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Every airport movie, ranked from worst to best.

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10 Great Disaster Movies That Bombed At The Box Office

“that’s so sick”: ewan mcgregor's $197m fantasy box office bomb gets glowing review from vfx artists, 10 things from the star wars original trilogy that haven't aged well.

• The Airport franchise, starting in the 1970s, set the template for disaster movies with all-star casts facing catastrophic events.
• Over time, the films became more outlandish, with larger budgets, but maintained an impact on popular culture and the disaster movie genre.
• The Concorde...Airport '79 faltered due to a convoluted plot, illogical character decisions, and lackluster special effects, tarnishing the franchise's reputation.

The Airport franchise comprises four movies, varying in quality from decent tension to a level of earnestness that invites laughter, thus establishing the franchise as a distinctive time capsule of the 1970s. Based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name, the series kicked off with the eponymous 1970 film, which set the template for the disaster movie genre that would dominate the decade . Each subsequent installment followed a similar formula, featuring an all-star cast facing a catastrophic event aboard an aircraft or within an airport.

One of Hollywood’s biggest movie franchises , the movies’ over-the-top scenarios, melodramatic performances, and sometimes unintentionally humorous dialogue would later serve as fodder for the classic quotable parody film Airplane! . Despite their flaws, the Airport movies remain a fascinating glimpse into the era's cinematic trends and the public's appetite for grand-scale disaster films. As the series progressed, the films became increasingly outlandish, with larger budgets, more elaborate set pieces, and a revolving door of Hollywood stars. While the quality of the films may have diminished over time, their impact on popular culture and the disaster movie genre is undeniable.

4 The Concorde…Airport ‘79 (1979)

Directed by david lowell rich, the concorde... airport '79.

The Concorde...Airport '79 is a movie that exemplifies the pitfalls of a franchise stretched too thin. The plot, centered around an arms-dealing conspiracy, is convoluted and nonsensical, detracting from the survivalist charm that made the previous installments engaging. While the film features plenty of airplane action, the narrative feels haphazard and disjointed, with plot points seemingly designed to pad out the runtime rather than drive the story forward. One of the most glaring issues with The Concorde...Airport '79 is the abundance of characters making illogical decisions . These characters seem to exist solely to keep the movie going.

The special effects in The Concorde...Airport '79 are another point of weakness. While the Concorde itself is an impressive aircraft, the shabby and unconvincing special effects fail to do it justice . The film's climax, involving a harrowing landing on a ski slope, does deliver some excitement, but it is not enough to redeem the film's numerous shortcomings.

Perhaps the most egregious example of the film's narrative failings is the abrupt and unsatisfying resolution of the main villain's storyline. The villain's sudden decision to take his own life at the end of the film feels tacked on and lacks any sense of narrative coherence or emotional impact. This rushed and poorly conceived conclusion further underscores the film's overall lack of quality and attention to detail.

The Concorde...Airport '79 serves as a cautionary tale for the dangers of overextending a franchise. The film's failure, coupled with the release of the best parody movie of all time , Airplane!, the following year, highlights the need for fresh ideas and innovative storytelling in the aviation disaster genre. While the Concorde itself remains an impressive and iconic aircraft, this film fails to do it justice, instead delivering a muddled and unsatisfying cinematic experience .

Rent or buy The Concorde... Airport '79 on Prime Video.

3 Airport ‘77 (1977)

Directed by jerry jameson, airport '77.

Airport '77 takes the franchise in a wackier direction, embracing the craziness of its premise involving an airliner crashing in the Bermuda Triangle. While the science behind the film is questionable at best, requiring a significant suspension of disbelief, the plot involving hijackers and the resulting underwater situation manages to maintain a level of suspense and intrigue . The film's ability to keep the viewer's attention despite its far-fetched premise is a testament to its engaging storytelling.

The all-star cast, though not given much to work with in terms of character development, adds a layer of nostalgia and star power to the film . Seeing these legendary actors, such as James Stewart, in the later stages of their careers is a reminder of the changing landscape of Hollywood. Despite the limited screen time, the presence of these iconic actors adds a certain charm to the film.

One of the more interesting aspects of Airport '77 is the claimed accuracy of the Navy rescue sequence, which is said to resemble a submarine rescue operation. This attention to detail, even if only in one specific aspect of the film, adds a level of authenticity and realism to an otherwise fantastical premise . It demonstrates the filmmakers' efforts to ground certain elements of the story in reality, even as the overall narrative ventures into more outlandish territory.

However, the film is not without its flaws. The pacing can be dreary at times, with the famous actors seemingly going through the motions for a paycheck. The plot, while engaging in its own way, relies heavily on convenient circumstances and coincidences to move the story forward. These shortcomings prevent Airport '77 from reaching the heights of its predecessors in terms of overall quality and impact.

Airport '77 represents a shift in the franchise towards more outlandish and far-fetched premises. While the film manages to maintain a level of suspense and intrigue, thanks in part to its engaging plot and the presence of iconic actors, it is ultimately held back by its reliance on convenient storytelling and a lack of depth in its characters. Despite these flaws, Airport '77 remains an entertaining entry in the series , offering a glimpse into the evolving nature of the disaster film genre and the enduring appeal of its star-studded cast.

Airport '77 is available to stream on Netflix.

These disaster movies that did not perform well at the box office are still worth watching for fans of the genre.

2 Airport 1975 (1974)

Directed by jack smight, airport 1975.

In a departure from its predecessor, Airport 1975 embraces a more gonzo approach to storytelling. It presents a series of seemingly far-fetched scenarios in an attempt to keep engagement high through sheer audacity. While the film's premise and execution may be difficult to take seriously, it is precisely this willingness to push the boundaries of plausibility that makes Airport 1975 a compelling watch.

Many of the most memorable moments from Airplane! find their origins in Airport 1975 , including the subplot involving a nun and a young girl in need of medical attention. The scene where the nun plays the girl's guitar, which was so effectively parodied in Airplane!, is a prime example of how the film's earnestness can be both endearing and unintentionally humorous. This blurring of the line between drama and comedy is a defining characteristic of Airport 1975 , and it is this quality that sets it apart from its more serious-minded predecessor.

Another iconic element of the film is the " no one left to fly the plane " scenario, which has become a staple of the disaster movie genre. While the idea itself may seem far-fetched, the film manages to sell the urgency of the situation through the convincing performance of the stewardess who finds herself thrust into the role of impromptu pilot. However, t he film's commitment to this high-stakes premise is somewhat undermined by the curiously mild depiction of the damage to the cockpit , with only a slight breeze entering through the gaping hole in the co-pilot's area.

