The Perfect Airport

[Flapping_Madly]

Is there anywhere the perfect airport?
They've been building them for about a century so they should have got it right by now.

Which airport comes closest to perfect in terms of layout, convenience for crew and SLF parking, transport links, hotels , food outlets, organization, baggage handling , information , maintenance and cleanliness --well everything that makes an airport great.

Denver looks good but can a 56 square mile (I think it is) airport be perfect?

For me Alicante and Malaga take some beating. Southampton is great for transport. But what do I know compared to the experienced flyers on here?

[Felix Saddler]

Heathrow...:}

[Rush2112]

In my experience, no contest: Changi Singapore.
Immigration a breeze, baggage reclaim exceptional, 5 mins from getting off the plane your bags are ready waiting for you, shops ok, sign posting great, clean (of course, littering is a hanging offence here), transport to and from the city always plentiful and a fair price, no unmetered taxis etc.

Benchmarks are:
BKK (old and new) both awful, nothing good about them
KUL ok but dull
HKG (new only) also ok but confusing layout
CGK, actually not that bad.
DPS, come on guys this is the tourists' first look at Bali?!?!
HKT, as above but substitute "Phuket". Hire cars an utter rip off.
Manila, least said the better
Taipei, ok but lots of walking
NRT, pretty bad
CDG, needs pulling down
PER, a bit small so should be better than it is, immigration is a nightmare
MEL, drunk on arrival and departure, Lions 2001 Tour so cannot comment
SYD, average
Hanoi, good airport, shiny and new
ZUR, good access for the trains but pretty unmemorable
CPT, not bad. Immigration ok, baggage reclaim ok, good signposting
STN, ok but overworked now, too many LCCs and plebs in shell suits
LHR, welcome to the third world. How bad is this place in every respect??

[manintheback]

Guernsey. 5 minutes from car to check-in to plane. Smaller the better.

[UniFoxOs]

MITB, couldn't agree more. I use CVT a fair bit - total walk from car to aircraft is shorter than check-in queue for some BHX flights!

UFO

[The SSK]

Berlin Tempelhof

An architectural marvel, and about as central to the city as Euston Station. And getting off the aircraft with a roof over your head is so civilised.

[seacue]

For a busy airport, I think KDCA's newer terminal is quite good, especially for O/D traffic.
Lots of glass so you can see the airport and it's bright,
http://www.mwaa.com/_/Gallery%20Image/300x210/dca_interior_hall.jpg
Don't worry about how long it looks. O/D traffic walks crossways of the hall, not along its length.

Gates on short fingers,
Close to city,
http://www.mwaa.com/_/Gallery%20Image/300x210/rx-01_aerial_bc.jpg

Metro station a five minute walk from your plane,
Parking garage a very few minutes beyond Metro.
http://users.erols.com/rcarpen/dca040813.jpg

A very narrow site for the terminal so a three-level design, departure roadway, ticketing & baggage check on balcony,
Main level has Metro & parking access, fingers with gates, a few restaurants and a wide range of shops. There are fast-food joints on the fingers w/ the gates.
Page 2 of http://www.mwaa.com/_/File/_/shopnational.pdf

Lower level has baggage carousels and arrivals roadway. Lots of windows even here.
http://www.mwaa.com/_/Gallery%20Image/300x210/rx-10_bc_night_horizontal.jpg

Now if they could just get the money to refurbish the original terminal, move the gates from "banjo" Terminal A and tear down A. The walk would be shorter and the original terminal has an impressive view.
http://www.mwaa.com/_/Gallery%20Image/_/1940_interior.jpg

[slim_slag]

The correct answer of course is the one down the road.

But, looking at busy airports, the top ten are :

ATLANTA (ATL)
CHICAGO (ORD)
DALLAS/FT WORTH AIRPORT (DFW)
LOS ANGELES (LAX)
LAS VEGAS (LAS)
HOUSTON (IAH)
DENVER (DEN)
PARIS (CDG)
PHOENIX (PHX)
PHILADELPHIA (PHL)

http://www.aci.aero/cda/aci/display/main/aci_content.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-54-57_9_2__

The best of busy airports would have to be Phoenix. Not a bad airport at all in fact, though I am sure the weather helps. DEN is a bit high when running for a tight connection. But given the massive number of flights these US airports handle they do a very good job indeed.

[larssnowpharter]

IAH my personal best in the US.
SE Asia: Changi for busy airports is good.
Bad: Anything in India; sorry.
Worst: Domestic Terminal at Manila (not the PAL one which ain't bad)
Worst in Europe: Gotta be Gatwick on a Bank Holdiday closely followed by Malpensa!
Personal favourite: DVO (Davao International). Near my home, pleasant staff and gets me where I want to go. Totally under utilised.

