I've done a fair bit of traveling, and I'll throw in my two cents. This is a lot longer than I intended, for those not wanting to read everything, skip to the last paragraph.
Frankfurt, as depressing and confusing as it is, the planes are mostly on time, as long as you know what gate you're going to, there's no problems. Seeing security guards with Uzis is a plus though. You know they're real security guards, not the rent-a-cops we have here in the states.
Chicago is bad, but not the worst. Oddly enough, I've had my luggage arrive before me three times when connecting through ORD. If my plane is delayed/canceled, why isn't my luggage? Chicago definitely gets the Bermuda Triangle Award for airports.
Newark, the airport isn't bad itself, it is the toxic waste dump that exists right outside. I swear I can hear the Toxic Avenger running around right outside. I hate that place, I avoid having it as my beginning or ending destination if I can at all avoid it. However, it still doesn't make it into the "worst" category.
Dallas/Fort Worth, I'm always kind of surprised whenever this one lands on people's "worst" airport lists. I actually like DFW, and fly American regularly, since it's the main hub for them. The concourses are circular, and don't make sense at how they are laid out in relation to each other, but the gate locations are not confusing and with the new and improved tram system, it's not bad. And the remodeled D concourse is a nice place to relax and booze up in between flights. They don't even bus you out to the "annex" terminal any more, which is fantastic. Back with the old tram system and the annex terminal (A1-A through A1-M), yeah, it was bad, but now? Not even by a long shot.
Philadelphia, oh, this one's bad. It is a major city with a small town's airport. The facilities aren't up the monumental task of getting all those people and planes in and out of the airport. I think I've had more delays going through here than any other airport.
Phoenix airport, there's another bad one. This thing is just too many spokes for terminals, that don't make sense, and I have a sneaking suspicion they have a built in "delay flight" option there. There's some strange time warp there. Planes are late getting in, but on time getting out. I've missed more connections here than I can count.
Los Angeles, the famous LAX. It's getting dated, yet somehow manages to continue to funnel everyone through it with fairly little fuss. While I'm not a fan of LAX, I'm still somewhat in awe of the place. The only real problem there is the terminal for Southwest can only handle about 2/3 the people that go through there. If you're flying Southwest Airlines through LAX, get there early, like "oh damn, is it 3am?" early. Getting your bags checked in there is one of the worst things you'll have to do in a long while. Moral of the story? When flying SWA from LAX, don't check your luggage.
Detroit Metro, oddly enough, I like the retro look for parts of Detroit's airport. There's a tunnel between concourses that reminds me of the entrance to space mountain at Disneyland. It's rather cool(ish), and provides a mildly amusing time sink while waiting between flights. It would be nice if there were better options between the concourses, but it's definitely lacking in that department.
Los Vegas, sin city spills out onto the concourses there. If you don't know where you're going, you're going to have a hell of a time finding the tram to/from the terminals. The signs point to the left...go left, now the signs point to the right... go right... there's the signs telling you left again! Crazy, especially with all the one armed bandits ringing out with the rest of the crap creating a noise level that rivals sitting on the tarmac waiting on the planes. I hope your gate doesn't change there, for you'll never hear the announcement.
Atlanta is a great airport. Four spokes that converge in the center, concourses A-D. It couldn't be simpler. If it wasn't for the fact they like to randomly shuffle the gates on a regular basis (my personal favorite was having the attendant telling us the gate was moved from B6 to C3, we pack up and move from one to the other, only to get to C3 and find out it was really at B4. It's not like the damned gates were far apart, but the collision avoidance dance done in the center of the "spokes" could have been avoided.). The layout is rather simple... that being said, we did have someone get lost on the trip from B to C back to B again.
With all these airports, which one do I hate the most? That's easy. Houston. Yup, Houston airport is far and away the worst. I've had more cancellations, more delayed flights out of Houston than any of the other airports combined. Not to mention it's the only damned place that's managed to lose my luggage, not once, twice or even just four times. I've slept in the airport once... to find out they turn the heat off at night. Thanks Continental for not putting us up in a hotel. Jerks. It seems every time a cloud passes between Houston and Cuba, or Houston and Dallas, they close the Houston airport. And since the airlines are responsible for putting you up for the night for weather related issues, you get screwed. I even pulled a hamstring trying to land in Houston once. There was a Delta airplane that couldn't clear the runway in time, so we had to abort the landing. I was sitting towards the back, adjacent to the rear galley, just in front of where the rear flight attendant sits. When the pilot went into the craziest climb I've been in on a commercial airliner it broke one of the restraints holding the beverage cart in the front galley. It smacked the back of the galley, and since we were in a climb to the left, if shimmied it's way over into the aisle, right as the pilot pulled us out of the bank, but not out of the climb. This sent the beverage cart hurtling down the aisle, right towards the screaming flight attendant. One guy two rows up tried to stop it with his hands and barely slowed it. I managed to swing out both legs and caught it with my feet, pulling a muscle in the process. Neither of the injured party were given so much as a "thank you" note from Continental, even though we clearly saved that flight attendant from severe injury, if not death. As a result from my experiences with Continental and Houston, I avoid both like the plague. I'd rather fly with anyone, through anywhere to avoid it. The last time I had to actually go to Houston, I flew into San Antonio, rented a car and drove there.
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"My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle" - Mal
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When squirrels are outlawed, only outlaws will have squirrels." - PanzerBoxb