Despite these shortcomings, Airport 1975 remains an entertaining entry in the franchise, thanks in large part to its star-studded cast and the sheer audacity of its plot. While it may not reach the heights of the original in terms of dramatic weight or technical achievement, the film succeeds in delivering a fast-paced and engaging adventure. Airport 1975 remains a notable example of the enduring appeal of the disaster movie formula , and a testament to the power of a talented ensemble cast to elevate even the most outlandish of premises.

Stream Airport 1975 on Netflix.

1 Airport (1970)

Directed by george seaton.

The film that kickstarted the franchise, Airport, delivers a decent amount of white-knuckled suspense and melodrama . While the various subplots involving the personal lives of the characters may not always pay off in full, they serve to add depth and humanity to the overall narrative. The real strength of the film lies in its gripping climax, which is enough to want to see what happens next.

The ensemble cast, including Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, and Jean Seberg, brings a sense of charm to the narrative. Each actor delivers a solid performance , effectively conveying the emotional stakes of their respective storylines. While some of these subplots, such as the various affairs, may not always resolve in the most satisfying manner, they nonetheless contribute to the overall tapestry of the film, creating a rich and complex world that feels alive and authentic.

Where Airport truly shines is in its thrilling final act. The tension builds steadily throughout the film, as the stakes are raised when a bomb threat places everyone in mortal danger. The exceptional pacing and expert building of tension during this final act are a testament to the skill of director George Seaton and the talented cast.

From a technical standpoint, Airport is a decently-crafted film that makes excellent use of its budget. The special effects, while perhaps not as impressive by today's standards, were groundbreaking for their time and still hold up well. Airport 's attention to detail, particularly in its depiction of the inner workings of an airport and the procedures involved in air travel, adds a layer of realism that enhances the overall experience.

Airport sets a solid foundation for the films that would follow. It is a strong entry in its own right, offering a compelling mix of drama, suspense, and human interest. Its success at the box office and its impact on popular culture cannot be overstated, as it helped to establish the disaster film genre as a viable and profitable avenue for Hollywood studios. Airport is a well-crafted and engaging film that offers solid entertainment value for its runtime. While it may not be perfect, it remains a strong entry in the Airport franchise.

Airport is available to stream on Netflix.

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Airport Reviews

...a deliberate yet mostly engaging endeavor...

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 9, 2022

Yes, it may be junk, but it's irresistible junk, like cotton candy, chicken nuggets or Gilligan's Island reruns.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 13, 2012

Before there was Airplane! there was Airport, a surprisingly engaging disaster drama that ignited a trend.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 15, 2011

If it weren't for a mad bomber story line, it would be the perfect empty movie for airlines to show on long flights.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Aug 7, 2006

One of the most embarrassing films to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, Airport is a trashy flick that began a cycle of commercially successful disaster movies; its spoof Airplane is far more enjoyable.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Dec 18, 2005

Old-fashioned and fairly stagy, but this great-granddaddy of disaster flicks has an undeniable old-fashioned charm.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 3, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 14, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 2, 2005

On some dumb fundamental level, Airport kept me interested for a couple of hours. I can't quite remember why.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 23, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 27, 2004

It spawned a sub-genre, but it was old-fashioned when it was new.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 20, 2003

Cheesy fun.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 12, 2003

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 7, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 1, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 28, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 1, 2000

"We waste our money so you don't have to."

"We waste our money, so you don't have to."

Movie Review

US Release Date: 05-05-1970

Directed by: George Seaton

Starring ▸ ▾

• Burt Lancaster ,  as
• Mel Bakersfeld
• Dean Martin ,  as
• Capt. Vernon Demerest
• Jean Seberg ,  as
• Tanya Livingston
• Jacqueline Bisset ,  as
• Gwen Meighen
• George Kennedy ,  as
• Joe Patroni
• Helen Hayes ,  as
• Ada Quonsett
• Van Heflin ,  as
• D. O. Guerrero
• Maureen Stapleton ,  as
• Inez Guerrero
• Barry Nelson ,  as
• Capt. Anson Harris
• Lloyd Nolan ,  as
• Harry Standish
• Barbara Hale ,  as
• Sarah Bakersfeld Demerest
• Gary Collins ,  as
• Virginia Grey ,  as
• Mrs. Schultz
• Mary Jackson ,  as
• Sister Felice
• Jessie Royce Landis ,  as
• Mrs. Harriet DuBarry Mossman
• Dana Wynter as

Dean Martin in Airport .

Airport launched the disaster movie craze of the 1970's and spawned 3 sequels. It was also one of the last movies to be produced by the legendary Ross Hunter, whose trademark was larger than life Hollywood glamour at a time when society was rapidly gaining a more casual rock and roll sensibility. This mix of old-fashioned Hollywood sophistication combined with a cynical view of the modern world formed the template for all the big-budget disaster movies that followed. Each of these successive movies featured an impressive cast of famous stars of the past and present.

Adapted from the bestselling novel by Arthur Hailey about life at Lincoln International Airport. This Midwestern hub airport managed by Mel Bakersfield (Lancaster) is dealing with its worst snowstorm in years. Things go from bad to worse when a plane gets stuck blocking a vital runway, a little old lady stowaway is discovered (Helen Hayes in her Oscar winning role) and it is learned that a deranged man with a bomb is on board one of the flights. There is also plenty of melodrama thrown in for extra flavor.

Today this movie seems dated and chauvinistic. Especially the relationship between married pilot Dean Martin and stewardess Jacqueline Bisset, but it is an accurate rendering of the times. George Kennedy adds to the machismo and he has the distinction of being the only person to appear in all 4 Airport movies.

Helen Hayes steals every scene she is in and provides most of the comic relief. Maureen Stapleton, on the other hand, is the emotional core of the story and she has the most dramatic scene in the movie when she rushes through the airport apologizing agonizingly to the surviving passengers for what her husband did.

It's a tad long and a bit slow but all in all the original Airport remains a pretty decent movie.

Helen Hayes in Airport

Patrick is not kidding when he wrote that this movie is chauvinistic. Burt Lancaster's wife is a shrew, who bitches about Lancaster staying too long at work and missing dinner. When married pilot Dean Martin jokingly suggests to his stewardess/mistress that she and her female friends start their own airline, she says that she thought of that, only she does not have a pilot. Dean Martin then makes with this zinger, "With the kind of fringe benefits you girls have to offer, I could get you a crew right now." Gloria Steinem must have loved this movie, where women are only appreciated in the kitchen and the bedroom.

