport’s shops reflect the Pacific Northwest experience, with stores like Show Pony, Made in Washington, and Discover Puget Sound.

“It doesn’t feel as sterile and generic as some airports. You actually get a sense of Seattle. It’s not just an airport somewhere,” Ott said.

No one wants to put their trip on pause over delays and cancellations — especially in a connecting airport.

According to Ott, this may be more likely to happen when flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia due to frequent storms. And the fact that it’s the busiest airport in the world probably doesn’t help. BI previously reported that the airport has had mass cancellations in summers and winters due to storms.

“I’ve had hellacious experiences in Atlanta because of the weather,” Ott said. “It’s a good airport in the sense that there are lots of flights and places to kill time. It’s a bad airport in the sense that it’s caught up in more storms than most airports.”

Ott added that the airport has plenty of amenities but can be overwhelming to navigate.

“There are so many terminals, and you’re taking a tram everywhere. They have some nice stuff in them, but it’s a hike,” he said.

According to Ott, some airports don’t allow passengers to travel between terminals they’re not departing from.

Since many travelers don’t leave the airport between connecting flights, waiting to board can be a drag for those flying out of terminals with few shops, restaurants, and amenities. Ott told BI that international terminals typically have better amenities than domestic ones.

But the terminals are connected at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is why it’s one of Ott’s favorite airports for layovers.

“If you’re domestic itinerary, you can still go to the international terminal, which has better food, shops, and lounges,” he said. “You can kill time at LAX for hours.”

LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) was updated in 2023. BI previously reported that the terminal has comfy seating — each with its own power ports — a range of food and bar options, and an exceptional Sky Club.

The upgrade included adding a walkway connecting Terminal 3, which also received an upgrade, to Terminal B. The walk takes five to 20 minutes, so there’s no need to catch a bus. This is an especially useful perk for those catching an international connecting flight.

“London Heathrow Airport is an atrocious airport for connections — one of the worst in the world, by far,” Ott said. Why? Getting from one terminal to another is a journey in itself.

“Some terminals are miles apart, and there is no tram that runs between all of them,” he said.

For example, Ott said if you land in Terminal 3 with British Airways, you may connect in Terminal 5.

“You have to go through Terminal 3 and take a bus, which can take up to 30 minutes to arrive. Then, you’ll take a long bus ride all around the airport to the other side,” he said. “And then you may still end up with another tram or bus ride because Terminal 5 has three terminals within it — A, B, and C. It’s an impossible airport for short connections.”

According to the airline’s website, traveling from one terminal to another can take up to 40 minutes or longer, depending on where you’re headed.

“For best, Singapore Changi Airport is just untouchable,” Ott said.

Ott added that the airport has multiple hotels, local art shops, and no shortage of things to do, see, and eat.

“Some of the best local food is at the airport because the famous places in Singapore set up locations there,” he said.

There’s a movie theater, a pool, a butterfly garden, and a wide range of shops.

But the real spectacle is probably the Jewel. The retail and entertainment complex, connected to Terminal 1, is home to activities like a ropes course, hedge maze, and topiary walk. The centerpiece is the Rain Vortex — the world’s largest indoor waterfall spanning seven stories.

“You can spend an hour just looking at that,” Ott said of the Rain Vortex. “I would have a layover there any day.”