The World's Best Airport is.......

[oz_mark]

Seoul's Incheon International Airport named world's best at awards

Seoul's Incheon International Airport has been named the world's best in the annual World Airport Awards.

Incheon beat out last year's winner, Hong Kong International, which fell to second place. Singapore's Changi came third.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I have to be honest and admit that I haven't been to Seoul yet but the airport must be pretty good to beat Singapore,and Hong Kong is pretty good as well.

 

[dajop]

Skytrax. Say no more. Have only been through ICN a three times, and it has been quite good, albeit a but dull airside. Have experienced some queuing at security, although arrivals have always been a breeze.

However, I fail to see how HKG ranks ahead of SIN. Maybe being a bit parochial, but the queues to get through immigration coming into HKG can be atrocious, the queues at transfer desk can be similarly painful (last time I went thru HKG came in late which only left 30 mins for transfer with nochecked luggage) and CX had already moved me on to a later flight as they knew I wouldn't make it - this has never happened to me at SIN even with 25 mins and a terminal change), and the eating/shopping options at HKG seem to be relatively overpriced compared to SIN. AFAIK, no airside transit hotel, less food options, no swimming pool. Miles from the city. How on earth does it rank ahead of SIN consistently? THe absence of carpet perhaps making it nice, bright and shiny? Downtown checkin? Fast train to airport?

 

[tuapekastar]

Skytrax. Say no more. Have only been through ICN a three times, and it has been quite good, albeit a but dull airside. Have experienced some queuing at security, although arrivals have always been a breeze.

However, I fail to see how HKG ranks ahead of SIN. Maybe being a bit parochial, but the queues to get through immigration coming into HKG can be atrocious, the queues at transfer desk can be similarly painful (last time I went thru HKG came in late which only left 30 mins for transfer with nochecked luggage) and CX had already moved me on to a later flight as they knew I wouldn't make it - this has never happened to me at SIN even with 25 mins and a terminal change), and the eating/shopping options at HKG seem to be relatively overpriced compared to SIN. AFAIK, no airside transit hotel, less food options, no swimming pool. Miles from the city. How on earth does it rank ahead of SIN consistently? THe absence of carpet perhaps making it nice, bright and shiny? Downtown checkin? Fast train to airport?

I was similarly underwhelmed by HKG...a long wait at immigration on the way in, and I struggled to find lounge(s) on the way out (could just have been me I guess, but I don't normally have that sort of issue finding my way around airports).

 

[trooper]

+1 on those comments...

I found HKG confusing in parts... getting from the NH check in to the AF lounge they gave us invites to (??) was quite difficult... the correct route to follow didn't look like a "through way" at all! We stoppd, and looked, and dithered....:mrgreen:

ICN was pretty good... (and the then brand new OZ lounge was nice) but better than SIN??? Not in my book.

 

[Skyring]

Both HKG and SIN are excellent. I'm also a fan of Kansai International serving Osaka.

Hong Kong has the edge on Singapore in design terms - it's simple and easy to find things, whereas Singapore is a bit more complex in layout. It's also home to the superb Cathay Pacific lounges of The Wing and The Pier, both favorites of mine.

I've lost count of how many times I've been through each, more than a dozen in total, but only gone landside once, in Hong Kong last year, and didn't get on a plane again until we left Paris a month or so later. Singapore is definitely quicker to transit - get off your plane and just walk the halls to the next one without going through transit or security. Hong Kong is efficient that way, but it still takes time in going to and from the transit points and in passing through them.

Singapore also has the bonus of an airside hotel which I've used a couple of times, and a bunch of airside amenities. It never closes and you can sleep in it quite comfortably. Not as spectacular or dramatic a landscape, but generally lush and clear.

Hard to think of any major airports in the Western world that are as efficient. Heathrow is just awful to navigate, with JFK and CDG not much better. LAX, words fail me for the horror. Dulles is odd and cramped. DFW is pretty good, and I guess SFO is my favorite out of Europe and America. London City is sweet, but not a major terminal.

 

[djfuzz]

Just went through HKG and ICN a few days ago.

Found both to be huge and impressive, but felt HKG was a tad more efficient. Queues and frequency of the interconcourse shuttle at ICN were both way too long, and there was far too much walking to get from place to place.

Also, as mentioned above, the lack of an airside hotel seems a bit strange compared to other airports that are all over this.

 

[browski]

Singapore still gets my pick ahead of Hong Kong; although I do like the Ichibaan Ramen and the Ben and Jerry's situated so close together in the Hong Kong food hall. Magnificent.

