Conde Nast Traveler survey puts this Southern California airport in its top 10

The historic Long Beach Airport in 2010, before a new departure terminal was added.

By Mary Forgione

Nov. 3, 2016 8 AM PT

It’s hard to fall in love with airports these days. But Long Beach Airport in Southern California seems to have won over fans who responded to a Conde Nast Traveler survey this year. The magazine ranked it No. 7 of the country’s 10 best airports.

That’s a step up from No. 10 in the same survey in 2015. But LGB, as it’s known, is easy to fall in love with.

The Art Deco building with original floor mosaics — themes range from aquatic to industrial — opened in 1941 and provides a throwback to the golden age of travel.

Restaurants and markets in the newer section of Long Beach Airport.

In 2012, the airport opened a sleek, glassy departure terminal with lounge chairs, a fire pit and palm trees, all of which create the feeling that you haven’t quite left Southern California’s spectacular outdoors behind.

But back to the top 10 list. Some 300,000 travelers weighed in with the magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2016 and selected these airports as the best in the U.S.

1. Indianapolis International Airport (third year in a row) (IND)

2. Portland International Airport (Oregon) (PDX)

3. Tampa International Airport (TPA)

4. Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)

5. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)

6. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)

7. Long Beach Airport (LGB)

8. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

9. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

10. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

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