According to http://www.worldairportawards....2009/Airport2009.htm Incheon International Airport in Seoul is now the world's best airport. Here is the top 10 list: 1. Incheon International Airport 2. Hong Kong International Airport 3. Singapore Changi 4. Zürich 5. München 6. Kansai 7. Kuala Lumpur 8. Amsterdam 9. Centrair Nagoya 10. Auckland
I still like Amsterdam as it has lots of stuff to looks at, lots of lounges, it is one terminal so you don't have to take a train or anything to get to your gate etc etc
I have not "done" all the top 10 airports, but the HK one is one of my faves among the airports that I have known, in terms of its administration: crowd control, traffic control, luggage handling, connection to city center, restaurant quality…
But I miss the old Kaitak airport of HK, supposedly the most dangerous yet with one of the best safety records among airports. One flew into the middle of a super-crowded city. Really, sometimes you thought you could make out the TV program going on inside the homes that you flew by.
Wonder if there is a 10 top worst airports list. If so, with both hands I elect my hometown airport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle.
Incheon was pretty amazing. I can see why it is on the top of the list. It has been a while since I've been to Changi or Auckland but I am very familiar with Schiphol Amsterdam. Last time through Schiphol felt a little 'old'. It is still an extremely efficient and easy to use airport. The services available within Incheon are wonderful. Interesting food, many shops, free internet, museum, hotel, efficient and friendly.
I haven't been to most of those airports (I don't remember Zurich or Amsterdam being so amazing, though). For domestic airports, I like my hometown airport of Sea-Tac. Good food and they aren't allowed to charge more for it than in the outside world, free wifi, I haven't run into bad security lines in years, clean, almost no weather delays (we rarely get snow, thunderstorms, etc), manageable size, not a big hub so we don't get the big backups of Chicago or Newark or NYC...
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Wonder if there is a 10 top worst airports list. If so, with both hands I elect my hometown airport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle.
Good food and they aren't allowed to charge more for it than in the outside world
Wow - as someone who has stared balefully at the unimpressive offerings at very impressive prices in many airports, I find that very praiseworthy !
Roissy has a great following in the 'would you believe....' category. My daughter finally found somewhere to sit during a major delay - on an baggage belt at an unused check in desk! (She's small, but you would have thought someone would have noticed)
Don't quite get the Auckland listing - nothing wrong with it , but nothing that special (or maybe my attention is usually on the fact that I am about to greet my mother-in-law )
My experience with Changi has always been A+
Posts: 1402 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 20 September 2006
Frankfurt would have to be at or very near the top of the worst in my experience - if you are departing, that is - this is a case where the airline advice to arrive at the airport "at least" 2 hours before departure makes sense: the number of security queues is three before reaching the gate and then they throw in one last one, as though checking the work of the previous three!
Additionally, the check in counter, if you're checking bags and have a ticket, will scan your luggage, but will not sell you a ticket - that line is "over there." After shlepping "over there' with luggage, waiting in another queue and getting a ticket, it's back to the check in counter, where you queue up again...and so it goes. All this before security check point #1!
Posts: 739 | Location: New Hampshire | Registered: 12 September 2006
Being fortunate enough to have a frequent flyer gold card I have to admit that I see less of the airports...and more of the lounges :-) So from a lounge point of view I have to say that London Heathrow is nice. The Emirates lounge there was very nice with an amazing selection of food. Terminal 5 on Heathrow is also very nice (and new) and the BA lounge that I was in there was great.
Apart from that...the Malaysia Airlines lounge in Kuala Lumpur was very nice. That was the first time I came across a lounge where you can actually order food and get it served to your table just like a restaurant. And the shower facilities was just beautiful.