That all makes for some dated laughs but that is also one of the film's flaws. The movie goes on and on about what a miserable marriage Lancaster has. All we need was one little phone call, not two, a flashback montage and a conversation with an attractive co-worker that Lancaster allows to get far too close. When the bitchy wife shows up at the airport and tells him she has met someone else, I lost all interest. Martin's girlfriend telling him she is pregnant and that she does not expect anything from him is groan inducing. I felt nothing for a woman who got knocked up by a man she knew was married and I felt nothing for the married man who impregnated her.

The very best Airport has to offer is the stellar cast. If you know movies, you will have fun seeing so many stars throughout. Patrick appropriately complimented Helen Hayes. Not only does she steal every scene she is in, but she won the Academy Award for best supporting actress. After getting caught stowing away, she still expects to get waited on and even complains about the in flight meal. She easily outsmarts the young man assigned to watch her while they wait for her return flight to take off. Her method for getting onto a plane for free, does however, seem far too simplistic.

Patrick wrote that this film started the disaster craze of the 1970s. Although it ends with one, it is first and foremost a soap opera. It focuses on several melodramatic plots that touch each other more and more as the film goes on. Helen Hayes ends up sitting next to the bomber on the airplane. The film does not become tense until the hour and 40 minute mark, when they try to get the brief case away from the bomber. The scene is unintentionally funny. Stewardess Bisset bitch slaps 70 year old Hayes and a minute later pilot Martin says out loud, where passengers can hear, that the man has a bomb. I want to fly with that airline. No wonder someone thought to parody this mess, and don't even get me started on all of the split screens.

Burt Lancaster and George Kennedy in Airport .

As Eric wrote, this movie feels like a soap opera. In fact, it runs so long that it almost feels like a whole television season's worth of soap opera. They've since done documentaries and spoofs of life at an airport, but I'm surprised that no one has tried to do a dramatic series about it, particularly given the success of this film. There's certainly enough melodrama to go around.

The chauvinism is quite dated and often unintentionally funny, but it also demonstrates what a time capsule this film is. It's no wonder that feminism took off so strongly as a movement in the 1970s when you look at how the women are treated here. In some ways though, the politically incorrect behavior is refreshing. In the PC world of today, studios are so anxious to avoid offending anyone that you almost never see or hear anything like the dialogue spoken by the men in this film.

What really dates this movie however, is the airport security. Or rather, I should say, the absence of airport security. Eric suggested that Helen Hayes' method of boarding the planes for free was too easy, but given that there was basically no security checkpoints, I had little problem accepting that point. Seeing how the bomber was able to take an attache case loaded with dynamite onboard the plane without being questioned, is it any less plausible that an innocent looking little old lady would be able to slip onboard without being noticed?

And speaking of little old ladies, I must add my voice to the chorus of praise aimed at Helen Hayes for her delightful performance as Ada Quonsett. While everyone else at this airport is dealing with extramarital affairs, unexpected pregnancies, divorce and job tensions, she brings some much needed levity to lighten the load. Van Heflin might be playing the bomber, but it's Hayes who hijacks this movie.

This is a soap opera, but then so were all of the disaster films of the 1970s. They always start by introducing the main characters where we learn of some problem or personality trait and then just when we get to know them, some tragedy strikes. It's because of this character buildup before the disaster that we care what happens during the disaster. What makes this movie different is that you can see that they hadn't quite worked out the proper ratio of melodrama to disaster yet. Here it's about 75% to 25% in the wrong direction. Later films in the genre would realize that audiences preferred it more the other way and that you could also combine the disaster with soap opera rather than keeping them separate.

This is a well acted, dated film that plays everything very earnestly. If you can get past that, there is some entertainment to be found. Certainly it could have been improved by chopping out at least 20 minutes of all the soap opera, but even with it all it has something to offer. Perhaps not as much as it once did as somehow this film took in over $100 million at the box office and was the second highest grossing movie of the year, behind only Love Story . Adjusting for inflation that's more than any of The Lord of the Rings films made. It's no wonder that it spawned three sequels. It's only surprising that it took 5 years for the first one to appear.

Photos © Copyright Universal Pictures (1970)

Related Reviews

© 2000 - 2017 Three Movie Buffs. All Rights Reserved.

Airport Review

25 Aug 1970

137 minutes

The first and foremost of the Airport movies, based on Arthur Hailey’s distinctly on-the-nose attempts to write the perfect “airport novel”, here we have the trailblazer for that criminally stupid but splendidly watchable fusion of thriller dynamics with soapy melodrama, crammed with derelict stars. In suspect ways Airport is also one of the progenitors of the blockbuster concept – a film driven by its potential in the market rather than creativity, but being the cheesy antithesis of the frowning, arty groundswell of the seventies, gives it a certain magnificent cache.

Here, the acting is as preposterous as the set-up, although Helen Hayes was granted an Oscar for her sweetie pie, old dame routine as the repeat offender stowaway. The men, although slack around the middle, are square of jaw and face the increasingly fraught circumstances with stoic determination. The ladies, forgoing every tenet of the feminist movement, are either naggy harridans or beautiful young replacements that our chubby middle-aged heroes obviously deserve. After all they do go by such chunky and courageous WASPy monikers as Mel Bakersfield and Vern Demerest.

You have to give George Seaton his due, he and Henry Hathaway who was uncredited for directing the snowy exterior scenes where gung-ho mechanic George Kennedy shifts the stalled jet off the runway to give himself a role for life, really wrack up the tension. Cross-cutting between the earnest moral dilemmas and sweaty disaster elements, they defined a template that — despite Airplane!’s best attempts to sabotage it — are is evident in everything from Armageddon to Titanic. Although, the sad, individualistic motivation behind Van Helfin’s bombing attempt (and what was going on at airport security?) seems a tad tame by the shocking realities of subsequent history.

Still, there’s an unshakeable sense that the film feeds less on any latent paranoia of flying than a secret desire to see a lot of good-looking Hollywood folk go up in flames.

The original was followed by three sequels; Airport ’74 (1974), Airport ’77 (1977) and The Concorde: Airport ’79 (1979) — all followed the same formula but to ever diminishing returns.

