Newark Airport

✅ Trip Verified | Short and sweet here: Travelers apparently rated this the worst airport in America in 2018. That's unfair only to the extent that other airports probably don't deserve to be denigrated by even being included in the same category as Newark Liberty. It's dirty, inconvenient, dated and inefficient, staffed by a lot of incompetent and unfriendly people, and the area around it is bleak even for a generally bleak spot like northern New Jersey. They should just flatten this place and route traffic through other places that care about doing a decent job and know how to do it.

❎ Not Verified | The single worst airport I have ever experienced. Nearly 1000 passengers entered customs at about the same time, and there were only two agents to process them. After an hour of waiting, I traipsed all over Terminal B trying to follow instructions for Baggage Control, another security check, getting to Terminal C, etc. Whoever designed the signage for Newark Liberty should be fired. Roughly three hours later I arrived at my gate to discover that they were already boarding a bus, where 50 people were stuffed shoulder to shoulder for about 20 minutes before boarding the plane. In my hours at the airport, only one employee was either kind or helpful. The others I dealt with were unbelievably rude and unhelpful. I am an older woman, and I hope I have never treated a fellow human being the way I was treated. The bottom line: if you can avoid Newark, do so at all costs. I certainly will.

✅ Trip Verified | Security set up is not fit for purpose. I waited in line for one hour for security checks. There were only three aisles in operation, one for first class/priority for all international flights from terminal 2. And once through security the gates area is horrible. Restroom facilities aren’t big enough for the number of passengers (just four stalls in the men’s, with the lack of privacy and cleanliness typical of bathroom facilities in the US). Oh, and when I arrived here the other day from London I was stood in line for 2.5 hours at immigration. Just a hopeless and depressing way to enter and leave NYC. It makes London Heathrow seem positively heavenly by comparison!

Not Verified | Well, I can say at the least, Newark is an embarrassment. We arrived at terminal A, and had a connecting flight to Frankfurt, Germany. We had to navigate to terminal B, specifically gate B62. I looked up for the signage, directing me to the appropriate terminal. Terminal B was down a level, and by bus, the signs said we would be arriving. We took the elevator, as we had some carry-on luggage and the stairs looked, precarious. I could quite possibly be over-exaggerating, but we waited at this old elevator for what seemed like a solid 5 minutes, before the door opened. It was like a time warp, back to the 80's inside this elevator. We exited and saw a bus. As I approached the airport worker, I asked her if this bus went to terminal B. Very rudely, she asked me which gate. I told her gate B62. She said that this was not my bus, no bus goes to B62, and that I would have to go back up to terminal A, take a right, and another right and then I could get to terminal B. Confused because of the signs I just read, directing us to this bus, we turned around. Not wanting to wait for the slow elevator, we opted for the stairwell. The stairwell leading back to the terminal, was completely atrocious. Bird wire fencing for walls, trash, dirt and cigarette stench enveloped the narrow and steep stairs. I am not sure if they are even OSHA compliant. There was room for only one direction of travel up and down the stairs. A person walking down would have to stop, mash up against the bird wire fencing and wait for them to pass by. So we take a right and then another right, and we see a sign for terminal B and an arrow, but the "B" has been painted over, as if to signify that terminal B was not in the direction we were directed to go! We were basically leaving the airport, by following this rude airport workers' advice. I asked one of the security workers in that hallway if we could get to terminal B this way, and he rambled off on some rude tangent about can't I read the signs? Totally rude and un-helpful. Not wanting to miss our flight by leaving the terminal, we back tracked to the area we began from, in hopes to see another poorly illustrated sign. Luckily a flight attendant was sitting close by, and saw the look of confusion on our faces. She informed us that yes, we were supposed to leave the terminal, take the sky train to terminal B, gate B62. Off we went. When we got off the train, all I could see was a long line of passengers, waiting to get through security. Regrettably, we had to join that line. The line was formed with mis-matching, dated stanchions, crooked and not even wide enough to pull a carry-on through. In the back ground, all I could hear was security officers yelling and belittling passengers for having candy in their bags, over and over again. Publicly shaming these poor foreign passengers, in my country, which I love and have served and protected. I was so embarrassed. Is this how America treats people? First impression is the most important and this was a complete nightmare. Thank goodness my flight to Frankfurt was delayed, because I would not have made it home that day. We got through security and all the passengers at gate B62 were still standing in a long line, waiting to board. The entire airport was dark, dank, out dated and just rude. It was so refreshing to arrive (late) at Frankfurt, where there is order and cleanliness and polite people. Get your crap together, Newark. You are a shameful experience. Never again. Never.

