In a speech on American infrastructure Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden said that compared to airports like Hong Kong International, New York's LaGuardia feels like a "third world country."
In January, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called LaGuardia and JFK "inexcusable," and announced the state would take over responsibility for revamping both.
To give American travelers a look at what they're missing until those renovations are complete, we've put together a list of the world's best airports, based on the 2013 World Airport Awards, announced in April 2013 by leading airline reviewer Skytrax.
The awards, which include categories for best terminal, shopping, security, cleanliness, dining, and more, are determined by public opinion. More than 12 million people responded to this year's survey.
As President Obama noted in a press conference in April, the highest ranked U.S. airport is Cincinnati at #30. Not very impressive.
10. London Heathrow Airport
Yearly passengers: 69.4 million
Why it's awesome: Despite London Mayor Boris Johnson's concern that Heathrow gives visitors "a terrible impression of the U.K.," the overcrowded airport made it into Skytrax's top 10.
The third-busiest airport in the world in 2012, it took home the awards for Best Airport Shopping and Best Airport Terminal, for T5, which opened in 2008 after a $6.2 billion, 19-year design and construction process.
Heathrow's Skytrax review includes four or five out of five star rankings for ease of use, flight information, public transport, security staff efficiency, and more.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
9. Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)
Yearly passengers: 62.6 million
Why it's awesome: Haneda moved up five places this year, partly thanks to how clean it is.
With a third international terminal that opened in 2010, Haneda can accommodate 90 million passengers annually.
More construction is already in the works: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced plans to expand the new terminal with eight more gates, more parking, and a hotel, by March 2014.
The airport won the Skytrax awards for Best Airport Terminal Cleanliness and World's Best Domestic Airport, and took second place for Best Airport Immigration Service.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figure is for 2011, provided by Airports Council International.
8. Vancouver International Airport
Yearly passengers: 18 million
Why it's awesome: The least busy airport in the Skytrax top 10, Vancouver International offers visitors a large collection of Pacific Northwest Coast Native art.
Skytrax named Vancouver International the Best Airport in North America for the fourth year in a row in 2013, a streak that justifies the $1.4 billion the airport spent ona recent expansion.
Volunteers, known as Green Coat Ambassadors, work in the airport to help travelers get where they're going.
Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figures provided by Vancouver International Airport.
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