Universal, 2 discs, 137 min., G, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $19.98 Volume 27, Issue 6

by D. Liebenson

November 11, 2012

Rating: 3 of 5

1970's Airport cleared the runway for a spate of disaster films. Decades later, it still flies high, thanks to an A-list ensemble cast, loads of hokey (in a good way) dialogue, and a gripping, page-turner of a story based on Arthur Hailey's bestselling novel. Burt Lancaster anchors the film as the unhappily married airport manager whose facility is beset by a blizzard. The venerable Helen Hayes landed an Oscar as a stowaway on an ill-fated flight. Dean Martin is the pilot whose girlfriend, stewardess Jacqueline Bisset, is pregnant. Van Heflin is a sad bomber. Stealing the show is George Kennedy as the cigar-chomping airline mechanic (“That's the great thing about a 707; it can do everything but read”). Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Airport was, even 40-plus years ago, the type of film Hollywood hardly made anymore. DVD extras add to the nostalgia appeal with a pair of featurettes that pay tribute to Universal Studio's 1970s heyday and its tourist-trafficked studio lot. Recommended. ( D. Liebenson )

Star Ratings

As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.

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Directed by George Seaton

The #1 novel of the year - now a motion picture!

Melodrama about a bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved.

Burt Lancaster Dana Wynter Dean Martin Barbara Hale Jean Seberg Jacqueline Bisset George Kennedy Jodean Lawrence Helen Hayes John Findlater Van Heflin Maureen Stapleton Barry Nelson Eileen Wesson Robert Patten Paul Picerni Ilana Dowding Lisa Gerritsen Clark Howat Gary Collins Lloyd Nolan Jessie Royce Landis Sandra Gould Janis Hansen William Boyett James Nolan Peter Turgeon Albert Reed Jr. Dick Winslow Show All… Virginia Grey Lou Wagner Whit Bissell Ena Hartman Nancy Ann Nelson Mary Jackson Patty Poulsen Malila Saint Duval Sharon Harvey Shelly Novack Lew Brown Larry Gates Chuck Daniel Charles Brewer Richard Mathews Cathleen Cordell William H. O'Brien Leoda Richards Ray Ballard Chuck Bowman Eve Brent John Dennis John Francis Harry Harvey Gordon Jump Eve McVeagh Pat Priest Don Ross Marion Ross Mark Russell Frank J. Scannell Susan Seaforth Hayes Allison McKay John Nolan Ron Stokes

Director Director

George Seaton

Producers Producers

Ross Hunter Jacques Mapes

Writer Writer

Original writer original writer.

Arthur Hailey

Editor Editor

Stuart Gilmore

Cinematography Cinematography

Ernest Laszlo

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Donald Roberts

Lighting Lighting

Everett Lehman

Additional Photography Add. Photography

Loyal Griggs

Art Direction Art Direction

E. Preston Ames Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Mickey S. Michaels Jack D. Moore

Stunts Stunts

Nick Cravat Bud Walls Carol Daniels Don Nagel Joe Gray Donna Garrett Dean Smith Bob Yerkes

Composer Composer

Alfred Newman

Sound Sound

Ronald Pierce David H. Moriarty Waldon O. Watson

Costume Design Costume Design

Makeup makeup.

Bud Westmore

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Larry Germain

Ross Hunter Productions

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

Italian English

Releases by Date

05 mar 1970, 25 mar 1970, 25 apr 1970, 29 may 1970, 31 jul 1970, 01 oct 1970, 05 nov 1970, 26 jan 1999, 10 feb 2004, 15 aug 2012, 26 feb 2020, 28 oct 2002, releases by country.

• Theatrical 12
• Physical 12 Blu-ray, Koch Films
• Theatrical PG
• Theatrical G

Netherlands

• TV 6 SBS 6
• Physical 6 Blu ray
• Premiere PG New York City, New York
• Physical G DVD Release
• Physical G DVD Release (Box Set)

137 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Sam ★★★ 12

Despite taking a seemingly long time to get going, Airport is a pretty great movie. It has been years since I have seen this, and it’s nice to revisit. I can see myself watching it every couple of years. It’s very much a product of its time and that isn’t a bad thing. You can really tell that it came out in the early 70s because it’s not exactly a 60s movie although there are many elements that could make it feel like one. It was mostly filmed in 1969 so that would make sense. It’s a really fun ensemble too. You get to see a lot of famous actors from different generations act together and it’s quite entertaining to…

Review by Mike D'Angelo ★★★½

[originally written on my blog]

Funny to read the contemporaneous reviews of this juggernaut (still one of the 50 highest-grossing films of all time, adjusted for inflation—about $550 million domestic in today's money), which almost uniformly treat it as beneath contempt. Wonder what they'd think if I could zip back there in a time machine and show them what today's equivalent looks like. For a big dumb event movie, it's almost surreally adult by current standards, albeit in a shallow, soapy kind of way; even the ostensible "villain" has an utterly banal, real-world motivation for his behavior, never coming across as anything more than a terrified, desperate loser. Nor would any mass audience today tolerate such a slow, patient,…

Review by Dylan ★★★ 4

An unintentionally comedic yet unquestionably thrilling disaster that works as well as it does because it's essentially a quaint thriller, with a deliciously palpable tension lurking over every motive. You know every narrative element after a while, yet you still want to see how it all plays out. It’s super 70s, and I had a lot of fun.

Helen Hayes sashays into her role with glee. She manages to instill mystical, catatonic mystique in her character while keeping the audience captivated as she puts herself into greater danger. I couldn't really get into it since it was too generically comic for me, but she brought life to what could have been a minor character.

Review by JBird ★★★½

Everyone stops by the 'Port, Hoping the lines are real short. Flying is faster, With no disaster, And price gouging at the food court.

Review by HKFanatic ★★★★

"Airport" was released in theaters in the summer of 1970 (and proved a colossal hit), but the film feels entirely out of time, as though it could have been made a decade or more earlier—perhaps I'm just reacting to the movie's perpetual snowfall and Dean Martin's honey-smooth voice, but this might be the one disaster movie I'd call "cozy." Something tells me it's best viewed on a fuzzy analog TV with a cup of hot cocoa in hand.

Review by Dave Edwards ★★★

Representing the birth of the 70s disaster movie cycle, Airport was a huge hit upon its release in 1970. Looking back 50+ years on, the genre obviously evolved, fine tuning the tropes, characters, and plot mechanics, which would all calcify by the close of the decade. While Airport’s pacing might be off a smidge and the script is more interested in developing character dynamics than providing the type of thrills associated with a disaster picture, Airport’s third act is satisfying when the crisis transitions from a simmer to a boil. Dean Martin, George Kennedy, and Helen Hayes (who won an Oscar for her work here) deliver some great performances to help you through the down time and get your pulse racing as Airport reaches its climax.

