Maybe that's the reason nearly half of all corporate travelers have increased their number of flights taken through an alternate airport in the last year, according to a recent American Express survey.
Which alternates are the best? You can ask, but most jet-setters are reluctant to share their favorite alternates. They still remember what happened to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, which used to be Washington, D.C.'s best alternate airport. Now it's one of D.C.'s busiest airports.
That didn't stop me from asking the question again. Below are the top five alternate airports in the largest U.S. metropolitan areas. As in my previous columns about the best and the worst airports for layovers, I used a methodology that leans on the opinions of frequent travelers (and me) rather than on any formal surveys.
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New York — Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). This alternate facility near the eastern Pennsylvania cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, and just over an hour's drive from Newark, N.J., snags my top spot in the New York region. Ticket-to-gate times at Lehigh Valley are just five minutes, compared with about 15 minutes at Newark and Philadelphia. Lehigh Valley is served by several major carriers, including Continental, Delta, United and US Airways. And the traffic getting back up to New York City and the northern New Jersey suburbs is invariably lighter than if you used one of the other alternate airports to the north of the Big Apple. Travelers such as Michael Drabenstott, a consultant in Bethlehem, Pa., prefer Lehigh Valley for more than its proximity to the city. "Parking is cheaper and more convenient, there are fast lines and not much of a walk to the gate," he says. "It's a simple, no-hassles option. I fly it whenever I can."
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Los Angeles — John Wayne Airport (SNA). The terminal named for the late actor lassoes the title for Los Angeles, even though it is about 35 miles — and a world away, culturally — in Orange County. It's served by low-cost carrier Southwest, plus a number of full-service airlines such as Alaska, American, Continental and Delta. Popular destinations in Southern California, such as Disneyland and Newport Beach, are a short drive away. John Wayne Airport even offers curbside valet parking. But what clinches John Wayne's status as the best alternate airport in the L.A. area is its user-friendliness. Everything is right there. "It's small, it's easily accessible, there are never any lines to get through security," says Peggy Mackinnon, who travels frequently to Southern California from Denver. "It has a Red Carpet club and, most significantly, the rental cars are across the street and you do not need to take a shuttle to them."
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Chicago — Midway Airport (MDW). The Windy City's primary alternate airport gets the nod because it's more accessible than O'Hare International Airport and located only 10 miles from downtown Chicago. (The other alternate, Milwaukee, is simply too far away — 1 1/2 hours by car — for it to be much of an option for many travelers.) Midway offers service from a number of major carriers, ranging from AirTran to US Airways. Getting into town is extremely easy, either by cab, car or on mass transit (a one-way fare into town is just $1.50). And Midway has received some serious renovation, adding a new terminal with a two-level roadway, more ticket counters and more baggage-claim areas. "I like Midway because it's had a complete renovation within the last year," says Jack Vonder Heide, the president of a technology company in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. "It's also got the best food court of any U.S. airport."
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Washington, D.C. — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Next time you're in D.C. and you see a jet flying overhead, chances are it's headed for National Airport, not Dulles or Baltimore-Washington. That's how close it is to town. The terminal is particularly convenient if you're trying to reach the suburbs of northern Virginia, sparing you a grueling drive on the Beltway if you're coming from one of the two other airports (or even, heaven forbid, Philadelphia). DCA also has a new terminal with service by no fewer than 14 major airlines. Plus, it takes a good picture. "I consider it one of the most beautiful public spaces of any kind in the country. It has an amazing view of the Capitol and the Washington Monument from almost anywhere in the terminal and a huge, airy design that is modern, but which also feels like a Paris railway station," says Eric Brown, who works for a consumer advocacy foundation in Takoma Park, Md. "The fact that it's 10 minutes by Metro from downtown sets it apart from the rest and seals the deal."
- San Francisco — Oakland International Airport (OAK). This alternate airport takes the prize over San Jose International for two primary reasons. First is its nearness to San Francisco. The airport is almost literally across the bay from the city — about 15 minutes by car. But the best part about this alternate is that it's served by multiple low-fare carriers: Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit. Connections to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) are easy and inexpensive. Oakland International also is embarking on an ambitious expansion that will add new terminal capacity and new gates by the end of this decade, which will make it an even better choice. "I use Oakland whenever I can," says Gary Steiger, a Ross, Calif., retiree. "It's got a much better on-time record, due to better weather, than San Francisco. It's got cheaper parking. The crowds are smaller and the lines are shorter."
Given the choice between using a bigger airport and a backup, which should you go with? It depends. Sometimes you don't have an option. As I mentioned in my "5 best airports for layovers" column, you often can't avoid being shuttled through a big airport on longer flights. But on shorter domestic routes, you have a choice.
My vote's for the alternates. Where I live in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach airports are worthy backups to Miami. I actually prefer them to Miami, because they save me time and — when I land a great deal on Southwest or Spirit — a lot of money.
But that is supposed to be a secret. So don't tell anyone.
Christopher Elliott is the editor of Elliott's E-mail, a free weekly newsletter for travelers. You can e-mail him or visit his Web site.