Worlds Worst Airports - LHR slumps to 6th
Don't know why they are saying that's not a good Terminal 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: world
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heathrow Harry says:
.
This is a generalisation, which proves my point about individual perceptions depending on terminals used. I have flown in and out of LAX quite a number of times in the past 3 years, both domestic and international. All my experiences were positive! However, the airline I use on internationals doesn`t use the same terminal as BA or VS for instance. There could lie the difference.
LAX is dreadfull
This is a generalisation, which proves my point about individual perceptions depending on terminals used. I have flown in and out of LAX quite a number of times in the past 3 years, both domestic and international. All my experiences were positive! However, the airline I use on internationals doesn`t use the same terminal as BA or VS for instance. There could lie the difference.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cheshire, UK
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Admittedly LHR was a poor poor place not all that many years ago but it has consistently improved recently. The new T2 will continue that trend.
As for what has been 'consistently improved' what are we talking? The very bad and in-polite security staff, still. The appalling terminal layouts, still. The poor signage, still. Overly extensive and intimidating shopping mall terminals, still. The highest airport terminal car park charges in the world, still.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: In transit
Age: 70
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As a frequent global traveller, I find Heathrow far better than many major international airports, certainly T5, and I am no fan of BA, is a pleasure.
Last time we flew through T3 on VS it was a good experience too. I also did and airside transfer from T5 to T3 and itwas smooth and comfortable, but a bit circuitous. Those who rubbish LHR should try CDG, MAD, LIS, SVO, VKO, FRA, BRU .... and many others. In fact, the only European major hubs better than LHR are ZRH and AMS.
Last time we flew through T3 on VS it was a good experience too. I also did and airside transfer from T5 to T3 and itwas smooth and comfortable, but a bit circuitous. Those who rubbish LHR should try CDG, MAD, LIS, SVO, VKO, FRA, BRU .... and many others. In fact, the only European major hubs better than LHR are ZRH and AMS.
Have passed through Heathrow T5 as a passenger today. Must say very pleasant experience all said and done.
Only down side was WH Smiths which was hopeless long que disinterested staff some people in front of me just gave up and threw their books down and left.
Only down side was WH Smiths which was hopeless long que disinterested staff some people in front of me just gave up and threw their books down and left.
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Clare
Age: 53
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The UK staffing, attitude and mentality at security needs a lot to be desired. They just do not know when or how to engage their brains. They seem to base their methodology the same way as the French do with the McDonalds, Subway franchises etc i.e. no one gets served until the last order is complete. Their attitude is always abysmal and people complain about the TSA in the USA?! At least you move in the USA. Transited through LHR unexpectedly with the family last November and between landing in T5 to arriving at the gate in T1 it took 121 minutes. In saying that I checked in on my mobile and was from drop off outside T1 and at my gate in in less than 35 minutes on several occasions in the past few months.
My recommendation:
Do not transit through LHR.
Staff find it even difficult to communicate in the language native to country of employment hence travel via AMS/ FRA or even CDG where after time you will find the short cuts.
Food is absolutely disgusting no matter where you go (apart from lounges which thankfully is never of UK fluff and duff) and LHR deserves to be in the top 10 of the worst airports as a result pack a snack before you go.
My recommendation:
Do not transit through LHR.
Staff find it even difficult to communicate in the language native to country of employment hence travel via AMS/ FRA or even CDG where after time you will find the short cuts.
Food is absolutely disgusting no matter where you go (apart from lounges which thankfully is never of UK fluff and duff) and LHR deserves to be in the top 10 of the worst airports as a result pack a snack before you go.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well All names taken I've been to some seriously remote places around the globe just in the last year and I still reckon LHR is a top ten bad airports
When I go to somewhere remote in a third world country I don't expect a great deal - when I go to the main airport in the capital of a G8 country I expect a lot more
LHR has been an embarrassment since around 1975 - lack of foresight, lack of investment, lack of interest
When I go to somewhere remote in a third world country I don't expect a great deal - when I go to the main airport in the capital of a G8 country I expect a lot more
LHR has been an embarrassment since around 1975 - lack of foresight, lack of investment, lack of interest
This topic is definitely subjective. You can be waiting 1 hour in T3 immigration at LHR on a hot Friday afternoon and vow never to fly there again. You can be at the back of an immigration queue in Sanford when 3 charter flights have just touched down and think never again, or even have a confrontation at check in because you believe your hand luggage conforms with the low cost carrier's rules and vow never to fly with them again. Or worst you can be locked out of a terminal and stranded for hours on a jet in the middle of the night. Even being herded like cattle into pens with no facilities waiting for a low cost flight back to the UK can be deemed as a bad experience.
At best you could be greeted with a suck of a pineapple cocktail and paper raffia bikini clad girls wiggling their bits on the tarmac at Papeete on arrival and think this is the best airport in the world.
It all depends how you find an airport on the day
At best you could be greeted with a suck of a pineapple cocktail and paper raffia bikini clad girls wiggling their bits on the tarmac at Papeete on arrival and think this is the best airport in the world.
It all depends how you find an airport on the day
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Beauvais Tille
If someone puts Beauvais Tille among the 10 worst airports of the world 2014 the same person should have visited it 10 years ago.
Now it has check in desks and more than one toilet as well as a real terminal building and not only a large tent.
Still it has been just fine the last times I have been there....
Now it has check in desks and more than one toilet as well as a real terminal building and not only a large tent.
Still it has been just fine the last times I have been there....
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Israel, Kazakhstan, Spain
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heathrow Harry, you are not the only one who travels to the back of beyond, I'm sat in T5 right now heading to Almaty, with flights to Astana, Uralsk, Aktau, Madrid and Jerez this week alone. I remember the dead rat in the toilet at Uralsk Airport, the stench, and the bumpy runway.