[drichard]

For me, it has to be LCY (London City).

4 Minutes from tube door to aircraft cabin door (Hand baggage only), including checkin and security.:ok:

[MyData]

Lufthansa's First Class Terminal @ FRA. Incredible.

LCY for general commuting flying.

[pacer142]

AMS is pretty damn good in almost every way except that KLM baggage handling is unbelievably sloppy and slow. (Menzies, by contrast, who handle most of the low-costs, seem to be fine).

The main reason is probably because it's an airport that has a few shops, as opposed to being a shopping arcade that happens to have a few planes parked outside it (think all BAA airports).

[fyrefli]

AMS is great to get to and from because the rail link (under the terminal) is so good it might as well be in the middle of Amsterdam but it isn't, so the transport links in general for everyone who isn't going to / coming from Amsterdam are brilliant too.

It is spacious and has good shopping (and a casino, if that floats your boat) plus a good variety food and drink facilities. Menzies deliver baggage very swiftly and if you're watching carefully outside the buildings you can see that the whole thing is laid out pretty logically for such a large airport. The whole place is kept clean and tidy and the security people (who with the exception of the Schengen area, you'll sensibly meet pre-gate, not post-passport control) are efficient and friendly (as are their counterparts at BRS but the airside area there is just too crowded and the coffee shop too utterly abysmal for me to be able to honestly sing its praises).

I'm quite partial to Oslo Gardemoen too, which also has a frequent high-speed rail link under the terminal, as well as being well laid out etc., although check-in can be pretty hectic if you don't do the interwebnet thing.

[perkin]

I'd also agree with the praise for AMS, my only complaint about the place is the almost complete lack of information & staff when delays occur...

Apart from that though, they've got it spot on and considering some of it is almost as old as Heathrow T4, its aging extremely well in comparison...

[Bangkokeasy]

Of course it is easier to run a smaller airport. I like Auckland and Sydney (yes, that is still small!). The lesson to be learned from the Antipodes is security. These airports do security properly, yet it does not cause undue delay.

However, I hate to say it, but still the one to beat is Chiangi, without a shadow of a doubt. Since I have been using it, it has expanded from one, to two, to three and shortly four terminals (including the loco). Outside the airport, the transport infrastructure has been steadily upgraded and copes well with the 40 million or so passengers it handles a year. Still it has an overall relaxed atmosphere and works remarkably well. My only gripe is their attitude to security screening, which although quite quick, sometimes borders on the anal - such as screening certain inbound flights.

I also hate to say my "home" airport of BKK remains a problem child. They will continue to improve things in true Thai fashion, but will struggle with the sprawling nature of the place and materials used for ever. It's just a bad design.

[Rush2112]

I would have to agree with that observation about inbound screen bangkokeasy, what are they checking for?? A couple of weeks ago (Fri 22 June), all flights coming in and arriving at gates on the E arm were being screened.

The thing that really gets me about LHR is its location: almost everyone who uses it has to go round the M25 (what a good idea), and being to the west of London means just about every day, incoming flights use the Thames through central London as their approach. It's great for tourists coming in first time to be able to see London in all its splendour, and when I worked in the city it was great summer lunch times at the pub in Hays Galleria (by HMS Belfast), couple of pints, watching the planes go by, but in these troubled times, imagine the mess you could make from a roof top with a SAM.

[Salusa]

Changi Singapore, without a doubt.

It is the only airport I will purposely extend my transit time, so as to unwind and have a cold beer before I hit the madness in Jakarta.

Saying that CGK airport is the only one I know where you can turn up 30 mins before departture time and still make the flight.

[Curious Pax]

Exeter - rather sparse airside, but so small that you can dump the hire car, check in and be through security in 15 minutes. And the security operatives seem to me at least to be friendly and efficient, and not jobsworths. However I suspect that timing is everything - 3-4 flights departing together could be a little less fun.

[Final 3 Greens]

ORY

Particularly Ouest.

Old fashioned, but convenient and quick.

Works for me.

[lexxity]

For a big place I find Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to be very good. It is massive, but really easy to get round because of the little trundle train. Mostly well signed, well staffed and having lots spent on it to bring it bang up to date.:ok:

Sorry to say my home airport of MAN is becoming shambolic, more like BAA everyday. More money on shops, less and less on actual airline/aircraft infrastructure.

