Best and worst airport you've been in

[krbe 193]

What puts you off? Their attitude? Their unwillingness to communicate in English?

Lack of English speakers can be a problem, but doesn't have to if the airport is well designed and well signed. If it is I can pretty much navigate on my own as long as there are signs in Latin or Cyrillic letters - even if I have limited to no prior knowledge of the language. As a Western European I obviously know a lot more French than Russian without having had any classes in neither, still I had no problems navigating in Russia before I left St Petersburg - whose airport suffers(ed - they've opened a new terminal since) from the same problems as CDG.

The circular design and sloppy handling companies would likely not add to the experience. Also, as CDG is a major transit point for passengers travelling to and from Africa, there is added security, passengers unfamiliar with the airport and its operations and different baggage cultures - further adding to the stress experience.

[TekindusT 3,809]

Now you come up with LED's new terminal, I approve it, but it lacks some seating to be a confortable place and its departures landside architecture looks like a blatant copy of BCN's T1.

[Titanicbuff 1,262]

Best- Denver in my home state of Colorado-

Worst- Cleveland, OH

[Indiana Joe 1,751]

Just sat in the plane on the taxiway for two hours waiting to take off from JFK on Monday.  Good thing I didn't have any connecting flights to worry about.

[TekindusT 3,809]

Just sat in the plane on the taxiway for two hours waiting to take off from JFK on Monday.  Good thing I didn't have any connecting flights to worry about.

 

That's the only thing worse than sitting for a delay on the terminal. At least on the terminal you may have some amenities and Wi-Fi.

[Indiana Joe 1,751]

I could have used the plane WiFi.  Only $20.00 one-way.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

They charge?  How do they control that?  It must be password protected then.  The nerve!  Airlines get greedier every day.

[Sleeping Politician 32]

Speaking of that, here are my favorite and least favorite airlines:

 

Favorite: Qatar- offers great entertainment and the crew were friendly.

 

Least: Air India: Rude crew, ok food and 36+ hour delays (I was going on a flight from New Delhi to Kolkata , a 500 mile distance but the delay was 38 hours). However, the entertainment was good.

[TekindusT 3,809]

Speaking of that, here are my favorite and least favorite airlines:

 

Favorite: Qatar- offers great entertainment and the crew were friendly.

 

Least: Air India: Rude crew, ok food and 36+ hour delays (I was going on a flight from New Delhi to Kolkata , a 500 mile distance but the delay was 38 hours). However, the entertainment was good.

 

You don't know what pain is until you fly Ryanair. Once in a lifetime.

[RipRap 4,400]

Lol Ryanair.

Skytrax has powerful and informative reviews on its site about airlines and airports in general. I usually use it to see which airlines have great service, and Ryanbus is not one of them

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I think I've said this before but avoid Air Cattle Car if at all possible.  It used to be a good outfit, but since it has been privatized and squeezed for budget, they are squeezing as many people into each flight as possible.  My last flight with them was four hours late without any explanation, and my poor driver was stuck waiting for me in London airport.  All this for a 30 minute hop from YYZ.  Next time I will simply take a taxi.  The cost is about the same, and the service is door to door.

[__A 792]

Best airport I've been to (and often) would be Singapore's Changi Airport, it feels very spacey and the processing for everything like customs, immigration and baggage claim is very quick.

 

Worst airport in terms of design and the terminal itself would be Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport, although they now have a new terminal operational. It feels very compact and bit sticky due to lack of air conditioning in some areas... In terms of the process like security, most US airports because of TSA.   I have to take of my shoes, watch, jacket and I can't even hold my passport through the whatever thing its called.

[Nirwanda 133]

Worst: Kingsford Smith - A horrible confusing mess in the middle of nowhere, takes an underground train to get to other terminals

 

Best: Canberra - Recently renovated and remodelled after (apparently) Hong Kong's. Nice and easy, check in, security is simple to navigate and then the long sweeping facade easily lets you see where your gate is, look right for INT'L, look left for Domestic.

 

Only for Australia though, last I was overseas I was 5 so I have no informed opinions about other countries' airports

[__A 792]

Worst: Kingsford Smith - A horrible confusing mess in the middle of nowhere, takes an underground train to get to other terminals

Really? I think its pretty easy to navigate although I wouldn't use the AirportLink for transfer between terminals since you have to pay $5, I believe there's a free shuttle but I've only had to transfer once and that was with Qantas which allows you to transfer straight outside the gate.

 

I look forward to arriving at Canberra Airport then, if I decide to go there by plane

[Nirwanda 133]

 

*snip* Really? I think its pretty easy to navigate although I wouldn't use the AirportLink for transfer between terminals since you have to pay $5, I believe there's a free shuttle but I've only had to transfer once and that was with Qantas which allows you to transfer straight outside the gate.

 

I look forward to arriving at Canberra Airport then, if I decide to go there by plane

 

Yeah I actually preferred the Armidale terminal I left from than the Sydney one I landed in But hey each to their own

And nah mate you gotta take the highspeed train *cough* are you listening abbott? *cough*

[banwashere 14]

I've only been to a few airports:

Changi Airport, Singapore
KLIA, Malaysia
Hong Kong
Incheon, Korea
Taoyuan, Taiwan
Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok, Thailand
Phuket International Airport, Thailand

Best:
Changi Airport (Short walking distance, quick processing for immigration and baggage claim, beautiful and clean)
Hong Kong (Short walking distance, train to city is very accessible)

Worst:
Phuket (Old and slow processing. Too many safety checks)

I've been spoilt by Changi Airport and KLIA because I travel between these two airports monthly. Other airports seems below par because of how efficient Changi Airport is.

[TekindusT 3,809]

I would like to fly to some of them, pictures from Suvarnabhumi, Incheon or Changi look quite spectacular.

[__A 792]

Korea is high up on my list of next country to visit so hopefully I'll visit Incheon one day soon.. *crossesfingers*

[Sleeping Politician 32]

I want to go back to delhi airport so bad, its so beatiful

[jmsepe 2,039]

I think I'm kinda late but the worst airport I have been (so far) is actually in a 100km radium from where I live and I think anyone from the Philippines is familiar with the prematurely opened Laguindingan "International" Airport. 

 

First off, it was an airport designed in 1990s and was completed just in 2013. The architectural design was not even changed during this period and my god, the airport looks like a bus terminal to me.

 

Second, although it was designed to be an "international airport", installation of the ILS just finished this year and night flights are not expected until late 2014 or early 2015. 

 

Third, the terminal building is so small and the departure area is like eight normal university classrooms, well at least it's air-conditioned now but still, its so cramp.

 

Fourth, small rain and all flights are canceled due to low ground visibility.

 

Fifth, there is no proper arrival area where people can actually sit down while waiting for the people that will fetch them.

 

Lastly, in case you are all wondering how it looks like, I leave you all with this:

 

Arrival area

 

Departure check-in area

 

Random shots inside the airport

 

Exterior

 

Just a consolation though, I really like the now improved wifi connection speed and the coffee shops but it still has a long way to go before it comes an international airport. 

 

And for the best airport? I have not seen anything better than good so far (I haven't traveled outside my country). 

 

Note: Credits to owners of the pictures.

[TekindusT 3,809]

The next week I'm flying again to Brussels. This time I will do well, and I will wear my running trainers, in order to walk through its lenghty terminal.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

One of the things I used to like about Dorval, outside of Montreal was the moving sidewalks between terminals.