Dubai's T3 is as stunning as "the other" (non Emirates) terminal is as painful (particularly the 2 hour waits through immigration).

Although small, most impressed with Bangalore.

The World's Worst Airports are.......Riyadh, Perth, Bandar Seri Begawan.

 

[Evan]

HKG has better lounges and generally better design i think but falls down with immigration issues.
SIN has a massive advantage to me (i prefer it) in that arrivals and departures are all together and even access between terminals is a no stres affair.
KIX is ok... smallish.. nothing wrong with it just not a lot to do or see.
ICN is nice, modern, an easy transit. had good bag drop services if you want to do something for the day, free internet etc. I like it a lot. But not so many connections there.

 

[dajop]

Both Hard to think of any major airports in the Western world that are as efficient.

Yes, my comments above notwithstanding, I think all the airports at the top of the skytrax list certainly do warrant it. It's funny how we come picky in this part of the world and forget how the other half live ... bit like the endless debates over who's the best out of QF/SQ/MH/CX etc ....

 

[auriga]

I would certainly put SIN ahead of HKG, and way ahead of ICN! :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

Hmmm.... The best airports in the world would have to be the old ATH Athens Hellinikon airport and the current SKG Thessaloniki Makedonia airport. I always felt like I was home at these airports. The new ATH Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport does not have the same atmosphere.

I would also add BKK, SYD and BNE airports to round off my top 5 airports of the world.

What does that tell you about Skytrax ratings?

 

[Dave Noble]

What does that tell you about Skytrax ratings?

That they are not based on 1 persons views

I can't see what is that good about Sydney airport for example. forced through a duty free shopping plaza regardless of whether interested in buying anything and not many places to eat n drink etc whilst waiting for a flight

Further thoughts... also the charging for luggage trolleys, v expensive car parks, the transfer hassles ( as mentioned ), few travelators and not being able to pick up passengers arriving internationally also work against it to me

My personal favourite airports is LCY, which would be unlikely to make the lists. LCY is a v nice airport with v short check in times (20 mins with luggage) and , being so small, no long walks to the gates... this would not likely be in any ratings due to the small niche market it has

Dave

 

[NM]

I would also add BKK, SYD and BNE airports to round off my top 5 airports of the world.

BNE and SYD have to be some of the worst for making inter-terminal transfers, which is one aspect that I believe should be considered when ranking airports.

 

[straitman]

I would also add BKK, SYD and BNE airports to round off my top 5 airports of the world.

What does that tell you about Skytrax ratings?

As frequently as I don't agree with Dave Noble, I wholeheartedly agree on this occasion. SYD & BNE have to be way down the list toward the bottom due to their transfer issues.

Like all these things the answer is very subjective and everyones reasons are based on differing ideas of what is 'the best.'

 

[JohnK]

That they are not based on 1 persons views

That the ratings are only the views of certain type of people who decide to vote. Ratings mean nothing.

I can't see what is that good about Sydney airport for example. forced through a duty free shopping plaza regardless of whether interested in buying anything and not many places to eat n drink etc whilst waiting for a flight

SYD is a great airport, has much more choice of flights and carriers and has some lovely areas to sit down and drink. The observatory bar upstairs is a great place to sit down and relax with a drink or two before a flight.

BNE and SYD have to be some of the worst for making inter-terminal transfers, which is one aspect that I believe should be considered when ranking airports.

As frequently as I don't agree with Dave Noble, I wholeheartedly agree on this occasion. SYD & BNE have to be way down the list toward the bottom due to their transfer issues.

I do not need to transfer through ATH, SKG, BKK, SYD or BNE so for me they are good airports.

Like all these things the answer is very subjective and everyones reasons are based on differing ideas of what is 'the best.'

Why is why I would question the ranking of SIN or HKG for various reasons. I do not like them as much as some of the other airports. Try finding a cheap drink in SIN airport if you do not have lounge access. The signage in HKG airport is extremely poor.

We are not all the same and we all like different things. I do not even use ratings/reviews as a guide anymore and I have found some really good cheap hotels in SIN and BKK recently which do not get good reviews.

 

[NYCguy]

I agree with Dave Noble - LCY is a big winner.

SYD is pleasant enough to depart from, but the international arrivals zoo during morning peak-hour almost makes SVO look good.

ZRH is a delight - flying in on LX from LCY with a 45 minute connection to JFK is never a problem. Try doing THAT at SYD.

 

[Dave Noble]

ZRH is a delight - flying in on LX from LCY with a 45 minute connection to JFK is never a problem. Try doing THAT at SYD.

If travelling business class, the new BA service starting from LCY to New York seems like a great option to me when it starts.

Dave