[Bangkokeasy]

If talking about the USA, I agree ORD is a good example. I have entered the USA there a couple of times since 9/11 and the overall experience, including immigration in particular, is far better than JFK or LAX.

I think it is important to note that shopping and airports need not be incompatible. Chiangi again is a fine example of this. I am sure I have spent more money there, than in any individual shopping mall. The key is to get your SLF through the necessary rigmarole as quickly and hassle-free as possible, after which they relax in the departure lounge and feel like parting with their cash. The absolute last thing I want to do in the middle of that ghastly and stressful LHR experience is shop.

[Beagle-eye]

Having visited the USA on business several times last year and endured the hell on earth that is customs and immigration I was delighted by the reception that I received at Cape Town earlier this year.

People smiled at me, they were polite, they joked and laughed with my kids. It really set the tone for the whole visit. :ok:

[Habster]

Just a couple of observations from recent trips
SFO-while I love the city, the international terminal though is boring as ...if you're trying to kill time. :bored:
LAX- Tom Bradley terminal I hear is being spruced up,not that you can see much from their website,awful, is boring as. (Still got to love the air traffic as a self confessed plane spotter):)
Detroit- the Northwest is stunning:ok:
Denver- works well

[scruggs]

Without a shadow of a doubt - Changi, Singapore!

S

[ThreadBaron]

Changi seconded ... or thirded or fourthed or whatever! The best airport experience I have ever had.

[Dryce]

AMS gets my overall vote.

KUL is not bad but they seem to be doing a BAA and trying to fill it with more shops.

STN used to be nice once upon a time but has gone down the BAA hell hole path where the airport signage and seating gets obliterated by retail.

[AUTOGLIDE]

MUC is excellent. Spacious and efficient, even has an ice skating rink between T1 and T2 during winter. After that it would be AMS.
Worst being LHR, MAN T1, FRA T1 and any other soulless and horrid 1960's disaster.

[HKPAX]

I'd say Osaka Kansai performs well. It is a beautiful design, but inherently not as wasteful as Singapore or Hong Kong (reclaimed land aside). The nicest thing is the fact that with North / South spurs each served by monorail there is less walking for those than don't want it. But the central section is spacious without being cluttered by obstacles (shops). Hong Kong airport is supposedly superb but what a trek to get from arrivals level to the internal rail and back up again, and if you are dropped off at the "wrong" gate (e.g. 70) you are doing half the walking anyway, while the central area is so cluttered by shops that people can't find where they are and wander around aimlessly like extras from the Poseidon Adventure. Lastly, I prefer to have all the hand stuff screened before going into the departures area, which is surely an inherent security disadvantage at Changi where they do this before entering the boarding gate holding area. These days, this sort of thing is an important consideration?

[yggorf]

For me, T4 is the best. Original and bold architecture, great parkings, nice and quiet atmosphere, quick, friendly yet efficient security controls, beautiful views on the runways, nice bars with delicious tapas.
Tapas?
Ah yes, I forgot... T4 in Madrid Barajas.

[pax britanica]

best Airprots

Hard to seperate Changi HKG and KUL an example to the west all of them


In the US they are not bad considering the sheer size and complexity of some of them of them and altho it sems a rule that civil people work in shops in America and failed prison camp guards work at airports

In Europe Oslo Gardamoen looks really stylish and Lisbon has friendly staff Frankfurts good for its size but god there are some long walks. LHR and LGW have to be commended for giving visitors a taste of what the UK is like when it comes to transport of all kinds

Bordeaux has incredibly easy access arrangements - with no bags its 5 mins from plane to car-and besides how many airports have their own vinyard

[SXB]

I have to nominate my home airport SXB.

It's so quiet checkin never begins until 60 mins before departure. The security staff are polite and professional. There are only two shops airside and both are normally closed. It costs me 30 euros to leave my car there for a whole week.

[Bangkokeasy]

How could I forget to mention USM (Koh Samui)!!

I think all airports should be like this - open air terminals (yes there is both an international and domestic terminal, carefully segregated with ropes). Thatched roofs and nice flowers beds between the runway and the buildings.

But it can be a bit dangerous, specially when windy, when there is a high risk of falling coconuts. :eek:

[Franz Josef Strauss]

For me the best has to be Munich (MUC)......it is being named after me of course.

I am also liking Amsterdam and Paris CDG.

FJS

[obgraham]

I am also liking... Paris CDG.

FJSNow THAT's funny!

[ATNotts]

Most of my travelling is done within Europe. The major UK airports just don't figure - slow baggage reclaim, too much shopping, not enough seating - and then there the B****y farce which is UK immigration controls.

