The results are in: America's best airports have been decided by a rigorous ranking created by consumer insights company J.D. Power. The 2021 Airport Satisfaction Index considers six major factors to determine how happy travellers were with the service at the biggest airports in the US. Taking into account the terminal facilities, accessibility, baggage claim service, security checks, check-in and baggage check experience as well as the food, beverage and retail offering, these airports came out on top.

If you're flying to the Caribbean, it's likely you'll do it from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International in Florida. From here, you can get to the likes of Kingston, Jamaica, Freeport in the Bahamas and even Barbados. Rounding off the top 30 with 793 points out of a possible 1,000, there are definitely areas the airport could improve on, like waiting times and cleanliness.

Joining Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International in 30th place, Denver International is a well-loved hub that's dropped a few places in the ranking since last year. Whether travelling through en route to other destinations or stopping here for city breaks and skiing, travellers find this airport just about average.

Houston's second-largest, William P. Hobby Airport scores just 794 points. Its first terminal, built in 1940 in Art Deco style, is now a museum, while its newer terminals have declined in service, that's been praised as very efficient in previous years.

The largest of the three main airports in the Bay Area, San Francisco International is a busy gateway to Europe and Asia. International visitors can face major delays with immigration and security which may be why this airport has been rated slightly below the mega-sized airport average, scoring 796 points.

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Scoring just two points below average, same as San Francisco, Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina is a busy airport and a major gateway to the Caribbean islands. Travellers like the well-organised, comfortable terminals as well as the rocking chairs, but some areas can still be improved, like baggage delivery times.

Officially the second busiest airport in the world in 2020, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta moved a whopping 110 million passengers through its seven concourses in 2019, although that figure decreased by 61.2% last year due to the pandemic. This year it's scored a respectable 798 points, with seating availability and cleanliness left to be improved.

Coming in joint-25th place also with a score of 798 is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. It boasts modern, well-planned terminals which make for mostly satisfied travellers. While kids love the musical Light Tunnel that connects the concourses in one of its terminals, adults enjoy the shopping and food and drinks services.

Sitting on a par with Chicago Midway International with a score of 800, Kansas City's airport is also one of the smaller members of the large airport category, with just 11.8 million passengers passing through in 2019. It's set to increase in size, though, with a brand new $1.5 billion (£1.1bn) terminal on the way which is due to open in March 2023.

It might be Chicago's secondary airport, but Midway claims to be the 'busiest square mile' in town, with its criss-crossed runways and more than 232,000 flights in 2019. The airport scores slightly below average for large airports at 800, with complaints from passengers online saying it's outdated and that renovation works are constant.

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George Bush Intercontinental Airport, so named because it flies to all six of the world's inhabited continents, is located in Houston, Texas. It scores a few points above average at 801, largely thanks to the Skyway and Subway transportation systems which help ease the movement of passengers between terminals and the airport hotel.

One of the smaller large airports, with around 15.9 million passengers in 2019, St. Louis Lambert International has starred on the big screen numerous times. It was featured in Planes, Trains and Automobiles in 1987, and The Silence of the Lambs was shot here in 1991. Passengers were less thrilled by this cinematic location, giving it an ok score of 801 points.

Don't let the name fool you – Washington Dulles isn't all that close to Washington DC. Around 27 miles (43km) from downtown, it's a fair old slog to get to the city from here, yet despite this the transportation hub scores fairly well on the satisfaction index, with 802 points – just three points below the average for large airports.

Sacramento International serves northern California's state capital and destinations such as Yosemite National Park and the Napa Wine Country. Described as an "easy-in, easy-out" airport, it shares the 19th spot with Washington Dulles. Travellers rate it highly for ease of access to parking and its well-organised, efficient service.

Oregon's biggest, Portland International comes in 18th, a significant fall from grace as it won its category in 2019 and was fifth last year. Although reviewers mention easy parking, good food, handy charging stations, punctual flights and even spectacular sunset views, customers seem especially dissatisfied with the airport staff.

The small but busy Ronald Reagan Washington National is a convenient city-centre airport. It's come on in leaps and bounds since last year's satisfaction index, going from a poor score of 790 to a respectable 804 points. It's also got a pretty neat location too, sitting right on the Potomac River bordering Washington DC and Arlington, Virginia.