Review by Ian Curran ★★ 2

It gets a ❤️ for George Kennedy having an orgasm while trying to free a snowbound aeroplane. Im pretty sure George Kennedy’s O face could’ve freed the Suez Canal.

The schlock-father of 70’s disaster movies. It has everything from a sprawling cast, to infidelity ricocheting off the terminal walls. It also has an inexplicably placed office chandelier and open fireplace.🤷🏻‍♂️

It’s strange that a movie which spawned 3 sequels and inspired countless imitators would be one of the worst entries into the very genre it helped popularise.

Its action and pacing are borderline comatose. There’s at least 20 minutes of old women being interrogated by airport personnel. Its use of time is so wasteful.

Review by Erin 🍺 ★★★

We’re Delta Airlines and 🎶 life is a fucking nightmare 🎶

Review by Blair Russell ★★★½ 2

While this is a movie I mainly watched due to it being related to something else I plan on seeing soon, I have all four movies in this series on DVD (purchased for dirt cheap at a used store) and will eventually see all of those on my portable Blu-ray player. As a little kid I actually saw The Concorde... Airport '79 but I'll talk about it when that is revisited later in the year. Based on a best-selling novel, this was nominated for Best Picture which does seem a little silly, although Helen Hayes winning an Oscar for her role I won't carp about as her nice old lady character who happens to be a charming gal that is…

Review by Sally Jane Black

This film's two biggest strengths are an attention to detail and its careful pacing. These are emphasized most as it lingers over the day-to-day of the airport, the mundanities, the little things that are routine. Even as it begins with a major problem or two, it still takes time to fill you in on little things like customs, PR, noise issues, and technical details that are no more than set dressing... and foreshadowing. It doesn't feel forced. Even the over-the-top aspect of the plot is approached with focus and attention. It's a mechanical plot in some ways, something with a lot of moving parts that are easily lost but also easily fit together.

The film's biggest flaws are thematic, of…

Review by Jessica ★★★½ 2

Much more entertaining than I thought it would be, and not nearly as unintentionally funny (to be fair, from what I've heard, this series doesn't double down on the melodrama until the sequels). I thought the stakes (both emotional and otherwise) were actually pretty well done - not infrequently soap-y, but engaging nonetheless. The sets in this movie, particularly the airplane interior and the interior of one of the character's homes (that we unfortunately only see a couple times), are really cool- (mid-century modern) looking. I thought the "disaster movie"-set aspects were done well. I loved the camera-work/editing in this; a lot of split-screens, which I think probably contributed more to the irony than (a majority, but not all) of…

Review by AndrewC ★★★

It's honestly kind of hard to watch Airport after having seen this film be parodied into oblivion by Airplane! , especially as the movie itself stops just one step shy of being a self-parody with how relentlessly melodramatic it is. The first hour and change is almost nothing but wheel-spinning and corny melodrama amongst the gigantic cast, and it's really not until halfway through that the story actually kicks into gear and then the film becomes somewhat interesting. Before that, Airport is honestly a little rough to sit through but it at least has the benefit of having a star-studded cast, with Helen Hayes (in an Oscar-winning role) in particular being a hoot and the likes of Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin,…

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Search Help Home > Movies > Airport

• READER REVIEWS

G George Seaton   Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy 137 minutes

Drama, Suspense/Thriller

Ross Hunter

Distributor

Universal Pictures

Release Date

Mar 5, 1970

Release Notes

Airport had enough plot and enough star power in its cast for three feature films, and it only encompassed about half of the complexity or characters found in Arthur Hailey's best-selling potboiler. Essentially built around 12 harrowing hours at a major Midwestern airport, the film had everything an audience of the period could have wanted -- suspense, romance, drama, and comedy -- all spread across a vast canvas. Mel Bakersfeld (Burt Lancaster) is the manager of Lincoln Airport, facing a night beset by the worst blizzard in a decade, a wife (Dana Wynter) who announces she wants a divorce, a primary runway blocked by an airliner stuck in a snowdrift, and a governing board ready to fire him. Bakersfeld's cynical, smooth-talking brother-in-law, Vernon Demerest (Dean Martin), won't let up on his criticism of the management at Lincoln, but he has his own problems as well, mostly in the form of a young stewardess, Gwen Meighen (Jacqueline Bisset), who is pregnant by him and whom he finds he genuinely loves. Add to that the presence of an old lady stowaway (Helen Hayes) and a mentally disturbed passenger (Van Heflin) carrying a bomb, and there's more than enough plot to keep viewers engrossed for two hours plus. Airport became one of the top-grossing movies of its era, racking up seven-digit box-office numbers and spawning an entire film genre -- the disaster movie. With Jean Seberg, George Kennedy, Lloyd Nolan, Barry Nelson, and Maureen Stapleton filling out the rest of the leading roles, there was something for almost everyone in this film. The movie still has a lot to offer if only as a prime example of Hollywood at its most successfully glitzy, but, if possible, viewers should try and see the letterboxed version of Airport on DVD (released May 2001).~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Airport 1975

A 747 in flight collides with a small plane, and is rendered pilotless. Somehow the control tower must get a pilot aboard so the jet can land. A 747 in flight collides with a small plane, and is rendered pilotless. Somehow the control tower must get a pilot aboard so the jet can land. A 747 in flight collides with a small plane, and is rendered pilotless. Somehow the control tower must get a pilot aboard so the jet can land.

• Jack Smight
• Arthur Hailey
• Don Ingalls
• Charlton Heston
• Karen Black
• George Kennedy
• 141 User reviews
• 51 Critic reviews
• 50 Metascore
• 1 nomination

Top cast 99+

• Alan Murdock

• Nancy Pryor

• Joe Patroni

• Captain Stacy

• Helen Patroni

• Sister Ruth

• Janice Abbott

• Scott Freeman

• Mrs. Devaney

• Major John Alexander

• Mrs. Abbott

• Glenn Purcell

• Sister Beatrice

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Shooting overlapped somewhat with the tail end of production on Universal Pictures' Earthquake (1974) , forcing Charlton Heston , George Kennedy , cinematographer Philip H. Lathrop , and producer Jennings Lang to juggle their schedules between the two films. This film was released first.
• Goofs When the two passengers look out the right side of the 747, they notice fuel leaking from the wing. However, when it reaches the rear flaps, some of the fuel simply drips vertically down off the rear edge of the wing, indicating no rearward airflow to the underside of the wing, revealing the 747 is motionless.

Oringer : Is there much damage?

Joe Patroni : No, not much, theres just a hole where the pilots usually sit.