I would nominate AMS as the best major in Europe - everything in one building, the excellent rail connections, and space to move in amongst the confounded retail outlets.

Of regional airports, I would nominate Nürnberg. It well designed, and extremely efficient, and again, not overly contaminated with pointless shops (who - for heavens sake, needs to buy a matching set of luggage when they leave an airport. Surely most PAX pack before they get there!).

[Flapping_Madly]

Great replies. Interesting reading. Used Google Earth to look at all airports mentioned. OK OK who said "sad"

The worst airport I've used is probably Malpensa. LHR and Gatwick are a national disgrace. Was once wonderfully treated by everyone at Washington after a flight LHR to Las Vegas went badly wrong. Carrying our bags to the hold door at Ercan was novel and could be the answer BA is looking for at LHR


Having an AK47 pointed at me with menace as I ran like a banshee to a lavatory at Ataturk was a good laff.

I found it fun once waiting over an hour for our bags at Stansted.

I thought I had walked myself to death once at Amsterdam.

San Francisco is the most unfriendly unhelpful place I've used. Love Las Vegas--just makes you smile it is so vulgar.Works well though.

Have fond memories though hazy of the bar in Memphis.

Luton is a shambles IMO Manchester a rip off for everything.

Prefer Southampton and Bournemouth to and fro Spain uk.

Please don't take any of this ramble to heart. Just my disorganized opinions.
Have decided that if I can incorporate the airports mentioned by you in our travels as we spend the kids inheritance I will.
I have a strange urge to visit Bishkek.

Regards to you all.

[SXB]

Flapping madly

I have a strange urge to visit BishkekBmed have delivered me to Bishkek on a number of occasions, though I don't have anything against the place it certainly isn't a city I would visit unless I absolutely had to. The Bmed flight stops in Tbilisi on route, one of the FA's once came on the PA and said 'last chance to get off before bishkek', I was very tempted....

If you ever get there PM me and I can recommend some good places to stay a couple of decent restaurants.

[high-hopes]

I think nothing beats Glasgow for a "warm" welcome at the front door ! :ouch:

[spiney]

Agree Changi is top of the heap but it wasn't always that way and it has been around since '81... constantly modified and improved with steady expansion which was planned in from the outset. I well remember shortly after the opening those weekend Bus Tours for the proud citizens out from town to check out the new miracle. (And after the Zoo that was Paya Lebar, Changi most certainly was a miracle).

Surprised nobody has gone for Seoul Incheon - nothing flash but a well designed, efficient, clean and passenger friendly airport, but 5 years in it's already too small and the new terminal is needed badly.

I also think Vancouver is great airport - innovative design and decor, great facilities and super friendly staff.

[Eboy]

I was going to add Seoul Incheon (ICN) but the previous poster beat me to it. Osaka, Japan (KIX) is nice but, unfortunately, you cannot get to or from many places from there! ORD is fine but in winter I avoid it and use the east or west US coast to avoid the sometimes more-severe winter weather in Chicago (and delays/cancellations).

[Admiral346]

To fly into as a pilot, I like MUC and YVR.
But Vancouver has the most interessting arcitecture i have ever seen on any airport, not just glass and steel...

Nic

[10secondsurvey]

Honestly, the finest airport I have ever been in.... is Dunedin in New Zealand. It is just so chilled. And the staff are actually pleasant, even security. But I guess its because it's such a small airport, a bit like Turku in Finland, which is also very civilised.

As for the baddies, well, where do I begin, Heathrow (possibly the crappest airport in the world and well worth avoiding) probably tops my list followed closely by paris CDG, then Gatwick, Stansted, Luton.

I agree with earlier post regarding kansai, as I've only ever had a good time there. And I do like London city.

Aside from crappy staff with a pathological hatred of customers, and congestion, the thing that really bugs me is airports who seem to have lost the ON switch to the aircon. Some airports are just so hot, it is hardly surprising pax get all worked up going through security (CDG,LGW,STN,LHR being the worst).

[Charles Sierra]

Norwich International ,From landing to collecting luggage and returning to car park 20mins tops :ok: A well oiled operation throughout.

[Dee747]

Have just returned from a family holiday in the US, and have nothing but praise for DEN. The airport might be huge, and the concourses might be so far from the main terminal they need to be reached by underground train, but we experienced nothing but efficiency during several visits. Everything is well signposted and colour coded, and there is a lot of 'personal space' for all travellers - even at the gate areas. The outside pickup/dropoff points for the numerous car hire companies, hotel shuttle busses and other ground transportation options are easy to locate and follow. These are replicated on both sides of the terminal building. For the enthusiast, no restriction is placed on photography once airside, and it is possible to photograph from any part of the concourses, even while standing right next to a gate. Staff were pleasant throughout, and food prices are reasonable (i.e. only a small premium for being served airside to a captive audience). All in all, a very pleasant airport to use - highly recommended.