The Emirates lounge in Dubai is probably the biggest lounge I have been to but not that great. First of all it was too open and too noisy. Well, I hope to explore more airports in the future :-)
Big fan of Hong Kong International Airport. They've got the cleanest, most well designed bathrooms. They've got some great gift shops and big brand stores. Before my flight back to California I got some tasty Asian candies and snacks to bring back home. The airport, for being so big and busy is surprisingly quiet. I was able to rest my head and nap while I waited for my connecting flight.
Just flew in/out of HK last month and agree that it's big, efficient and straightfoward, but it's a bit of a hike into town, now - I liked the old airport and its proximity to town. The old Tai Kak strip in Kowloon was dated, but memorable, because of the old fashioned (train station-style) flight status boards with the numbers and letters flipping every 10 or 15 seconds and because those landings were...special, hair raising, scary, gut wrenching, unique, nightmares, fun!
Posts: 739 | Location: New Hampshire | Registered: 12 September 2006
I looooved the old Kaitak, the most human of any airport I have ever known. For every person flying, 10 persons came to see him off, laughing, crying, snacking, hastily drying off tears for a quick picture-snapping. It was a most exciting outing. I hear Kaitak is now being rented from time to time as the venue of mega rave parties.
True, HK is a great airport and with the high speed rail into Kowloon, it's really not that bad.
However, for a great airport, there's none better than my home one... Orlando International. It's clean, modern and, as it's home to Disney and the other theme parks, always entertaining.
Doug
Posts: 2264 | Location: Winter Park, FL | Registered: 18 May 2005
I have to be honest and say that I am amazed that Incheon is number 1. It makes little sense. I lived in Seoul for 2 years and love the country and the airport is fine but it is certainly not the best. The facilities are fairly basic and you simply cannot compare to Singapore Changi, Heathrow London or Amsterdam International for example.
I have limited recent experience with flying but would say that ZUR impressed us. Really liked being able to hop a train in the same terminal. SFO (year 2000) felt third world after ZUR but heard it has improved. LAX was OK but not the best in the world.
Neighbors recent JFK experience was close to a nightmare. Incompetence and indifference by airport personnel.
Have heard enough discouraging remarks about CDG to make me consider flying to ZUR and taking the train, or driving, from there. MUC is also a possible and glad to see it on the list of top ten.
Next September we hope to fly from SFO so hope it not be too stressful. Heard there are some great restaurants so we will see.
Posts: 116 | Location: North Lake Tahoe, CA | Registered: 26 September 2005
We fly into CDG quite often. It is a direct flight from SLC to Paris, 9hrs and 15 mins. We like CDG, once you get familiar with it ( a map helps) it is quite easy to navigate. Atlanta is our least favorite.
That's interesting. I was about to ask if CDG was a bad as the reviews say. It would be more convenient to fly to CDG from SFO so will rethink. I know no one locally that I can talk to who has had recent experience.
I have flown a fair amount in the US but only to ZRH in Europe. O'Hare is not a favorite. LAX was OK in 2007.
David
Posts: 116 | Location: North Lake Tahoe, CA | Registered: 26 September 2005
for a great airport, there's none better than my home one... Orlando International. It's clean, modern and, as it's home to Disney and the other theme parks, always entertaining.
Orlando as an airport is just fine, but BECAUSE of Disney World, etc. - it's the huge crowds of families passing through that make it a nightmare! Allow an extra hour for the security line. JMHO as a business traveler.
I agree that CDG is good for direct flights in and out. It's pretty well signed (terminals, etc.), and has great public transport access.
Posts: 16055 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
CDG has excellent signposting, relax, take your time and follow the signs. I would definately not shy away from CDG, especially since it is the most convenient airport for your travels.
I've only been to airports in Europe and North America, and don't even remember them all (blame jet lag) but out of those I do remember:
Worst:
London Heathrow - hands down, this is the worst airport I have ever had to connect through
Best:
Amsterdam Schipol - great shopping and eating and I love the modern architecture Portland (Oregon)- great shopping and eating and decor - my "little" hometown airport gets better all the time Palm Springs - feels like a little resort. I love walking outside between gates.
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