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.

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:

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

Without a shadow of a doubt - Changi, Singapore!

S

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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:

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

Now THAT's funny!

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!).

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.

Flapping madly

Bmed 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.

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

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.

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).