I don't know what your beef about Heathrow is but maybe you should rename yourself Lydd Harry? It took me 5 minutes to pass security today, yes LHR can be bad, but certainly no worse than some other G8 countries, and certainly does not deserve to be in the top ten worst airports.
I don't know what your beef about Heathrow is but maybe you should rename yourself Lydd Harry? It took me 5 minutes to pass security today, yes LHR can be bad, but certainly no worse than some other G8 countries, and certainly does not deserve to be in the top ten worst airports.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: North Yorkshire UK
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Surprised that Leeds Bradford didn't make the list. Terrible layout, claustrophobic, loud horrible music, not enough seats, long walk along a decrepit cold and draughty covered walkway as Ryanair always seem to park farthest away from the terminal.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LHR has been an embarrassment since around 1975 - lack of foresight, lack of investment, lack of interest
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cheshire, UK
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T1 & T3 still look like utterly condemned terminals in their exterior and interiors, poor signage and staff and nothing at all ever appears to be done about the appalling security staff at both of these terminals and probably across the whole of LHR itself (although I couldn't possibly speculate that far). 
Chronic lack of anything to substantially improve the average Joe pax's journey if it involves removal or reduction of retail areas or any sort of expenditure on anything whatsoever if it offers no return immediately (such as retail)
Chronic lack of anything to substantially improve the average Joe pax's journey if it involves removal or reduction of retail areas or any sort of expenditure on anything whatsoever if it offers no return immediately (such as retail)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Somewhere up there
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T250
'Appalling security staff' huh? Just listen to yourself.
What about appalling passengers?
I wonder how you would act if you were paid a disgracefully low wage for such responsible work, had to work long hours with unsociable shifts and had snorting snobs like you looking down on them every day.
You get what you pay for.
This is by no means a LHR only phenomena.
I find it weird that so many people expect some kind of utopian personal service with no queues and a totally stress free experience in one of the busiest airports in the world, operating at full tilt.
'Appalling security staff' huh? Just listen to yourself.
What about appalling passengers?
I wonder how you would act if you were paid a disgracefully low wage for such responsible work, had to work long hours with unsociable shifts and had snorting snobs like you looking down on them every day.
You get what you pay for.
This is by no means a LHR only phenomena.
I find it weird that so many people expect some kind of utopian personal service with no queues and a totally stress free experience in one of the busiest airports in the world, operating at full tilt.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It must have been a different MAN I went to in that case. Most unpleasant security experience ever.......
Bear Behind
To me, CDG is the absolute pits. It's awful to transit through; staff fit the stereotype Parisian attitude to a tee. Their rudeness knows no bounds; queues first thing in a morning are awful. I still can't figure out which terminals have an airside bus link and which don't - it just seems to be random. And connecting from an AF French domestic flight (2F) to CX (satellite of 2A) seems more like I'm walking half way to Hong Kong.
"Those who rubbish LHR should try CDG, MAD, LIS, SVO, VKO, FRA, BRU .... and many others. In fact, the only European major hubs better than LHR are ZRH and AMS. "
Don't forget MUC - that place is a pleasure to transit through. And if your connection starts to get tight, it's door to door service. Magnificent!
"T250
'Appalling security staff' huh? Just listen to yourself.
What about appalling passengers?
I wonder how you would act if you were paid a disgracefully low wage for such responsible work, had to work long hours with unsociable shifts and had snorting snobs like you looking down on them every day.
You get what you pay for.
This is by no means a LHR only phenomena.
I find it weird that so many people expect some kind of utopian personal service with no queues and a totally stress free experience in one of the busiest airports in the world, operating at full tilt."
Being told by a knuckle-dragger that I need to 'learn to effing well speak English' at LHR T5 security when I misunderstood his impolite instruction really set the tone for me.
"Those who rubbish LHR should try CDG, MAD, LIS, SVO, VKO, FRA, BRU .... and many others. In fact, the only European major hubs better than LHR are ZRH and AMS. "
Don't forget MUC - that place is a pleasure to transit through. And if your connection starts to get tight, it's door to door service. Magnificent!
"T250
'Appalling security staff' huh? Just listen to yourself.
What about appalling passengers?
I wonder how you would act if you were paid a disgracefully low wage for such responsible work, had to work long hours with unsociable shifts and had snorting snobs like you looking down on them every day.
You get what you pay for.
This is by no means a LHR only phenomena.
I find it weird that so many people expect some kind of utopian personal service with no queues and a totally stress free experience in one of the busiest airports in the world, operating at full tilt."
Being told by a knuckle-dragger that I need to 'learn to effing well speak English' at LHR T5 security when I misunderstood his impolite instruction really set the tone for me.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When the LHR boosters on here respond the always mention T5 and soon to be reopened T2
No one ever seems to use T1, T3 or T4 (which isn't great but not a WWA) if you read these posts
No one ever seems to use T1, T3 or T4 (which isn't great but not a WWA) if you read these posts
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No one ever seems to use T1, T3 or T4 (which isn't great but not a WWA) if you read these posts
Heathrow Harry is offline Report Post Reply
Heathrow Harry is offline Report Post Reply
It's like the Tube Harry, if you don't invest properly on an ongoing basis, and in the 1980s investment was starved from both, it is much more painful and takes decades to fix that neglect. It's worth remembering LHR was neglected while BAA emabrked on the shiny and palatial third airport for London at Stansted in Essex. That worked out well then, seeing as how the airlines who paid for Ryanair to use STN for gratis are often still stuck in T3 at LHR some quarter of a century later.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 6th Mar 2014 at 15:11.