ALL UK airports are horrible places, and the foreign ones i have been to are not much better. No fresh air, extortionate prices for everything, passengers treat like cattle, queues queues and more queues. Airports seem to think that they have a god given right to rip off the travelling public, and as long as people keep paying, they will keep doing it.
Fortunately i don't travel too often, and don't go too far, just down to Malaga 5 or 6 times a year to see my dad, and that airport is not much better even with the new terminal.
I would rather drive to southern spain than fly, but for all of its faults flying will always be cheaper and quicker, so its put up and shut up unfortunately.
Cheers..........Howard