We used ORD on four occasions and found it to be a real mixed bag. Arrival into T5 (International) was painless, and as we'd already gone through US immigration procedures in Dublin before departure, it was a straightforward matter of collecting our baggage and going. T5's biggest problem is the almost total lack of any concessions after passing through security. Big though the terminal is it has what amounts to little more than display board type shopping in the concourse - there are NO shops or restaurants of any sort after the security check. Unless you're happy with a bag of potato crisps (chips?) and a plastic bottle of pop do not pass security. The food concessions and duty free/newspaper shops immediately beside security are your last chance at spending your dollars in earnest I'm afraid.

By comparison T3 (American Airlines) is a completely different kettle of fish. Huge, expansive, busy, bustling and full to the brim with many different food outlets and news stands. No problem here for the hungry or thirsty traveller keen to 'fill up' before boarding a flight. Well signposted, light, bright and airy - a pleasure to use.

ORD in general is having a massive amount of construction work done at present, and disruption inside the terminal buildings is almost inevitable.

[skydriller]

In my humble experience :

Best Hub in Europe : Munich
Best regional in Europe : Bordeaux
Best US airport : DFW or MSP
Best other : Dubai or Kuala Lumpa

Worst has to be LHR then CDG for Europe.
Miami is bad by US standards.
....Lets not talk about some other airport experiences Ive had in various uncivilised places of the world....though LHR is getting that bad now, definitely 3rd world.

[Atishoo]

Dubai

Clean efficient fast in and out, superb airport, just like the country
Cant beat it , in my book

[Silverspoonaviator]

Well the airport might be clean, but the 20-30 mins taxi time, the total chaos outside, and the current building boom. No comment.

Yesterday: within 15 mins drive of the airport, I slowed down on the road for a string of camels crossing the road, and several Indians walking, (running in slip on shoes and long skirt) across the main highway, normal traffic speed 140k.
I also saw one Indian in the middle of the road, and the car that hit him, inverted in the ditch.

There is a 24/7 stream of heavy trucks on all roads and highways.

Buliding sites working all night.

I would call it an interesting place.

[Atishoo]

LOL Silver

i agree on the building, i couldnt see the sky for cranes.

I thought it was a very diverse interesting place though. But the airport was super efficient. made heathrow look like Noddys toy town

[pwalhx]

Agree with most Changi superb. HKG great depending on gate, too much walking at times. Was quite impressed on my first visit to KUL this year.
I used to love DXB but the 4 times I have flown through this year it has resemble a refugee camp with people lying all over the floor, shame.
My vote for speed goes to Karup in Denmark 3 minutes from walking down the aircraft steps to stepping into a car in the car park, including collecting my luggage.
Worst LHR no doubt a national disgrace to be avoided at all possible times.

[Brian H]

Have just returned from Brussels and find this airport is always hassle free. On arrival from leaving the aircraft to getting on the train into the city centre took 20 minutes, luggage was waiting on th carousel. On departure, to check in and get through security took 10 minutes. I have always found all the staff I have come in contact with at BRU, are always efficient, courteous and helpful. It is a pleasure to use BRU

[PVGSLF]

Another vote for Changi!
I've regularly transitted there on my way between Seoul and Mumbai. The flight timings mean I have a ten hour lay over, so I book the airside transit hotel for the full duration, dump my carry on bags then wander around shopping and eating before heading for my bed and a good nights sleep, waking up with ten minutes to spare before I need to be at the gate.

I'll also put a vote in for Incheon airport. It's a little far out of Seoul, but is well connected by cheap coaches from all over Seoul (and Korea I beleive), and is a model of efficiency - if a little "dull" in terms of food and shopping choices.
Though with an efficient airport you don't need to arrive three hours before departure "just in case" and the end up with hours to kill airside.

[840]

The best one that I've used is Hong Long.

The best large airport in Europe is Amsterdam.

Going down a tier, I'd say Helsinki. Athens isn't too bad in terms of building structure, but the organisation of it could be better.

There is a lot to be said for smaller airports though. As good as Amsterdam is, I would happily use Rotterdam instead if the flight was available. Getting off your plane and being out the front of the airport within 5 minutes is a great experience. The only drawback is that there isn't much to do if your outbound flight is delayed.