One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
RIC8.0+1.0
PHF7.0
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
RIC7.2+1.8
PHF5.4
Food & retail
Best for
RIC
Origin-and-destination trips when you already know Concourse A or BDrivers using the $10 Economy lot or $15 Daily garageBudget riders on free GRTC 7A/7B from Door #5
Watch out for
RIC
Queuing at the wrong concourse checkpoint — sterile sides do not connect yetAssuming Priority Pass, The Club RIC, CLEAR, or a Capital One lounge existEvening flights after the official 20:00 TSA close
Amenities and tips
RIC
Two-level single terminalIronclad + Cross Grain + Market on BroadRIC Free WiFiGRTC 7A/7B Zero Fare
RIC · A compact two-level Virginia hall with a free downtown bus and $10 economy parking — undone by two separate TSA portals, no lounge, and a checkpoint that closes at 20:00.
PHF · Virginia Peninsula gateway with **American Eagle** nonstops to **Charlotte (CLT)** as the clear scheduled pin — **no Priority Pass lounge** verified on research day; HRT bus Route 116 and Amtrak Newport News Transportation Center (~1.5 mi) support ground; ORF/RIC remain denser alternatives.
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
RIC6.6+1.8
PHF4.8
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
RIC8.2+1.6
PHF6.6
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
RIC7.0+1.2
PHF5.8
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
RIC2.0
PHF2.0
PHF
American OneWorld connections via CLTPeninsula travelers avoiding ORF tunnel/bridge drivesHRT bus / Amtrak-adjacent ground
Stale Spirit / 22-gate / A1–A8 guides
PHF
Thin schedule — essentially AA CLT only on research dayNo Priority Pass loungePassenger volumes far below historic peak — confirm live banksNo published MCT
No passenger lounge
Family restrooms and SARAs
Be through TSA before 20:00
Official TSA hours are 04:00–20:00 daily. After the checkpoint closes it does not reopen until 04:00.
Pick A or B before you queue
Concourse A and Concourse B each have their own TSA portal. The sterile sides are not a free walk today.
Clear first, then eat on your concourse
Official dining is split: Applebee’s and one Ironclad in the landside atrium; the rest is airside and concourse-specific.
PHF
American Eagle CLT pinHRT Route 116 busAmtrak ~1.5 mi
American Eagle → CLT
Schedule data on research day centers on American Eagle Charlotte nonstops.