• Connections Edited into Emergency!: The Stewardess (1975)
• Soundtracks Best Friend Lyrics and Music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton (as R. Burton) Sung by Helen Reddy

User reviews 141

• face-782-656201
• Aug 31, 2010
• How long is Airport 1975? Powered by Alexa
• October 18, 1974 (United States)
• United States
• Airport '75
• Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA
• Universal Pictures
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $3,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 47 minutes

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Airport 1975

January 19, 2023 David Nusair A , Review 0

Directed by Jack Smight, Airport 1975 details the chaos that unfolds aboard a packed airliner after it collides with a small passenger plane in midair. It’s a larger-than-life premise that’s employed to erratic yet mostly entertaining effect by Smight, as the filmmaker, armed with a script by Don Ingalls, delivers an unapologetically broad thriller that boasts a handful of genuinely exciting interludes and scenes – including the aforementioned midair collision and a climactic attempt to drop an experienced pilot into the damaged aircraft’s cockpit. The movie’s watchable atmosphere is, in addition, heightened by the ongoing emphasis on the less-than-subtle exploits of its various characters, including Charlton Heston’s heroic Al Murdock, Dana Andrews’ doomed Scott Freeman, and Linda Blair’s ailing Janice Abbott, and yet it’s equally apparent that Airport 1975 suffers from a palpably thin narrative that’s reflected most keenly in a third act that feels awfully prolonged and padded out (ie certain sequences, particularly those in which Karen Black’s Nancy endeavors to communicate with the ground and maintain control over the plane, just seem to go on and on ). By the time the relatively engrossing finale rolls around, however, Airport 1975 has confirmed its place as a solid entry within the disaster-movie canon that is, predominantly speaking, more hit than miss.

*** out of ****

Charlton Heston , Dana Andrews , George Kennedy , Gloria Swanson , Jack Smight , Jerry Stiller , Karen Black , Linda Blair , Myrna Loy , Sid Caesar

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Airport (1970): Is the Movie Inspired by Real Events?

‘Airport’ is a drama film that narrates the story of Mel Bakersfeld, an airport manager at the Lincoln International Airport. At the height of winter, the airport is always busy, forcing Mel to work overtime on most days. This has caused a rift between Mel and his wife, Cindy, already. But when an airplane is under threat by a suicide bomber, and the only viable runway to land the hostage plane is closed due to heavy snow, the drama in his personal life is the least of Mel’s worries.

Directed by George Seaton, the 1970 film features the talents of Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Barry Nelson, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hays, and Van Heflin. ‘Airport’ incorporates the day-to-day activities that go on behind the scenes at an airport and draws from it to give the viewers a fairly accurate idea of the lives of the people who are responsible for both their safety and ensuring that the flights are running like clockwork every day. But is the narrative of the film based on actual events? If you’re seeking clarity on this, we’re here to shed light on the truth!

Inspired by Real Tragedy: The Backstory of Airport

‘Airport’ is not based on a true story. Director George Seaton adapted the screenplay from the eponymous book by Arthur Hailey. The film follows much the same story with very few deviations from the source material. However, the book supposedly takes inspiration from the tragic incident that happened with Continental Airlines Flight 11 . On May 22, 1962, a Boeing 707 Flight 11 exploded due to a suicide bombing as part of an insurance fraud. The explosion took the life of everybody on board that day.

To maintain the film’s authenticity, director George Seaton captured the film using a real Boeing 707 for the exterior shots of the airplane itself. Every plane that can be seen in the film is actually just one plane, which was leased specifically for ‘Airport.’ In a tragic coincidence, however, the plane crashed almost two decades later, in March 1989, when it was making a landing in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The crash took the life of all three crewmembers and twenty-two people on the ground as the plane veered into a residential area, according to records of the incident.

Aside from its realism in terms of shooting location and a reasonably accurate depiction of airport operations in emergency situations, ‘Airport’ is propelled by the individual talent and the acting prowess of its cast. Leading the ensemble are, of course, the charismatic Dean Martin and Burt Lancaster. Dubbed the “King of Cool” by Elvis Presley himself, Martin had an easy air around him. In an on-set interview , Martin talked about the rest of the cast members and especially praised the acting skills of his co-star Jacqueline Bisset. “She’s pretty and she’s good too. She’s going to be a big star, I think,” the actor said.

Hailed as the harbinger of the disaster film genre, ‘Airport’ went on to have three sequels that were just as successful (‘Airport 1975,’ ‘Airport ’77,’ and ‘The Concorde…Airport ‘79’). Other notable films in the genre in the 70s are ‘The Towering Inferno,’ ‘Earthquake,’ ‘Hurricane,’ ‘Rollercoaster,’ and ‘Moby Dick.’ Though not a true story, ‘Airport’ shows how human intelligence and willpower can persevere even in the face of an unprecedented crisis.

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I have heard that there were several disastrous movies made in the 70s, but I didn’t believe or maybe I underestimated what they meant until I saw this movie, I think the picture quality wasn’t as bad, and the acting was close to average, but overall, spending more than 2 hours watching this movie is one of the worst investments of my life. My dad thinks the only reason why I have a bad review of the movie is that I wasn’t even born the time it was written. Their airport at that time was nothing compared to what we have at the moment and it was almost unrelatable for me. Imagine if it was this generation that the movie was made, I think Guerrero would have tried to board with a bomb. Not the kind of movie you’d want to spend your time on if you’re a millennial like me.

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Review: Airport 1975 (1974)

Wesley Lovell

Airport 1975

Source Material

Review A 747 traveling across country comes face-to-face with a private aircraft whose pilot has a heart attack, crashes into the cone of the plane and leaves the craft flyable, but without professional help. Enter Karen Black, first stewardess on the ship and paramour of a flight control manager played by Charlton Heston, who must combat her fears and get on-the-radio training in not only how to fly the plane but keep it from crashing into the Rocky Mountains.

If the premise seems a bit cheesy, it is. After the huge success of Airport in 1970, it was no surprise there would be a sequel, though a five year absence from the screen seems a bit strange in today’s culture of next-year follow-ups. Still, when you’ve already played the tense drama of high flying danger, it’s hard to make the concept soar a second time and much of what passes for originality here still feels stale in comparison to the original. It’s hard to imagine a lead less charismatic than Heston who seems to be sleep walking through the picture. His performance lacks spark or imagination and you just don’t care if he lives or dies. Black is significantly better, but much of her performance is straight-ahead terror with a few emotional outbursts at intermittent intervals.