Not Verified | As other reviews state, we should be embarrassed. Upon entering terminal B [International Terminal, where one might think we'd showcase our best side], there is woefully poor signage to direct you to you check-in area. Then, after asking 2 airline associates at 2 different areas, we located the SAS counter. Next Security! 1hour, 40 minutes. Nope, not exaggerating. And to add insult to injury, several other passengers in the line stated this was 'the norm'. Frankly, it took less time to drive to the airport from Pennsylvania! Not acceptable. Then into the departure terminal. Dingy. Tired. Dated. Ok, we'll feel better after a bite and a drink. Alas we had exactly 1 choice. Shameful. Could I be more aggravated? Yes I could. 2 bratwurst, 2 draft beer, tip. Go ahead, guess. Nope. OK: $52.00. Incidentally - this is my 14th flight this year, lest you think this is a random complainer. The saddest part is the view this airport gives to our foreign visitors. Yes, I am deeply embarrassed. I see a new terminal is in planning to replace Terminal A. That and B can not happen fast enough. Shame on us.

Not Verified | Pretty smooth transitions from each security checkpoint. The TSA line was slightly longer but that's usual and it was not that bad. Airport staff were quite nice and the food choices in the Airport are very wide and good.

Not Verified | Horrid. There was no seating option before check in, upper and lower decks have been cleared of virtually all seating, not even anything for the elderly. Also, the only indicator for where our checkin would be, Iceland Air, was a tiny logo on a carry-on bag size check stand. At the gate, the options for dining were frighteningly limited. Outlets for charging are limited and taken up quickly as well. I remember EWR being much more gracious 15 years ago. It is rapidly approaching 3rd world standards, with which I am also acquainted. I will endeavor not to travel through Newark again.

✅ Trip Verified | The most despicable way to welcome and greet people to any country if this is how they treat them at immigration. I travelled on an ESTA from the EU with an EU passport. The waiting time was 2.5 hours. There was no apology, no sense of staffing more booths, no facilities for elderly people to take a seat, drink water, use the toilet without losing the position in the lines. We had just come off an 8 hour flight from Heathrow. How on earth does the self proclaimed "greatest country on earth", one of the richest nations on our planet think it can treat people like that is completely beyond me. The staff - true to form - treated the situation as a normal everyday occurrence (which is even more concerning). The eventual mini interview was conducted in the standard cold, non-apologetic way. I'm so underwhelmed and angry about how this major airport represents the wonderful American people I got to know.

✅ Trip Verified | I’ve never encountered more rude and completely apathetic bossy staff as at immigration. Everyone had a withering horrible attitude. They can’t look you in the eye, they say “have a nice day” (or nothing) with the worst deadpan tone that purposely conveys how much they hate their job and you. Their faces could sour milk. Welcome to the US indeed. They treat perfectly polite travellers like we are animals. Also the prices for food are astronomical. Hard to believe anyone would actually shell out that much money for junk food

✅ Trip Verified | I flew to Newark from the UK. At immigration the hall was completely full - about 500 people I would guess. I waited two hours to be seen. There were 3 members of border staff and at one point 1 went on a break. I missed my connection and had to fly the next day. The red coats who had the badge “here to help”, when I said I was going to miss my connection said” not my problem honey”. Firstly having so many people queuing for so long is a health and safety issue, hardly a welcome to the US. I fly frequently worldwide and have never experienced such treatment and rudeness by staff supposedly there to help. This airport is a disgrace and management should employ more staff and certainly train them in manners. It is customer service at the end of the day. Also,there are other airports in New York and I will use them in the future.