Australia-Pacific best airport. Let’s do this properly.

[Scarlett]

Based on this thread Tullamarine best airport in Australia/Pacific and the fact that I don’t trust anything skytrax publishes, I reckon we of AFF can do better.

To that end I’d like everyone to list their top ten ‘best’ airports in the Australia-Pacific below this post. When we get to 100 posts I’ll put those 100 rankings into a spreadsheet and tally the results.

Guidance:
- number your selections 1 (your top/best) to 10. Any ranking without numbers will be taken as first airport listed is the best when read top to bottom.
- use whatever means ‘best’ to you in your selection; I don’t care whether that’s public transport access, quality of lounges, quality of food and coffee, availability of flights or views of the tarmac: use whatever method of ranking you want as taking 100 results should average out all of the factors of what makes something ‘best’.
- don’t include Asian airports. Aus, NZ, Pacific Islands, PNG, Timor etc…
- 1 ping only Vasily. post per AFFer only. This is proper science!
- Use IATA codes if you can. You know you want to.

To declare my preferences straight up, here’s data point one. I promise the results will be accurate and not match these preferences, but even by reading this I know I am influencing your selections…
1. SYD
2. PPT
3. BNE
4. MEL
5. ZQN
6. ADL
7. PER
8. AKL
9. PPG
10. LHI

Go

 

[AIRwin]

1. BNE
2. ADL
3. CBR
4. MEL
5. PER
6. OOL
7. AKL
8. SYD
9. CNS
10. DRW

 

[eastwest101]

1. CBR
2. ADL
3. BNE
4. MEL
5. SYD
6. OOL
7. AKL
8. PER
9. CNS
10. DRW

 

[RooFlyer]

1. ADL
2. MEL
3. BNE
4. CNS
5. DRW
6. PER
7. LST
8. ASP
9. SYD
10. HBA

@Scarlett how do you intend to rank? 10 points for every 1 vote, 9 points for every 2 vote and so on, or another way?

 

[Quickstatus]

ADL
MEL
CBR
ZQN
WLG
CHC
CNS
DRW
DBO
TYB

 

[Lynda2475]

I don't have a ranking yet but think it would have been more sensible to have some weighted categories i.e. # direct routes (international and domestic locations serviced), capable f accepting all aircraft types (A380s, 797s), public transport to CBD/town, lounges (i.e more than just 1), cafes/bars/restaurants.

Looking at some of the early rankings here find it amusing that some tiny airports with no significant international flights, no direct train/tram services to the CBD, that dont use aerobridges (it is simply archaic to have to walk out and up stairs in bucketing rain) etc are ranked ahead of larger full service airports.

I would think the smaller regional airports without regular international services should be a separate category, i.e. I always liked the bacon and egg roles at ABX but that doesn't make it a top airport although it always have me favour it over PQQ every-time.

Anyone who ranks HBA (a closet for a lounge, having to walk to plane, no quick PT into town except an uber/taxi, only NZ as international, unable to be used by larger planes) above SYD is taking the complete P*** imo.

Yes SYD can be a pain for connecting between D and I (but for those who live in SYD or have SYD as their destination that isn't an issue), but fact it has multiple lounges (for all major alliances), a quick train to CBD and can pretty fly direct to anywhere in Aus and more international destinations than any other AU airport should not see it excluded from top 10.

 

[GrahamBRI]

I don't have a ranking yet but think it would have been more sensible to have some weighted categories i.e. # direct routes (international and domestic locations serviced), public transport to CBD/town, lounges (i.e more than just 1), cafes/bars/restaurant

I agree, some weighted metrics would be good to get an appreciation of the why as well. For me airport must have both a domestic and international terminal, have airline lounges in both international and domestic terminals (after security), all terminals should be contiguous and/or with an airside terminal transit system (not an afterthought bus transfer) and finally an air bridge that is not maze……. So I think for me there is only one that meets and a close second one (that has a plan to get there but is stuck in contract negotiations). The others just get a mention because they have an arguable connection to my criteria, just due to their size (i.e. their size makes their connection to the words “international” and “domestic” arguable because they are very limited services to one or both of these destinations)
1. MEL
2. PER
3. ADL
4. CNS
5. OOL
6. DRW
7. CHC
8. NAN
9. HBA
10. WLG

 

[Scarlett]

@Scarlett how do you intend to rank? 10 points for every 1 vote, 9 points for every 2 vote and so on, or another way?

Exactly. But I didn’t want to write that as the ten to one and one to ten is a potential source of confusion…

 

[RooFlyer]

Looking at some of the early rankings here find it amusing that some tiny airports with no significant international flights, no direct train/tram services to the CBD, that dont use aerobridges (it is simply archaic to have to walk out and up stairs in bucketing rain) etc are ranked ahead of larger full service airports.

Amusing perhaps, but following the OP's criteria:

- use whatever means ‘best’ to you in your selection; I don’t care whether that’s public transport access, quality of lounges, quality of food and coffee, availability of flights or views of the tarmac: use whatever method of ranking you want as taking 100 results should average out all of the factors of what makes something ‘best’.

I would think the smaller regional airports without regular international services should be a separate category, i.e. I always liked the bacon and egg roles at ABX but that doesn't make it a top airport although it always have me favour it over PQQ every-time.

So start your own poll? "Airport with best egg and bacon roles" etc ...

 

[kamchatsky]

1. Syd
2. Adl
3. Cbr
4. Mel
5. Akl
6. Zqn
7. Bne
8. Ool
9. HBA
10. Wlg

 

[JK1964]

1. AKL
2. BNE
3. CHC
4. CBR
5. OOL
6. SYD
7. WLG
8. MEL
9. CNS
10. DRW

 

[openseat]

1. GZO - a whole island dedicated to an airport!

 

[Mattg]

1. CBR
2. CHC
3. ADL
4. SYD
5. MEL
6. WLG
7. PPP
8. LRE
9. BNE
10. LDH

10. LHI

Go

Do you mean LDH for this one? LHI is in Hawaii.

 

[Scarlett]

1. CBR
…
9. BNE
10. LDH


Do you mean LDH for this one? LHI is in Hawaii.

Aduh! You knew what I meant Matt: LDH indeed.

(LHI is in Indonesian Papua province and LIH is in Hawaii )

 

[AIRwin]

7. PPP

Because of the aquarium?

 

[Mattg]

Aduh! You knew what I meant Matt: LDH indeed.

(LHI is in Indonesian Papua province and LIH is in Hawaii )

Oops, yes I meant LIH

Because of the aquarium?
View attachment 319609

Yes. And the great vibe in general. Bonus points for the lady working in the café who plays the ukulele.

 

[Blackadder]

1. SYD
2. CBR
3.DRW
4.CNS
5.OOL
6.LST
7. AKL
8. ADL
9. PER
10. MEL

 

[Eastwick20]

1. MEL
2. AKL
1. ADL
2. BNE
3. CHC
4. SYD
5. OOL
6. NAN
7. AYQ
8. WLG
9. PER
10. HBA

 

[AIRwin]

1. MEL
2. AKL
1. ADL
2. BNE

Equal first/second?

 

[Eastwick20]

Equal first/second?

Yikes that will teach me!

1. MEL
2. AKL
3. ADL
4. BNE
5. CHC
6. SYD
7. OOL
8. NAN
9. HBA
10. WLG