The rest of the cast, including first-film carryover George Kennedy, fails to compare favorably to the talent onscreen in Airport. Efrem Zimbalist Jr (the pilot captain) and Dana Andrews (the private craft pilot) are barely in the film; Myrna Loy is charming, but plays a superfluous character; Sid Caesar is patently annoying, Linda Blair feels like she stuck in her own private hell; and how Helen Reddy got top billing over the likes of Loy is astoundingly idiotic. Susan Clark is an engaging presence on screen as Kennedy’s wife, but the dramatic point of her character being on the plane is a bit flimsy. Then there’s Gloria Swanson who plays herself. A sad state of affairs for such a legend, the film is almost like a death knell for her career, a last ditch effort to remain relevant in an increasingly indifferent world where old screen legends began to fade out more quickly than ever before.

It’s little wonder that the Airplane films had such an easy time poking fun at the Airport franchise. The dialogue in this film is fairly flaccid, the plotting facile and several scenes set themselves up perfectly for spoof (like the nearly-verbatim carryover scene where Helen Reddy sings a simple melody to a sick kidney patient and we get a cut-away shot of people peeking over seats and around corners to gaze on with doe-eyes at the happy music). Had this film been made today it would have quickly been labeled a flop and the franchise probably would have ended abruptly. Unfortunately, there are still two more films to go, though I doubt I’ll pick up either any time soon. Review Written October 18, 2010

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UK's best and worst airports named in Which? survey

Liverpool John Lennon airport was ranked top, with passengers describing it as "first class" and "well run". A spokesperson for Manchester Airport - which came bottom - called the research "deeply flawed and misleading".

By Russell Hope, news reporter

Wednesday 30 August 2023 06:24, UK

Liverpool John Lennon has been named the UK's best airport in a survey by Which? - while Manchester Airport came out worst.

The consumer group spoke to nearly 4,000 passengers over the last 12 months, asking them to score airports across 11 categories, including seating, staff, toilets and the dreaded queues at check-in, bag drop, passport control and security.

Liverpool John Lennon scored an overall customer score of 82%, based on a combination of overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend.

Passengers surveyed described the airport as "first class" and "well run", while staff were praised for being "friendly" and "helpful".

London City Airport, which was said to have a "relaxed" atmosphere, came second overall on 78%.

It benefitted from some of the lowest security waiting times in the survey, with an average estimated queue of just 10 minutes.

Only Aberdeen and Southampton, with average wait times of nine minutes each, fared better.

Completing the top five airports were Southampton (77%), Bournemouth (75%), East Midlands and Newcastle (which both scored 72%).

At the other end of the scale, Manchester Airport took the lowest two places in the rankings, with a customer score of just 38% for Terminal 3 and 44% for Terminal 1.

Read more: Explained: Your rights if your flight is cancelled What we know about why airport systems failed

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One passenger complained of "huge queues" at check-in, calling the situation a "joke", while others dubbed the airport experience "crowded, noisy, generally stressful".

It was among the worst performing in the survey for security queues, with an average wait time of 28 minutes reported at Terminal 3.

Only Birmingham Airport performed worse, with an average reported wait time of 29 minutes.

Also in the bottom five were London Luton and Belfast International, tied on a score of 49%. One Belfast International passenger commented that at "every level service or quality is poor".

A spokesperson for Manchester Airport called the research "deeply flawed and misleading", dismissing it as "out of date" and "based on a tiny and unrepresentative sample of the 25 million passengers who travel through Manchester airport every year".

It received a 94% rating, it said, from its own survey of 840 passengers in July and August.

A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport said the survey "highlights the potential flaws of relying on anecdotal estimates rather than data".

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Here is the list of airports ranked best to worst, according to the Which? survey:

Liverpool John Lennon - 82% overall customer score

London City - 78%

Southampton - 77%

Bournemouth - 75%

East Midlands - 72%

Newcastle - 72%

Glasgow International - 62%

Leeds Bradford - 58%

London Gatwick North - 57%

London Heathrow - Terminal 4 - 57%

London Heathrow - Terminal 5 - 57%

Bristol - 56%

Aberdeen - 55%

Edinburgh - 55%

London Gatwick South - 54%

London Heathrow - Terminal 2 - 54%

London Heathrow - Terminal 3 - 54%

Birmingham - 53%

London Stansted - 51%

Manchester Terminal 2 - 50%

Belfast International - 49%

Luton - 49%

Manchester Terminal 1 - 44%

Manchester Terminal 3 - 38%

Airport ’77

“We’ll get that plane down in one piece!” — George Kennedy in “ Airport “

“We’ll get that plane down in one piece!” — George Kennedy in “Airport ‘75”

“We’ll get that plane UP in one piece!” — George Kennedy in “Airport ‘77”

Yup, the plane is already down. Down at the bottom of the dreaded Bermuda Triangle. It was a 747 flight out of Washington, headed for Florida and a big press conference with James Stewart : the millionaire art collector. There were a lot of priceless paintings on board, y’see, and so a gang of hijackers sprayed sleeping gas through the plane’s ventilation system and took over. But then they crashed it into the Bermuda Triangle and it sank in one piece, and now everybody’s under about 30 feet of water and the air is running out.

So “Airport ‘77” isn’t merely a remake of the first two “Airport” pictures, but also of “ The Poseidon Adventure ”. A few more bucks and they could have thrown in “Run Silent, Run Deep.” The movie’s a big, slick entertainment, relentlessly ridiculous and therefore never boring for long.

It has most of the obligatory characters for an Arc Movie: The pilot, needless to say ( Jack Lemmon this flight), and the stewardess he’s in love with, the statesman, the aging glamour girl, the doctor and the Dying Child. There are a few new stock types, if a stock type can be new: the prodigal daughter, the distinguished oceanographer, his alcoholic wife and, of course, the blind piano player (who sings the theme, which is, if I recall, Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder).

The oceanographer is played by Christopher Lee , stalwart bastion of British vampire and voodoo movies, and I kept expecting him to stick pins into Jack Lemmon, but no: He volunteers to try to get to the surface. His alcoholic wife is Lee Grant , who belts down a few doubles and volunteers to go topside, too, and sans Scuba, yet.

Movies like “Airport ‘77” are critic-proof. I mean, whadaya gonna say? It’s not Wertmuller? You’ve got to take these things on their own level, and they’ve finally made one 30 feet under. I maybe even liked this one better than the others, because less time is spent on the characters, and more time is spent on the rescue operations — the Navy is called in to raise the plane as if it were a submarine, inspiring memories of Huey, Dewey and Louie pumping Uncle Scrooge’s sunken money ship full of Ping-Pong balls. It’s definitely not Wertmuller.

