Hi

Well, maybe it is not always true...but I find that in many of the airports that I have gone to the arrival areas seems to be old and worn down. Like when you come to some of the terminals at Heathrow....sometimes is feels like a maze and it seems like they are always doing some sort of construction. Or like Johannesburg airport where the immigration area has not been changed at all since I went there the first time in 1997...the old sign in the mens bathroom (Water is precious, don't waste it) still hangs on the wall. But when you come to the departure area the airports seems to be much nicer...with lots of shops, restaurants etc. I know that it makes more sense to have more stuff to do in the departure area but shouldn't the arrival area in the airports be nice so that travelers gets a positive first impression of the country?

The arrival hall at Arlanda is quite nice, actually; albeit not as nice as the departure area. I agree though, the arrival hall is either the first impression of a foreign country, and first impressions last... OR, it is the first thing you see when you come home again and we all know that coming home is depressing enough as it is.

All flights and all airports are depresing, except for the old Kaitak and the orchid-swarthed Koh Samui airport.
We feel that arrival areas are more depressing because we are staggering from the endurance torture.

Hi

Yes, the airport at Koh Samui is very nice indeed :-)

You're mostly correct; but have you been through Vancouver, BC airport?
It is lovely and cool and welcoming;very spacious and super-clean; with a huge wall of water, and sweeping glass windows edged with wood, which gives an impression of space, greenery,and the great Pacific Northwest.
There is lots of First Nations artwork.
It's very open, and you can see people departing; on the other side of a glass gallery wall.
Every time I come home I unconsciously heave a sigh of relief that our airport makes you feel so serene and welcome.
Can any other BC-ers describe it better than I can?!

quote:

Can any other BC-ers describe it better than I can?!

Well you could have described flying in over the Coast Montain Range, the backdrop of mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the sunshine (well today anyway).... but we wouldn't want people to think we were bragging!

I have to say that when we flew in on a few days ago I did feel that serenity - and pride!

Now if we could just get the Customs and Immigration people to smile.........

Hi

No I have not been through Vancouver but there are also some nice airports. When you arrive in Oslo you walk on the upper levels and you can watch the departure area through glass walls. And from what I remember I was also impressed by the airport in Dubai when I went there a few years back :-)

Singapore airport is another thatt is fairly impressive and can I also say Sydney airport rates up there as well - hard for anywhere not to look depressing after a 13 hour flight though !

Depends on your point of view! Dubai and Sigapore are impressive but the arrivals hall at a small village airport in Kenya when I flew into it on a dirt/grass runway and our luggage was ferried by a bicycle towing a small truck to a grass hut was probably the most inviting arrivals hall I have ever been in!!!
Michael