The main airport serving both Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, this hub comes in 16th. From here, travellers can reach 193 domestic and 67 international destinations and it has numerous international airlines stopping at its gates. Its score of 805 cements its status as one of the higher-performing mega airports in North America.

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As the main airport serving Las Vegas, it might not surprise you that Harry Reid International (formerly McCarran) is one of two airports in the USA to have slot machines within its terminals. Whether it's this that makes it a hit with travellers or its great restaurants and shops, is unknown, but it's scored a well-earned 806 points.

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Winning the 2020 rankings for the mega airport category, Phoenix Sky Harbor International has dropped a few spots with a score of 808. It's one of the largest commercial airports in the USA, situated just three miles (5km) from downtown Phoenix, and is both a military and civilian airport, with airlines like Southwest and American, as well as international carriers such as British Airways and Air Canada, serving its gates.

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Just a two-hour drive from around 60% of Florida's population, Orlando International is a well-used and much-loved airport among travellers to and from this state. It has been a trailblazer, as the first in the States to use automated kiosks at passport control, and has ranked at the number one spot in this list in the past. Its score of 812 might put it only in 14th place, but it's one of the best-scoring mega airports on the list.

Just eight miles (13km) from Downtown San Antonio, this international airport scores just above average for large airports. At 813 points, the Texan airport hasn't changed much which is something customers appreciate. Travellers also rate the accessibility of public transport and the availability of help services very highly.

Another Californian airport, San Diego International is popular with travellers for its simple, easy-to-navigate layout. It's ideal for creatively-minded travellers, with an arts programme that has seen the airport covered in a range of permanent installations. Since last year's fiasco when San Diego slipped to 22nd place with a below-average score in the large airports category, it's improved and scored a respectable 814 points.

Minneapolis-St Paul International has been jumping up and down the scoreboard in the recent years and now it's 10th with 815 points. Serving the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, this airport has clean, well-organised terminals to aid the movement of passengers.

The busiest of New York's international airports, and one of the busiest in the USA, JFK flew passengers to 74 countries in January 2020, with more than 34,000 flights that month. It's come a long way in the rankings over the years, scoring 817 points this year. Travellers appreciate the wide choice of food and shopping options in this huge airport.

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Also in the state of Texas, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport finished substantial renovation work in February 2019, which may have helped it increase its satisfaction score to 804 in the 2020 rankings and now even further to 819 points. Reflecting Austin's young and eclectic style, passengers can find a live music stage and art installations in the main terminal.

As you'd expect for an airport serving the Music City, Nashville International's passengers give it good reviews for its live music and great food and bars. It scores a great rating of 820, no doubt partly due to its vibrant atmosphere and friendly staff.

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Close to the city it serves, Salt Lake City International Airport scores an impressive 826 points. In September 2020, it opened the first part of its $4.1 billion (£3bn) renovation project: a concourse which includes extensive parking space, high-tech technology at security gates and modern waiting areas. Works are due to be completed in 2024, which may send the airport higher and higher in the customer satisfaction rankings.

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Miami International is south Florida's main airport and one of the busiest in the US for international passengers, with a large proportion of flights to Latin America and the Caribbean. It's really improved in terms of customer satisfaction recently, and with a score of 828, is the best out of America's mega airports.

Dallas Love Field was the city's main airport until 1974 when Dallas/Fort Worth was built and is the home of Southwest Airlines. Regular travellers love this smaller and less hectic alternative for ease of access and friendly staff. It slips down a few places as it won the large airports category last year, but still scores a very good 829 points.

Raleigh-Durham Airport in North Carolina serves the growing area that consists of Raleigh, Durham and the so-called Research Triangle, scoring 841 satisfaction points out of 1,000 – a huge rise from last year's score of 799. Notable features are clean, spacious waiting areas with lots of natural light and friendly staff.

Tampa International Airport in Florida scores an excellent 843 points, missing out on the top spot by just one point. It has a modern, efficient design where one landside terminal smooths the flow of its passengers to four airside terminals, using an elevated people-mover rail system.

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In November 2019, New Orleans airport debuted its shiny new $1.3 billion (£978m) terminal, a modern and light-filled building which took design inspiration from the shape of the Mississippi River. Including 35 new gates serving 16 airlines, the high-profile expansion has seen the airport shoot up in the rankings and earning it the title of America's best airport with 844 points.

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