So, anyway, we thought we’d have a contest. Think up the best entry and you might win. Write us the plot for the next one – “Airport ‘79.” There are two plots you can’t use, because they’ve been used already: (1) The plane cannot be up in the air and unable to land, and (2) the plane cannot be down at the bottom of the ocean. The pilot can be Dean Martin , Charlton Heston or Jack Lemmon. There does not necessarily have to be a singing nun on the passenger list. Keep your entries down to 50 or 100 well-chosen words, and send them to “Airport 79”, The Sun-Times, 401 N. Wabash, Chicago 60611. We will print the winning entries in Show. The author of the best sequel will receive a copy of the year’s worst sequel, Erich Segal ’s “Oliver’s Story.”

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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The best and worst airports to have an early morning flight, according to a travel expert who flies 200,000 miles a year

• Travel expert Gilbert Ott advises booking early flights to avoid delays.
• The best airports for early flights are well-located and have hotels and good food.
• The worst have limited hotel and food options — if any — and are far from tourist hotspots.

No one wants to wake up before the sun comes up to get to the airport, but taking the first flight out has its perks, says Gilbert Ott, a travel expert who flies roughly 200,000 miles a year.

Ott, who shares his insights on air travel on his blog God Save the Points, told Business Insider that in his experience, the earliest flights are the least likely to be delayed .

"If it's one of the first flights of the day, most of those planes are parked overnight at that gate. They're not arriving that early and getting cleaned and changed," he said.

Ott said some airports can make an early flight a breeze, and others are more likely to make your morning flight feel like a drag.

Based on his experiences, he shared with BI the  best and worst airports  to fly out of first thing in the morning.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is conveniently located and has hotels onsite, making it one of Ott's favorites for early flights.

One of the most important aspects of an airport for an early flight is its location, Ott told BI.

"In so many cities, the airport is so far from where things are happening," he said. "If you get a 6 a.m. flight, the idea of an hour-plus car journey sucks.

So, Ott prefers to fly out of airports like Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). It's only 20 minutes from Downtown Dallas by car.

Ott also said he appreciates that DFW has four hotels at the airport: Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, and Minute Suites, a nap center inside Terminal D.

"I hate getting up in the middle of the night to catch a flight. I find it's often so worth it to sleep at the airport the night before," he said.

While John F. Kennedy International Airport is a trek from NYC hot spots, its TWA Hotel within a terminal makes it one of the best for morning flights, in Ott's experience.

When it comes to airport hotels, Ott prefers when they're in the terminal.

"You just wake up and roll yourself into the departure hall," he said. "That, to me, is early morning winning."

Ott told BI that although John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens is not convenient to get to from NYC's more popular Manhattan borough, it's great for early morning flights if you stay at the TWA Hotel , which opened in 2019, that's connected to the Jet Blue Terminal the night before.

"Having the TWA Hotel has really changed the way people think about JFK," Ott said. "It's a short hop on the air train to all the other terminals. There's a pool, and there's decent food. I would shout that out as a nice option domestically."

With plenty of hotels and food options, Singapore Changi Airport is ideal for an early flight, Ott said.

" Singapore Changi Airport slays," Ott told BI. "Singapore has so many airport hotels for every budget. Some have pools and club lounges with luxury, quality amenities. Others are just basic sleeping pods . Most are in service to help you out 24 hours a day. "

Aside from hotels, the airport has plenty of local dining options, allowing Ott to avoid eating fast food before a flight.

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

Meanwhile, due to its location and hot temperatures I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali is one of Ott's least favorites.

Ott said that I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali (also known as Denpasar International Airport) is one of the worst for early flights because it's typically too hot for comfort.

Online reviews of the airport also mention how hot and stuffy the airport is while waiting to board planes.

According to Kayak, the airport has one hotel, Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai, with 214 rooms.

In March, the flight company AirHelp  ranked the airport as one of the worst in the world. While AirHelp found good food and shopping options, the airport was on the list for its performance. AirHelp cited that customers complained of frequent delays and long lines in many online customer reviews.

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the UK, Ott said London Stansted Airport is too far away from the city and doesn't have hotels within the terminals.

Ott said London Stansted Airport is among the worst for early flights because it can take 1-2 hours to get there from the city center. According to the airport's website, there are also no hotels in the terminals.

In 2023, the travel insurance company  loveit coverit  released a report on the worst international airports in the UK based on reviews and ratings from Google and SKYTRAX, a UK-based site that reviews airlines and airports.

London Stansted Airport received fourth place with a rating of 2.15 out of 5. Customers complained about it being crowded and having inadequate signage. Still, some reviews noted that the food options were on par with those of other UK airports.

London Stansted Airport didn't immediately respond to BI's request for comment.

Ott says small regional airports are generally the worst for early flights because they typically don't have hotels or many food options.

"I think there's just an inherent advantage to being a big airport because big airports can attract retail," he said.

Ott did not point to any specific airports, but some of the smallest in the US are Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky and Morgantown Municipal Airport in West Virginia .

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Where Kamala Harris Stands on the Issues: Abortion, Immigration and More

She wants to protect the right to abortion nationally. Here’s what else to know about her positions.

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By Maggie Astor

• Published July 21, 2024 Updated Aug. 24, 2024

With Vice President Kamala Harris having replaced President Biden on the Democratic ticket, her stances on key issues will be scrutinized by both parties and the nation’s voters.

She has a long record in politics: as district attorney of San Francisco, as attorney general of California, as a senator, as a presidential candidate and as vice president.

Here is an overview of where she stands.

Ms. Harris supports legislation that would protect the right to abortion nationally, as Roe v. Wade did before it was overturned in 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

After the Dobbs ruling, she became central to the Biden campaign’s efforts to keep the spotlight on abortion, given that Mr. Biden — with his personal discomfort with abortion and his support for restrictions earlier in his career — was a flawed messenger. In March, she made what was believed to be the first official visit to an abortion clinic by a president or vice president.

She consistently supported abortion rights during her time in the Senate, including cosponsoring legislation that would have banned common state-level restrictions, like requiring doctors to perform specific tests or have hospital admitting privileges in order to provide abortions.

As a presidential candidate in 2019, she argued that states with a history of restricting abortion rights in violation of Roe should be subject to what is known as pre-clearance for new abortion laws — those laws would have to be federally approved before they could take effect. That proposal is not viable now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe.

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