O’Hare Ranks Much Higher on Stressful Airport List Than You Think

Chicago O’Hare Named Most Stressful Airport in America

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: flying is stressful.

I don’t care if you’re flying out of your own private airport and airfield; the mere act of it makes me sweat.

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Why Flying Feels So Stressful for Travelers

Getting to the airport on time, boarding, and making sure you didn’t leave anything behind are all things any traveler considers.

These are all concerns even before you arrive at the airport.

Add in the airport itself, and it’s a whole other level of stress.

READ MORE: O’Hare Named the Most Stressful Airport in America

Long Lines, Traffic, and Crowds Add to Airport Anxiety

Like traffic in and around the airport, long lines at TSA, or, even more troublesome, International Customs. Then you look around, and all you see is a sea of humanity.

Thousands, maybe millions of people are all trying to get where they need to go, without realizing that person inside of you is screaming from the stress of it all.

O’Hare Airport Ranked No. 1 for Stress in the U.S.

From my first encounter with O’Hare Airport in Chicago at a very young age, I knew it was a behemoth and very, very stressful.

Good to know it hasn’t changed over the years because Travel + Leisure just called it the most stressful airport in America.

READ MORE: The Surprising O’Hare Rule Every Beer Lover Should Know

What Makes O’Hare So Stressful for Flyers

With less than 75% of flights leaving on time, staggering daily park fees, and a tough commute for anyone who doesn’t live at the airport, it handily won the most stressful airport in America award.

Beating out the likes of airports in New York, Denver, and Dallas-Fort Worth, O’Hare is in a league of its own when it comes to stress.

Alternatives to Flying Out of O’Hare

For my money, I’d fly out of Rockford or, at the very least, Midway or even Milwaukee before booking out of O’Hare.

What about you? When you travel by air, which airport are you flying out of, and if so, does it even matter?