Katy C.
Yelp
I rank airports in size on a scale that goes something like this: Tiny, Small, Huge. I usually travel through the same airports over and over (GRR, MSP, DTW, RSW). Recently I've flown through two airports that were new to me--Atlanta and Jackson (JAC). The Jackson Hole Airport is Tiny. Like, the entire gate area houses all nine gates in a space that is smaller than the baggage claim area at GRR. However, what it's lacking in size it makes up for in beauty and the nicest TSA agents possibly anywhere.
One thing to note is that the small size can make for long lines to get through security, as they only have a few scanners. We got there about two hours early and that was enough, but I would err on the side of caution. I had to get patted down and the woman doing it was cheerful and seemed happy. Both of my bags required extra screening and the guy going through them was super friendly, polite, and verbally walked me through the whole process before opening up my stuff. I commented that the TSA agents were really friendly and he said they try really hard to make the experience positive for everyone. Typically I find this to be the case at smaller airports, which is nice.
The whole airport is decorated with a fancy ski lodge feel, with warm wood tones everywhere and lofty ceilings. The waiting areas for the gates were pretty crowded as everyone is kind of just jammed in together, but my friend and I found a couple spots to hang out before boarding. There is a small restaurant with sandwiches and breakfast items as well as a tiny shop. I ended up buying a bottle of huckleberry syrup there as a souvenir, as I'd seen it everywhere during our visit to JH but wasn't checking a bag. I definitely paid a premium for it, but that's to be expected.
One final note about this airport is that there are no jet bridges! You walk outside and climb a long ramp to get onto the plane, so you're exposed to the elements. Be sure to have a jacket or sweater handy if you're traveling during cooler months! Same with deplaning; you go outside and walk down a long ramp and then several yards outside before you get into the airport itself. The views as you're boarding and deplaning are beautiful; the mountains are right there in plain sight. I definitely snapped a few photos as I was getting on the plane to head home.