JD Power Ranks Southwest Florida International As 3rd Best Medium Size Airport In America

A new study is out from JD Power, the 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, and Southwest Florida's very own RSW in Fort Myers ranks as one of the best in the country.

The study, released late last week, measures overall passenger satisfaction with North American airports by examining their experience in ease of travel; level of trust with airport; facilities; staff; departure experience; food and retail; and lastly, arrival experience. The airports were broken into 3 size groups with Mega, large, and medium. Medium, which includes Southwest Florida International, is traffic of 4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranks highest in passenger satisfaction among mega airports with a score of 671. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (643) ranks second and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (633) ranks third.

John Wayne Airport, Orange County ranks highest among large airports, with a score of 687. Tampa International Airport (685) ranks second and Kansas City International Airport (683) ranks third.

Indianapolis International Airport ranks highest among medium airports for a third consecutive year, with a score of 687. Jacksonville International Airport (686) ranks second and Southwest Florida International Airport (675) ranks third.

Related: The Biggest Airport In Florida Is Southwest Florida International

When it came to negative comments, crowding was a big issue with many travelers. 5% of passengers say they experienced severely crowded conditions in 2024. Even at it's busiest times, I never felt RSW to be crowded. Also in the JD Power study, 70% of passengers agree their airport should reflect a genuine sense of its city or region. Something RSW does quite well.

Rising prices at the airports may have finally hit their breaking point, however. JD Power states, on average, passengers this year spent $3.53 per person less than they did in 2023 on food, beverage and other items in the terminal. The decline is greatest among large airports where passengers have reduced their spending by an average of $6.31. Travelers are aware of the heavily inflated prices at the airports and are simply no longer willing to spend. I can attest first hand to this. After spending over 6 dollars (it may have been closer to 8) for a pack of gum at O'Hare in Chicago last year, I have not bought a single item at an airport since.

A sentiment shared by another traveler after he spent $12 on this "pizza" at the Miami Airport.

The 2024 study is based on 26,290 completed surveys. Miami International Airport, and O'Hare International Airport, both mentioned in this article received "below segment average" rankings from JD Power in this study. Someone should be arrested for calling that a pizza.

Local Cuisine refers to the cooking and serving of dishes typical of the culture of the area. Many of the dishes contain food that has been produced within that area. So for Southwest Florida that of course means seafood. But that's not all. There's a lot of other fresh foods produced right here in the Sunshine State. Like oranges, tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, strawberries and more. Those locally grown crops are found on the plates in Florida restaurants that want the freshest foods possible. There's also cattle ranches. Places like Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island serve steaks from a ranch just north of North Port. Local. Southwest Florida restaurants that serve food from Florida. That's what we mean by 'local cuisine' restaurants.

As a local, I know about these places. I can personally vouch for several of the rankings on the list. But rather than talk about my favorites, we'll defer to the reviews on Tripadvisor. By using keywords and the site's algorithms, I was able to pinpoint what they would consider the top 10 local cuisine restaurants in Southwest Florida. As a way to show my work, here's a direct link to what I've done. Sure, there may be some places that you think should be on the list, but I don't think you could say any of these places shouldn't be mentioned.

It's actually embarrassing how many people go to the chain restaurants when they come to Southwest Florida to visit. You can go to those places anytime. Also, this list stretches from Sarasota to the south end of Naples. So, some of these places won't be very close, depending on where you are. Now let's take a look at the best local cuisine restaurants in Southwest Florida. I'll drop a couple a couple of links at the end for even more options.

I can't believe we almost lost this place. The Dixie Fish Company on Fort Myers Beach was almost wrecked by Hurricane Ian. There was a boat on their front steps. Seriously.

Thankfully, they were able to put everything back together, and according to Tripadvisor it's the number one spot for fresh local seafood in Southwest Florida. It's an open air bar/restaurant and has everything you could possibly want from a waterfront restaurant on an island. It's an absolute must for anyone visiting the Fort Myers area. Us locals love it, too. This is true original Southwest Florida.

It should come as no surprise that number 2 on the list is owned by the same people that own the Dixie Fish Company. Doc Ford's on Fort Myers Beach is right next to the Dixie Fish Company. Doc Ford's also has a Sanibel location. You cannot fail ordering a grouper taco with beans and rice. That's my go-to. The shrimp and grits are pretty amazing, too. You're also gonna love the decor. And the view.

At number 3 on the list is an entry from Englewood. Englewood is full of Snowbirds this time of year, and this is one of their favorites. A reviewer stated "Had the mango pecan wahoo on Jamaican rice and it was as good as it sounds." Oh my.

Baleen is just incredible. But keep in mind it's location in Naples does make it a little pricier than some of the others. But you will not find a better view of the Gulf while you dine. Get some mango bread pudding, trust. People come here to propose, it's just beautiful. One note, go when the weather is good for the full experience. Maybe one day these clouds will clear out...

This one's in Sarasota, and elegant European indoor and outdoor garden setting. Their specialty is events. I don't know much about this place, but I wanted to stay true to the list. It's been referred to a a 'hidden treasure' in Sarasota. It's also very Instagrammable. 

Harold's in Fort Myers comes in at number 6 and is the first on the list that doesn't benefit from a waterfront location. It's on 41 near 6 Mile Cypress. So it must be the food. Some reviewers mention Harold's as the best restaurant in Fort Myers. Getting to watch the chefs cook your food through the big window is a treat. Not sure what to get? Do the scallops. Or this:

Back to Sarasota for this one, it's a local favorite on Siesta Key. Lots of fresh seafood on the menu, or they'll cook up what you catch. If you have someone with you who's not a seafood lover, they also have a few pizza options. 

And to Fort Myers Beach for Fresh Catch Bistro. Upscale dining with a fabulous Estero Bay view. The mahi is a favorite. Really, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I still remember before the hurricane bringing my parents there. The first time I ever saw Soapy Tuna was at Junkanoo. This place has history. This video really tells the story.

Fresh fish and paired wine at this place in Sarasota. The name really says who they are, and that's what they do.

Next up is Shore by Lido Key in Sarasota. Not just a seafood restaurant, Shore is a mix of on shore and off-shore menu items. Incredibly touristy area, but they manage to stand out with a local feel.

For as much damage as we took from that last hurricane, Fort Myers Beach restaurants have really managed to rebuild and maintain a local feel. Next up is Flippers On The Bay. Their view of the bay is absolutely amazing. Seafood is on the menu.

Related: The Best Tacos In Southwest Florida Are At A Gas Station In Estero

Related: 3 Southwest Florida Favorites Make Yelp’s Top 100 Florida Restaurants List

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